Jace Hansen Hopes to get Rowdy at “All-Star Showdown”

After taking much of the 2020 racing season off, while their new Rowdy Manufacturing Super Late Model was being built, one highly successful Colorado race team will be getting the 2021 season off to an early start. Jace Hansen, and the Jim Egli owned team, will make the trip from Greeley, CO to Irwindale Speedway to compete in the “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 200” on February 6th. The event will be one of the most prestigious races on the West Coast in 2021, and will also serve as the 21st season opener for the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series.

Hansen will be bringing their new Rowdy Manufacturing Super Late Model to Irwindale Speedway for the first time. Hansen debuted the new car at the October Classic at Kern County Raceway, qualifying second behind Preston Peltier. He then finished the feature just behind five-time series champion Derek Thorn, in the runner-up position, impressing those on hand. His second event at the LVMS Bullring and Dirt Track found him tied at the top of the Overall Practice board Friday night with Peltier. A disappointing qualifying effort on Saturday, however, found Hansen 16th of the 42 teams that appeared. Unfortunately for Hansen, an incident on lap two ended his night prematurely, and sent his new car back to the Rowdy shop for repairs.

The two-time SLM Championship Runner-up and six-time winner at Colorado National Speedway, will now turn his attention to the $30,000-to-win All-Star Showdown. Hansen and the Jim Egli owned team are excited for the chance to compete against what will be one of the toughest fields of Super Late Models east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a great way to start the season in their new Super Late Model, after only two starts in 2020. 

“The whole team is very anxious to get this season started, Hansen told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “While missing a majority of the season last year, we spent a lot of time revamping our program. This new piece from Rowdy Manufacturing has been so strong the first two outings, so we are really hoping for the same at Irwindale, one of my favorite tracks!”

This will be Hansen’s 14th start in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, after competing for Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2019. Hansen was in contention for the rookie title, until the penultimate event of the season, when he missed the October Classic with his wife expecting their first-born child. Hansen ultimately finished 11th in the final championship standings and third in the rookie battle behind Tyler Fabozzi and Jesse Love. The 2019 season found Hansen scoring five top-10’s in eight events. But with a new Super Late Model in 2020, he scored his best series finish of second at the October Classic. It was an event that gives Hansen more confidence, as he heads to Irwindale.

“If we were even able to compete for a win, that would be a huge accomplishment for us”, Hansen described. “Being able to compete with Derek Thorn at the “October Classic”, with the season he has had, that helped our team gain a lot of confidence. Winning $30K would be a huge accomplishment for our small group of guys, and would also open the doors to make some other races we have on our bucket list!”

With the driver and team possessing the potential to run up front, Hansen is optimistic about their season. The team would like to pursue an ambitious schedule in 2020 leading off with the All-Star Showdown. That schedule will depend upon sponsorship, but Jace is thankful for the support he receives from his team owner and team.

“As we are still looking for a main sponsor, I have to thank Jim Egli and the guys at the shop”, Hansen declared, “They keep this program afloat. We are all very fortunate to be able to compete in big events such as the All-Star Showdown.”

With the help of Bob Bruncati, the 2021 “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown” will pay $30,000 to the winner of the 200-lap feature event at Irwindale Speedway. The Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services, as well as the Spears Modified Series will join the action, racing for $15,000 and $5,000 respectively. An optional Test Day is slated for Thursday, with the official Practice Day getting underway on Friday.

Saturday, Race Day, will see the Super Late Models practice from 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM, with Qualifying for all divisions beginning at 2:30 PM with the Modifieds, Pro Late Models and Super Late Models, proceeding in that order. Opening Ceremonies are slated for 4:30 PM, with “B”-Main Events set for 5:00 PM. The “Pro Late Model Showdown 150”, “Modified All-Star Showdown 100”, and the “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 200” will follow.

For those unable to attend, the event will be shown live at www.SpearsRacing.TV and on a delayed basis on MAVTV.

Celebrating its twenty-first season in 2021, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.