"I Am Not Done Yet"

Victory and a Championship Prove Scott Hantz Can Still Get it Done at 50 (Special from Speed51.com)

August 19, 2013

Scott Hantz has been known as "The Hurricane" for many years in the Midwest.  His winning ways have made

him a standout driver at every track he pulls into.  Some might think that his performance has been downgraded

to a tropical storm over the past year or so, but it's not because of a lack of effort. 

Many know that when car owner Dick Poe passed away in 2010 that changes would be going on for Hantz. 

Hantz took over the operation of the No. 72 team and visits to victory lane came less often.  There were still

some victories along the way, but nothing like he was used to in the three ARCA/CRA Super Series

Championship years had with Poe's EMF Motorsports team.

Then, over the past two years, Hantz had to cut the schedule back due to lack of funding.   He'd still show up

with either his No. 72 template-bodied Super Late Model or the 72 Outlaw Super Late Model, but his dominance

throughout the Great Lakes region was slipping.

But one weekend has changed that.

Now 50, Hantz recently debuted a new ride in Outlaw action, won a championship and won a CRA race over the

course of two mid-August nights.  Hantz, who was teetering on being without a place to race, was rejuvenated

Friday and Saturday with new opportunities to keep him behind the wheel and winning.

"I found out that sitting home on the couch is not much fun," said Hantz.  “I’ve discovered racing is all I know

how to do.  I just want to keep racing and having fun and keep winning.”

Hantz now has funding to keep him in the seat on a regular basis.  He's traded in the white and orange paint

scheme on his Outlaw ride for a black and orange one when he joined the Great Lakes Helicopters team in recent weeks.  Jeff Ganus, who is already a part of the Great Lakes Helicopters team,  will be Hantz’s new teammate.  Friday night at the Toledo Speedway (OH) for the Miller Lite 100 was the first time Hantz’s new car had seen the race track.  It was also the night to crown a new champion for the ARCA Gold Cup.

Hantz came in tied for second in points with Harold Fair, Jr. and when Dakota Carlson did not show up to Toledo, that put the championship in the hands of either Hantz or Fair.

“Coming into tonight I was thinking about the championship and then as the day went on and the car improved I was thinking, 'Wow we have a good car and a good chance to compete for the win,'” said Hantz.

Hantz went out and set fast time in qualifying with the brand new car.  During the feature, Hantz dominated the first half, but fell short at the checkered flag as he found himself second behind Brent Jack.

“First night out with a new car, I couldn’t expect anything more," said Hantz.  "Second was  good.  Brand new car never been on the track.  We did a lot of new things, it was a whole new game.

"They (the crew) asked me how the car felt.  I said it was like putting on a new pair of shoes.  I’ve raced the same Outlaw for 10 years, so yeah it feels different, but it was fast.” 

Hantz came away crowned the ARCA Gold Cup Series champion for the first time after his strong finish and Fair pulled into the pits with problems early on in the race.  Hantz is the first driver to have both a ARCA /CRA Super Series Championship and Gold Cup Championship.

Great Lakes Helicopters is a big sponsor of the Main Event Series so Hantz will be racing a lot in the 2014 season with that series.

“I’ve never won a Main Event Championship, so maybe we can try for that next year,” added Hantz

Hantz also has other goals like the upcoming Glass City 200 at Toledo and the Main Event at Ohio's Sandusky Speedway.  Both are shows he's never won.

Saturday was a new day and a different car for Hantz as the CRA Super Series traveled to Flat Rock Speedway (MI) for the 7-Up 125.  Hantz was in his own template car for the day.  He had only raced his template car three times this year and this was the first time being back at Flat Rock with that car since he won with it there last year.

The race started and went green for 123 laps, Travis Braden was and Brian Campbell tangled for the lead giving the top spot to Hantz with two to go. Hantz ended the weekend with a win and a championship.

"Second Friday night with a championship win and a win on Saturday night, I’d rather be lucky than good.  This weekend means you can still win races at 50,” said Hantz in victory lane.

The Flat Rock win was Hantz’s first win in the template car this season and his emotion in victory lane just proved that he's not slowing down at all.  Hantz also stated that he would like to get some resources together to try for a second Winchester 400 win.  The deal on the Outlaw side will allow him to focus on the template car and perhaps crisscross some crew members to make a run in October.

“I just keep looking for funding and places to race. I do it for fun, but I like to win.  I am not done yet."

Hantz will be racing on Wednesday night at M40 Speedway in the Great Lakes Helicopters Outlaw.