“It’s going to be an awesome experience! I’ve tested a bunch over the years with numerous NASCAR organizations, but to finally get my first shot behind the wheel is going to be an awesome experience,” said Hagen. “Hooking up with Venturini is a great opportunity – they’re serious about winning and fielding the best stuff week after week.”
Venturini Motorsports with driver, Steve Arpin, won the Southern Illinois 100 event in 2010.
In addition to competing in the Labor Day ARCA event, Hagen will also be driving Sunday night, September 4th at the DuQuoin mile in the USAC Silver Crown Series for the RE Technologies team in the No.99 car.
Since his return Darren has been explosive, picking up the gas where he left off and earning a combined 8 victories in the USAC national and regional series’.
Focusing on his strong faith and determination, Darren has set records and compiled an impressive list of racing accomplishments. But what is most refreshing about this 25-year-old from Riverside, California is his humility and good nature. He sees himself as part of a team and competes to win, not just for himself, but for his crew and his family.
While he dreams of someday driving a Sprint Cup Car, he knows his goal cannot be achieved without hard work and dedication in his daily life both on and off the track. He strives to lead his life in a way that any team or marketing partner would be proud to be represented by him.
Darren Hagen began his driving career with Go-Karts at the age of 11. By the time he finished his third season, he had won more than 90 races including the So Cal Championship, two Tri C Championships and the California Junior State Championship in Junior Sportsman and Super Box.
In 2005 he made USAC history by becoming the first driver ever to be awarded “Rookie of the Year” for both Sprint and Midget racing in the same season. In 2006, Darren won the “Hut Hundred” National Midget Car race at Terre Haute, and officially became “The Fastest Sprint Car Driver in the World” (2006-2010) by running a lap of 146.145 mph at Iowa Speedway. Darren held the prestigious title for 4 years until Shane Hmiel broke his record in May of 2010.
Collecting more hardware along the way, Hagen won the 2010 USAC National Midget Car Series Pavement Championship, feature winner at Toledo in the USAC National Midget Car Series, winner at Belle-Clair Speedway in the POWRi National Midget Series, swept the Gold Crown Midget Nationals at Tri-City (highest paid midget race of 2010) and won his Preliminary Night feature at the 2010 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
Practice for the 16th race of the 19-event 2011 ARCA Racing Series season will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at 11 a.m. and the 100-lap, 100-mile race going off at 1 p.m. The Southern Illinois 100 is the second of two dirt mile events on this season’s schedule. All times are Central Daylight, and ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage and live audio coverage of all on-track events.
Additional information on team, driver and sponsors can be found by visiting the following websites:
Venturini Motorsports – www.VenturiniMotorsports.com
Darren Hagen – www.DarrenHagenRacing.com
Lauren Briant, Country Music Artist – www.LaurenBriant.com
Manpower to Horsepower – www.ManpowertoHorsepower.org
- Venturini Motorsports Press Release
