In a racing career that has spanned more than four decades, Ty Hanten has raced a bit of everything.
Motocross. Street stocks. Modifieds. Super Stocks. Winged and Non-Winged Sprints. He’s even raced Baja. To
“I started racing motocross when I was 10,” Hanten said. “I’ve got a wide variety of things (I’ve raced). I’ve been fortunate.”
The 52-year-old from West Fargo has been in the sprint class in recent years; he raced the NOSA 410 Sprints at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks for a few seasons before moving into the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars in 2021. The class, which was new to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo in 2021, gave Hanten a chance to race close to home.
“I’ve been racing at Grand Forks the last several years in the outlaw sprints. It was getting a little out of my funding league and now I can race five minutes from home,” Hanten said. “I’m around all my friends who race with me and help each other.”
He had a good debut season in the IMCA sprints, winning the points championship at Red River Valley Speedway. He had four wins and several runner-up finishes.
“We had a great year,” Hanten said. “There were four of us out here and all four of us won at least twice. It’s a very competitive class.”
After being around five cars during its debut season in 2021, numbers have increased in the IMCA sprints in 2022. At the July 1 show, 12 were in attendance.
Hanten has two wins and six top fives in seven starts this season. He leads the points at RRVS heading into this Friday’s show.
“Now we’ve gained some cars,” Hanten said. “We’ve doubled the class from last year; I look for it to be real competitive.”
Which class has been his favorite?
“Probably the sprint cars, both the 305 and 410,” Hanten said. “It knocked some things off of my bucket list.”
Hanten, who works at Trail King Industries, will get two chances to race his sprint this week as Norman County Raceway in Ada will host the class on Thursday as well.
“Consistency, I just want to be competitive,” Hanten said. “I tell my life I will continue to race as long as I can be competitive. Once I lose that edge, it’s no fun.”
Ty Hanten
IMCA RaceSaver Sprint #13
Residence: West Fargo, N.D
Age: 52
Sponsors: Ponderosa, PowerRich Fertilizer, Safety Benefits Inc. Evergreen Tax Service, Fargo-Moorhead Towing, Graphics Creations, Smile Solutions Dental
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