AUTO RACING : Hansen Rides Some Luck to Victory

Scott Hansen of Simi Valley has not always had the best luck in United States Auto Club Western States three-quarter midget competition.

But good fortune was on Hansen’s side Saturday night at Ventura Raceway, and he could do no wrong, setting a one-lap track record of 13.048 seconds in qualifying, and following up with a victory over hometown favorite Marc Hart in the 20-lap main event.

Hansen got to the track late and didn’t have time to shake down the car before qualifying. He worked through the morning just to install a motor in his car--one that was rebuilt after breaking while Hansen was leading last week’s race.

Fortunately for Hansen, the car’s set-up matched the track conditions.

Hart wasn’t so lucky. He admitted to making bad decisions in traffic and found out on the second lap that he also had made a poor choice on which tires to use for the feature race.

Hansen and Gary Schroeder of Burbank took the outside route through traffic, while Hart stayed low toward the inside of the quarter-mile clay oval.

Said Hart: “The car seemed a little loose, and started spinning the tires a little bit after the start.

“I was hoping for a red or yellow flag so I could change them.”

No break there. There were no accidents to slow or stop the competition.

Hart, who started in the second position, grabbed the lead at the start and held it through the ninth lap as Hansen, who started sixth, worked his way through the field.

When their cars ran into traffic midway through the 10th lap, Hansen slipped past Hart and steadily pulled away. Schroeder finished third.

“The traffic kind of worked to my advantage,” Hansen said. “(The other cars) had their line, and I was able to go around them rather than them getting in my way.”