Christian Hanger
Christian Hanger has been one of the most successful racers in the South during the 2020 season. The 23-year-old driver has won sixteen features in the Crate Late Model division on multiple tracks across a wide region that has encompassed four states. And the Winchester, TN native is looking to broaden his range even further.
Hanger’s racing career has been a steady progression upward over the past several years. Now, he looks to take the next step up by planning to tour in a Super Late Model with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series during the winter months with an eye toward competing more frequently in that division.
“I feel like in the crate deal, for sure,” he replied to InsideDirtRacing.com when asked if his career is heading upward. “I feel like the crate deal is its own animal and we’ve run pretty well in it. We’ve run at about fifteen or twenty different tracks this year and I was able to win at about ten of them. The supers are a lot different. We’re trying to give it our best shot and get some laps in it and some seat time. That’s how I’ll get better in it. We’re going to hopefully run this Drydene deal and get a little more experience behind us and keep moving forward in that area.”
The driver known as ‘Highside Hank’ believes the key to this season’s success has been in the equipment he uses as well as the crew who assists him.
“First of all, it’s been our Rocket XR1, “Hanger declared. “It’s a phenomenal race car, and I love that thing. I’ve got a good crew behind me and my family. My crew chief, Michael Haney, and some other boys who come with me make it possible. We’ve got a good program and our maintenance is good and everything just kind of flows pretty good. Once we can step up and show our strength in this super deal, I’ll be satisfied. The crate deal, you can win all the crate races in the world, and it’s not going to be as satisfying as doing good in a super race.”
Hanger attributes the close relationship with Haney for their success together.
“He’s been with me for two full years now,” the driver declared. “He lives with me and works for me. We’re like brothers and it just works out well. When I’m at the shop, he’s at the shop.”
Christian Hanger’s No. 29 Rocket
Although the No. 29 team has raced in numerous locations this season, Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, TN is considered home.
“My dad once told me that if you can get around Duck River and win at that place you can win just about anywhere,” Hanger explained. “People call it the Fairbury of the South. It will blow up a cushion and you can beat the deck out of your car but sometimes it will get slick and smooth and you can run the bottom. It’s a great race track and having my roots being there, it helps me travel. We’ve won at ten different race tracks this year in four or five different states. I’d like to put the title on us as versatile. I think we’re good in any condition and we’ve got a chance.”
Because of damage to his primary Super Late Model car prior to the opening race of the Xtreme DIRTcar Series opener at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC on November 22nd, Hanger drove a Capital Race Car owned by Joe Denby.
Hanger typically drives his own Rockets but said the door could potentially remain open to drive more for Denby.
“Genuinely, I hope we can pay some bills with the crate racing and run the super stuff either part-time or maybe even more full-time if that deal takes off for us,” Hanger said of his plans for 2021. “I know I’m going to run for points in this Drydene deal and I may piddle with trying to run in the Southern All Stars points next year, something that’s a good starter series. I could even go run Ray Cook’s deal(Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals) to get our feet wet and really just buckle in on the super deal and try to gain some ground in it.”
The Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series will next race at the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN on Saturday, December 5th.
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