RPW Column: The Strong Woman Behind The Promoters; There’s Not One Thing Angela Hanson Hasn’t Done In This Sport

RPW Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Many times when you mention a race track, the promoter’s name usually comes up along with it. They are the ones that gets the acknowledgement and most of the credit. However, sometimes behind a good man is usually a good women.

We have the privilege of getting up close and personal with these special women that are behind the scenes of the race track. You could say they are the strong force and supporters of some of the most successful promoters of the Northeast. You could even say they’re the backbone.

We’ll take a look at their paths to how they became involved in the sport and what what their responsibilities are at the racetrack…and maybe a little bit more.

The final part of this series is with another strong and energetic women in racing, Angela Hanson. Hanson works for Brett Deyo’s BD Motorsports Media, which includes the Short Track Super Series as well as the Fonda and Georgetown Speedway.

In addition to that, Angela’s also a racing wife. She’s married to Modified driver Craig Hanson and has two children, a nine-year-old son, Cooper and six-year-old daughter, Alayna. Talk about a full plate!

Angela’s been a part of racing from day one.

“I was born into it,” Hanson said. “My father is Vermont campaigner Frank Hoard Sr. He and my brother, Frank Jr., have raced for many years at the dirt tracks in the Northeast. That’s where we grew up. My playground was at the races.”

However, the male figures in the Hoard family weren’t the only racers to sit behind the wheel over the years. Always having the desire to race, Angela got her chance to run a few enduro’s at the different tracks.

That only fueled her passion, though. In 2005, she decided to buy a Bicknell car for her then boyfriend, Craig Hanson. She set out to tackle the open wheel world.

After two years of racing together as a team, Craig decided to jump into a Big Block Modified that was owned by his parents. So, with her car sitting there, she said why not? Her and her team put a Crate motor in it and she went Sportsman racing.

The lady racer ran over 40 races at a variety of tracks in the open wheel class in 2007.

“I actually ran Malta and then went to Glen Ridge on the same night for the entire season,” she said. “I always had to start in the back when I got to the Ridge, though, because the lineup was set.”

Angela would race for three years before hanging up her helmet. She never got to victory lane but had a lot of strong finishes.

In 2009, Angela and Craig tied the knot and one year later, their son was born.

Then, came a turn of fate. Out of the blue, while sitting with her son in the stands at Glen Ridge watching her husband race, Angela was approached by someone asking if she knew how to do handicapping and points for the drivers. Her reply was yes, and what she thought was just a one-night deal turned into her new career path in the sport.

When promoter Pete Demitraszek left Glen Ridge in 2016 to run the Fonda Speedway, Hanson stayed on. However, she followed Pete to the Track of Champions. She was now doing the handicapping and points for both tracks, only miles apart.

The big question though, is how did she get affiliated with Brett Deyo?

“He came to Glen Ridge one night scouting to see if any drivers would be interested in attending his Five Mile Point Supernationals “Working Mans” race in 2013,” she said. “He was in the tower and took notice of what my jobs were for the track. However, he was really trying to get us to bring our Modified to run his race.”

Deyo’s persuasion must have done the trick.

“It worked,” she said. “Craig didn’t want to go, but after I convinced him, it turned out to be a pretty good trip for us.”

Not only did he go, Craig won the event.

“I told him it’d be fun,” she said. “It ended up being all of that and more.”

The win has been Craig’s biggest to date and, to think, he didn’t even want to go.

From that point on, the Hanson’s were in Deyo’s corner.

“In 2014, Brett started the Short Track Super Series,” she said. “We supported it for two years. Then, Brett approached me to see if I was interested in joining his team. I graciously accepted.”

What did her job entail?

“I pretty much did the same type of thing that I had been doing previously,” she said. “Driver registration, line ups, handicapping and finish order. I also run the Super Series’ booth during the winter months at the indoor shows. When Brett became promoter at Georgetown Speedway in 2016, my roles stayed the same there as well.”

Things got a little more hectic in 2019 when Deyo leased the track that was only ten minutes away from my home, the Fonda Speedway.

“Hectic, you say” she laughed. “I was ready for the challenge to take on more responsibilities being that the Deyo’s live in the state of Delaware.”

Angela still does the same jobs. However, now she prepares things more during the week in addition to raceday.

“I’m definitely always looking to improve,” she said. “I like to be as efficient as I can. I must mention that Bryon Davis has helped me tremendously on the technical side of scoring and handicapping. His help has really made things a lot easier and appreciate what he’s done.”

What does Hanson do at her home track?

“I’m doing what you’d say is office management,” she said. “I handle the paperwork side of things like organizing tickets and employee’s for the back gate. I can be seen at the back gate window signing people in and greeting sponsor…showing them where to go. I sign in the Media and taking care of season pass holders. If there’s a list, I’m filling it.

Hanson does a lot to keep the track going each week.

“I also get the driver’s names on pay envelopes to fill,” she said. “I’m usually the last one out of the pits, closing up with Jamie Page.”

What is it like working for Brett?

“Brett’s a lot of fun,” she said. “We have a great team! He’s very passionate at what he does and likes to have fun doing what he loves.”

How important does she feel the role of women in racing is?

“It’s great and I wish there was more of it,” she said. “Women should get more involved and be seen as equals on and off the track.”

In the position she’s in, what is the best part?

“I’d have to say I love the traveling,” she said. “We get to go to so many places and tracks. Brett’s always trying to do something special at each event we go to.”

The worst?

“You’re going to laugh at this, but it’s also the traveling,” she said. “It’s tough when you have two young children needing childcare. That can make things very complicated and hectic.”

In the way this world has changed over the last few months, how is she handling the COVID-19 pandemic?

“We are all in limbo,” she said. “I’ve become a first and third grade teacher to my children. However, as far as the track goes, we were ready to open as soon as we were given the chance. The new racing surface at Fonda is great. We also cleaned things up around the Fairgrounds. I also have a hair salon in Vermont that has been shut down during this time. That hurts.”

In closing Angela wanted to state that she has been a part of racing her whole life, and with that, she’s met many great people.

“The racing community is just amazing,” she said. “I’m so happy that over the years, Craig and myself have been able to develop such a great relationship with Brett and his wife, Heather. They are our family!”