Joey Hanssen’s racing career is mushrooming—literally.
The 17-year-old from Venray, the Netherlands, has made his foray into the world of the North American stock car by joining the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
Hanssen crossed the Atlantic to continue his dream of racing professionally. Initially, it was open-wheel Indy cars and after starting with go-karts at age four, he graduated to Formula cars at just 13.
He was having success in Europe, but an uncle, a manager at Prime Champ, the largest mushroom grower in Europe, steered Hanssen toward stock cars.
“I always wanted to race Indy cars, but I think NASCAR is a much stronger product. Indy is at a dead end.”
“My car is named the Mushroom Machine,” he said.
A friend of a friend approached D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas about running a second car in the NCATS. A deal was struck and Hanssen moved to St. Thomas.
His first race was two weeks ago in St. Eustache, Que., but following a pre-race engine change, he ran into more trouble late in the 250-lapper and the engine gave out.
“It’s too bad. I really enjoyed my first experience.”
At such a young age and with absolutely no time behind the wheel of a stock car until an April practice day at Delaware, Hanssen showed great poise and skill in his debut.
He said he,d never had the opportunity to drive one because there’s no stock car racing in Europe. We don’t even get NASCAR on TV.”
Kennington was impressed with Hanssen’s first effort.
“I grew up with the same background as Joey, from go-karts to Formula cars to stock cars, so I know what he,s feeling in these cars.
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