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Hahn Dominates ARCA Truckers at Flat Rock; Helps Find Missing Kids FLAT ROCK MI (5-31-08) – ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series veteran Paul Hahn dominated the Heritage Newspapers 100 Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. Outside of a brief challenge from Steve Christman early on, Hahn, in the no. 7 Hahn’s Powder Coating-Fox Auto Parts-Howe Racing Chevrolet Colorado, crossed the final stripe a half-lap in front of his closest competitor to earn his 18th career victory in his 80th series start. “We had a great truck; I can’t thank the crew enough,” said Hahn, who hails from nearby Canton, Michigan. “It’s great to come back to Flat Rock. I grew up at this track so this is a hometown victory for me.” The win also represented Hahn’s third consecutive series victory at Flat Rock and third consecutive series victory in 2008. In addition to earning the Bilstein Lap Leader honors for leading 78 of 100 laps, Hahn also picked up the 2BKool Pole Award and left town with the series point lead. “Last year, we got too wrapped up in the championship. This year, I told myself I’m just going to go out and give it my all and go for the win; and that’s exactly what we’re doing. I think we’re also leading the points now, so it must be working all the way around.” Hahn’s victory also puts him just six wins shy of Chad Guinn’s all-time series win total of 24. Hahn started the race from outside row three after an inversion of six and slipped underneath Christman off turn two for the lead on lap 12. However, Hahn’s lead was short-lived after Christman maneuvered inside of Hahn in lapped traffic to lead the 21st lap. But once Hahn regrouped, the former series tracked down Christman and reclaimed the lead on lap 32. From there, Hahn continuously pulled away from the pack. Christman, in the no. 19 Bagman Racing Chassis-R&B Fabrication Chevrolet, finished second after making an unscheduled pit stop just past the halfway point. Christman rejoined the field from the tail-end and charged through the pack in the outside groove but could do nothing with Hahn, who was already long gone. TJ Stineman finished third for the second consecutive race in his own no. 89 Front Row Fab-Cool World Thermal Barriers Dodge Dakota ahead of two-time series champion Bill Withers, who finished fourth in his no. 57 Mannings USA-Tubular Techniques-Hall Electronics Ford Ranger. Mike Young, in the no. 23 Dave White Chevrolet, finished fifth, the last truck on the lead lap. Norm Weaver, Duane Bischoff, Brad Yunker, Robbin Slaughter and Casite Rookie of the Year contender Kenny Kirsch completed the top-10 respectively. Kirsch, who started 17th in the field of 20, also earned the Ed & Company Hard Charger Honors for advancing the most positions. Ron Wells led the first eight laps before his transmission failed. The next event for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series is Friday, June 13th at Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio. Outside of Thrill of Victory, Hahn's Win Holds Extra Special Meaning....... Hahn's Chevy Colorado was emblazoned with an image of 16-year-old Sheniesha Kennedy, who has been missing from the Detroit area since February 26th. Sheniesha's mother Sheilah Kennedy and family made the trip to the track to witness the momentous victory. "I'm so glad Sheniesha's mom and family could be here tonight. I hope in some small way we were able to help - to make a difference. I have children of my own and can't imagine having to cope with one of them disappearing," added Hahn. "This is just our small way of helping families experiencing this type of crisis. Hahn, along with his father and team owner Paul Hahn, joined forces with the Wayne County Sheriff's Missing & Exploited Children's Task Force and Martin Gray, the Director of the Search for the Missing Children's Foundation, in an effort to find Sheniesha, whose case was featured by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Gray added, "Increased public awareness is our best chance of recovering children like Sheniesha. My hope is that someone will see her picture and call in the tip that will help Sheriff Evans reunite her with her family. Someone out there knows where she is and the Sheriff's office needs to hear from them." Hahn's truck featured images of Sheniesha on the hood and side panels, along with phone numbers for the Sheriff's office and NCMEC. "When the leads dry up, we have to try new things to reinvigorate our cases," Sheriff Evans said. "Mr. Gray's approach certainly is an attention getter, not only at the race itself, but through the media coverage it generates for these cases."
CONTACT:
2008 ARCA LINCOLN WELDERS TRUCK SERIES
EVENT #5
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