RaceFan
06-09-2009, 08:37 PM
SPEEDWAY ANNOUNCES SALUTE TO SPECIAL DRIVER
The HOSS Outlaw Winged Sprints will make their first appearance of the 2009-racing season on Saturday, June 13. Along with the “winged warriors” and a full program of racing action, will be a salute to area racing legend “Hurryin’ Hank” Lower.
Dubbed the Hank Lower “Golden Anniversary Celebration,” the night will see a special tribute to Lower in recognition of his 50 years driving racecars. At 71 years of age, Lower still regularly outruns the grandchildren of the men he raced in his youth and recently scored a tough win on the high-banked, quarter-mile Anderson Speedway.
“I started out driving a Kaiser Street Stock at Angola,” said Lower. “I later moved on to Coupes at Butler and then to Modifieds at Angola and Bryan, OH.” Moving into Sprint Cars, Lower was quick to embrace the idea of putting a wing above his head in 1975. “As I told Bob Kinser (father of World of Outlaws king Steve Kinser), I found out that with a wing, when you turn the car over, it doesn’t hurt as much.”
Lower began to make the switch from dirt to pavement in the 1990’s. “I won the Sprints on Dirt Championship in 1994, when they ran both surfaces.” Now, Lower runs strictly winged cars on pavement. “I last dirt and a non-wing car in 1996.” Asked what kind of track he prefers, Lower was quick to answer, “I love the high banks! I love places like Winchester where you can just fly!” Ironically, despite loving the big tracks, Lower’s recent success came on a pair of high-banked quarter-mile tracks in South Bend and Anderson.
Having won too many races to count, Lower says one in particular stands out. “I won the only USAC race I ever ran,” said Lower. “It was at Quincy (MI) when they were experimenting with winged shows in USAC. I showed up, won, and never ran with them again.” He was also a part of the ill-fated pavement experiment with the World of Outlaws. “They only tried it twice and I was at both shows. The first time (in Kansas) I timed in sixth-quick which put me on the pole for the feature. All these big-time guys looking at me going, who the heck is this clown?”
Lower will lead of full field of HOSS Sprints to Bear Field on Saturday, June 13. The Sprints will be joined by the Baer Field Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives. A special fireworks demonstration by PYROMANIACS FIREWORKS will also highlight the show. Adult admission is $15, with kids 7-12 $5, and 6 and under is always FREE! Spectator gates open at 4:00; qualifying at 5:00, and RACING at 7:30. Call 260-478-7223 or www.baerfieldspeedway.net for more information.
The HOSS Outlaw Winged Sprints will make their first appearance of the 2009-racing season on Saturday, June 13. Along with the “winged warriors” and a full program of racing action, will be a salute to area racing legend “Hurryin’ Hank” Lower.
Dubbed the Hank Lower “Golden Anniversary Celebration,” the night will see a special tribute to Lower in recognition of his 50 years driving racecars. At 71 years of age, Lower still regularly outruns the grandchildren of the men he raced in his youth and recently scored a tough win on the high-banked, quarter-mile Anderson Speedway.
“I started out driving a Kaiser Street Stock at Angola,” said Lower. “I later moved on to Coupes at Butler and then to Modifieds at Angola and Bryan, OH.” Moving into Sprint Cars, Lower was quick to embrace the idea of putting a wing above his head in 1975. “As I told Bob Kinser (father of World of Outlaws king Steve Kinser), I found out that with a wing, when you turn the car over, it doesn’t hurt as much.”
Lower began to make the switch from dirt to pavement in the 1990’s. “I won the Sprints on Dirt Championship in 1994, when they ran both surfaces.” Now, Lower runs strictly winged cars on pavement. “I last dirt and a non-wing car in 1996.” Asked what kind of track he prefers, Lower was quick to answer, “I love the high banks! I love places like Winchester where you can just fly!” Ironically, despite loving the big tracks, Lower’s recent success came on a pair of high-banked quarter-mile tracks in South Bend and Anderson.
Having won too many races to count, Lower says one in particular stands out. “I won the only USAC race I ever ran,” said Lower. “It was at Quincy (MI) when they were experimenting with winged shows in USAC. I showed up, won, and never ran with them again.” He was also a part of the ill-fated pavement experiment with the World of Outlaws. “They only tried it twice and I was at both shows. The first time (in Kansas) I timed in sixth-quick which put me on the pole for the feature. All these big-time guys looking at me going, who the heck is this clown?”
Lower will lead of full field of HOSS Sprints to Bear Field on Saturday, June 13. The Sprints will be joined by the Baer Field Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives. A special fireworks demonstration by PYROMANIACS FIREWORKS will also highlight the show. Adult admission is $15, with kids 7-12 $5, and 6 and under is always FREE! Spectator gates open at 4:00; qualifying at 5:00, and RACING at 7:30. Call 260-478-7223 or www.baerfieldspeedway.net for more information.