HAGGAR MAKES THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITIES

Two Wins in Two Days for 19-Year-Old in Lane Automotive Bracket Series

While rivals were getting their cars dialed-in for last Saturday’s edition of the Lane Automotive Bracket Series at US 131 Motorsports Park, Donnie Hagar was working at the Auto Value store near his home in Clark Lake.  He finally made it to the track with enough time for one practice run.

Practice, it seems, may be overrated — along with the second chance option provided by the buyback.

In two days of racing, Hagar never visited the buyback window and despite his relatively few time trial opportunities, he drove his Pontiac to 21 round wins, three final rounds and two event victories, one in Modified and one in Street.

Although he moved up to fourth in Modified points and leading in Street, it was not exactly a walk in the park for the volunteer fireman and 2015 track champion.  He won one race by .0057 of a second (about 10 inches) and another by .0009 of a second (less than two inches).

But he won nevertheless and as a result was an obvious choice for Gary Hunt’s US 131 Racer of the Week award presented by Aeroquip.  The 19-year-old son of 2016 track Street champion Ron Hagar, Donnie becomes a repeat winner of the award, having first been honored a year ago.

Congratulations, Donnie, from Gary Hunt and everyone else at US 131 Motorsports Park.

ABOUT GARY HUNT

Gary Hunt is in his tenth season as the track announcer at US 131 Motorsports Park, a track on which he used to race in the brackets and Stock Eliminator.  His experience as a race car driver (he won seven points championships) has served him well behind the mike and while he often misses the thrill of competition, his “desk job” is not without its benefits.  “It’s given me the best seat in the house, which is always climate controlled,” he said.  “I never break any parts, don’t have to wait in line and I leave with a little bit of money every week.”