http://espn.go.com/action/news/story?page=x-games-16-invited-riders-rally
Traverse City, MI — T. Hanson Motorsports has been invited to compete in Rally Car Racing at X Games 16 in Los Angeles, California from July 29th – August 1st. This will be driver Travis Hanson’s second invitation to the X Games. “I am really excited to be invited back to X Games. When we were invited in 2008 I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience. I guess we are going to get another shot at competing on this amazing stage," said Hanson after learning of the invitation.
The X Games is the premier event in the extreme sports world and sets the stage for competition across various sports including skateboard, BMX, rally racing, and others. Rally Car Racing for X Games 16 will be held in the historic LA Memorial Coliseum. Rally Car Racing is the extreme sport of auto racing. Two drivers go head to head with each other on dirt and tarmac course full of hairpins, fast straits, and big jumps.
"The competition is going to be really strong this year. The best drivers from North America and a few from around the world will push hard for Gold. The other teams are bringing lots of fire power and it will be interesting to see how I compare," stated Hanson. The invitation is an honor as only twelve of the best drivers get one. It means that Hanson will be competing with big names in rally and action sports like Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, Dave Mirra, and former Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack.
Hanson’s team is seriously as grassroots as one could be. Travis runs the team with his father/co-driver Terry and they compete with a white 2007 Subaru WRX STi, not far removed from the same one that can be bought off the sales-lot. Nearly every dime the team has spent has come from their own pockets. They are truly a "peoples" team because they prove that anyone with enough heart and ambition can come out and transform themselves from spectators into competitors and do this. Travis has proved that with enough heart and ambition anyone can come out and compete with the super stars of action sports in the X Games.
Despite Hanson’s success this year in the Rally America Series with three first place in-class finishes and his current second place position in the Super Production class ranks, Hanson still doesn’t have a solid sponsor. His plain white Subaru has become well known with the fans as he pressures the top open class competitors, Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, etc, for an overall podium finish. "There is only a month until X Games and we are searching really hard for some sponsorship. Any help we receive is definitely going to make us more competitive." Hanson is hopeful of obtaining sponsorship for the X Games because of its live broadcast on ESPN and ABC as well as its usual high spectator cout—35,000 people last year.
People are already talking about Hanson and the upcoming X Games. “The biggest upset in X Games rally car racing history came at X Games 14 when Travis beat PWRC favorite Niall McShea in their preliminary match up. I expect nothing less from Travis at X Games 16,” said J.B. Niday, Rally America’s Managing Director.
Hanson was also selected as an alternate athlete for Super Rally, a version of rally racing that involves multiple cars racing door to door on dirt in adrenalin fueled matches. This means that if one athlete is unable to participate, Hanson will be looking at two shots for gold.
"My team and I have worked really hard to get to this point. We have more work ahead of us, but I know we can succeed," said Hanson. Hanson has performed brilliantly this season and looks towards heading to the X Games at the end of the month. Until then Hanson has his eye on the New England Forest Rally in Maine, July 16-17. A good position there would seal a Super Production championship and set him up for a promising showing at X Games 16 as he goes for gold.
Follow T. Hanson Motorsports on Facebook and Twitter @thanson523. For more information on T. Hanson Motorsports contact Travis at t.hanson523@gmail.com
Photo Credit: Tim Williams, trwr39@gmail.com, twitter: TeeArrWilliams
http://www.rallybuzz.com/travishanson-xgames16-invite/
