JEROME, Idaho — September 27, 2012)- 15-year old Hannah "Hurricane" Newhouse is set for the next leg of her NASCAR journey after recently having been selected to attend the NASCAR Drive for Diversity combine next month. Newhouse will pilot the Thompson Motorsports #60 Chevrolet in the NASCAR K&N Pr Series NAPA Auto Parts "150" on Saturday at Napa Speedway located outside Albuquerque, NM.
"Hannah Newhouse and Braden Havens to Pilot Thompson Motorsports Entries in New Mexico "
15-year old Hannah Newhouse to make first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series start this weekend at Napa Speedway in Albuquerque, NM
After finishing a successful rookie season close to home at Magic Valley Speedway where she won six races and claimed seven time awards in the 20-race championship, Newhouse is moving her racing career forward.
"I have learned so much this season and cannot thank Rich Thompson, Brett Thompson and the entire team for all they have done for me this season," Newhouse said.
Newhouse embraces an even bigger challenge this weekend as she makes her NASCAR K&N Pro Series debut . "I am so excited about the opportunity to drive at the next level," Newhouse offered. "This will be an incredible experience and I just hope to show people that I can do this and be competitive."
There is no doubt that Newhouse will be competitive and will turn her first laps in the car on Friday during an open practice session. "I am glad for the Friday practice," Newhouse said. "Just the chance to run laps and get comfortable in the car will do a lot for me. I can't wait to get on track."
Newhouse was recently selected for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity combine October 16-18 at Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA.
"I am so excited to have been selected for the Drive for Diversity Combine," Hannah Newhouse said. "This is a chance to show the rest of the racing world that small town Idaho girls can race. I am really looking forward to meeting the rest of the participants and showing NASCAR what I can do."
17 participants were selected from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Newhouse is the youngest participant at only 15-years of age but she is also one that has had the most success behind the wheel this season.
The 2013 Rev Racing team will be selected from among the 2012 Rev Racing drivers and this years Combine participants.
Meanwhile, Braeden Havens returns to the #61 Western Rail Chevrolet after a two-month hiatus. Havens was last in the Thompson Motorsports machine back in July at Colorado National Speedway">Colorado National Speedway where he finished tenth in the 150-lap race.
Havens has five starts for the Thompson team and has demonstrated real talent behind the wheel finishing each race and rolling the car on the trailer at the end of the night finishing now worse than 13th with two top ten performances.
"I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the Thompson Motorsports Impala. The team has given me great equipment all season long and we know that the layoff will not be a factor going into the weekend," Havens said. "This won't be the first time in the season we've had some time off between starts so we'll go into the race like before with the approach of dialing the car in quick and getting laps under our belt for the 150."
While Havens has not been competing full-time on the K&N Pro Series, his results in limited opportunities have the 18-year old sitting inside the top-20 in the driver's points standings while his team holds down the 10th place position in the owner's standings. The NAPA 150 is a chance to keep both marks intact and possibly improve on them, according to Havens.
"I set out this season to run seven races on the series and Thompson Motorsports has had a solid year each time Brett (Thompson), myself or anyone else has jumped into the car. To be inside the top-10 owner's points is a big deal for the team and I want to keep that going this weekend.
The 18-year recently started college in his hometown of Spokane, WA and hopes that academic excellence translates to on-track success.
About Thompson Motorsports
Thompson Motorsports is a premier racing organization based in Jerome, Idaho providing complete race car preparation and fabrication supporting the local grassroots racer and experienced professional driver. TMS prepares and fields race vehicles in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series, Intermountain Pro Truck Series, and entries at local area short tracks. TMS has corporate partnerships with Rich Thompson Trucking Inc. (RTTI), Jerome Truck Service Inc., Eibach Springs, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Mothers Polishes and Waxes, Schroeder Torsion Bars, United Oil, Speedbear Fasteners, and Hagerman Valley Spring Water. For all the latest news and information about Brett Thompson and Thompson Motorsports, log onto www.brettthompsonracing.com or NASCAR Hometracks. For all the latest west coast racing action, log onto www.racingwest.com.
