#31h - Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH)

First Chili Bowl Appearance

A 12-year Dirt Late Model star, Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH, is slated to make his first O'Reilly Chili Bowl appearance in January 2004.

The son of four-time USAC Stock Car champion Butch Hartman, 34-year-old Bart Hartman has etched his name into the record books of Dirt Late Model racing, winning a number of major events over the years and picking up National Late Model Driver of the Year honors in 1998.

In keeping with his tradition of not chasing points, Hartman raced an "outlaw" style schedule again in 2003 in search of money races, picking up six feature wins along the way

Hartman will kick off 2004 in an entirely new environment, as he makes his first career Midget outing aboard one of Donnie Lehmann's machines at the 18th Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals.

For the rest of the 2004 season, it was recently announced that Hartman will be at the helm of the Rocket Chassis Dirt Late Model "house" car. 

Car Owner:  Lehmann Racing

Chassis:  Maxim

Engine:  Fontana

Sponsors:  Urgent Cash, Ferguson Pontiac & GMC, RJS Racing Equipment, KECO, Hoosier Tire, Weld, Pro, Scott Performance Wire, Express Sign, Callahan Motorsports, Peterson, Fontana, Dairy Queen, DSR, Lehmann Racing Products, Fuel Safe, Maxim, APS, Discount Paints

Photo:  Bart Hartman picks up a $10,000 winner's check.  (Photo courtesy of Rick Schwallie)