Following in her family’s footsteps, Indiana teen already making a name for herself on the race track
GOSHEN, Ind. (BVM) – Doug Hanna began auto racing in 1968. His son, Charlie, would later follow in his footsteps on the track, becoming a local racing legend. Now, Charlie’s daughter, Saige, is following the same path.
Saige is a 15-year-old rising sophomore at Goshen High School, where she plays both volleyball and softball. But her real passion is racing, a sport she has been around for most of her life.
Her grandfather, Doug, began racing over 50 years ago and was a racer who built and worked on his own cars. Doug excelled at the sport and, at one point, was even in the top 20 in the nation in late model feature wins.
Aspiring to be like his father, Charlie has become a well-respected racer who began with the sport in 1992 when he was 15 years old. Known as a clean driver who is beloved by many in Indiana, Charlie has spent time racing on both the American Speedway Association (ASA) and Championship Racing Association (CRA) circuits, where he has traveled to race at various tracks across the country.
Growing up around the race track, Saige enjoyed the family experiences the Hannas had when she was younger. She often spent time in the garage, cleaned windows inside the cars, and would fall asleep on the car when at the track.
When she was 13 years old, Saige began helping her dad more and more with his car, and realized that she wanted to try out racing for herself. But at first, her parents were not exactly keen on the idea.
“My dad was unsure when I first told him and my mom kind of freaked out,” Saige said. “She wasn’t ready for me to be in there after seeing my dad crash a couple times and knowing how rough the Hornet drivers can be. But after a while I talked my dad into it so he told my mom I should try it out and it went on from there.”
Saige and her family decided to wait a year to get her racing career started at the beginner level. The first time she finally set out to race, Saige had a bad crash on the track where she totaled her car. But after finding a new one, her racing career has taken off.
To this point in her career, Saige has competed in nearly 20 races, where she has picked up two feature wins. Currently, the 15-year-old competes in the Hornet Division at South Bend Motor Speedway, driving a 2004 Dodge Neon. There is not a lot that can be done to the car at the beginner level, and top speeds usually max out at 70 MPH.
But in just her fourth-ever race, Saige won the feature event, a surprising but proud moment for the new driver.
“I was very shocked that I won,” Saige said. “I would have finished second but the girl in front of me went over her time on the lap before the checkered flag and had to go to the back. I had to go to the back as well during the race after crashing one of the cars but I made it back up to second. That night was the champion night so I got a trophy too.”
Saige took home her second feature win earlier this year in her second race of the season. All of the races she has competed in thus far have come at the South Bend Motor Speedway, a place she and her family are very fond of.
“I really like South Bend because they treat everyone like family,” Saige said. “If you get hurt they are right there at your car door to get you out and check on you.”
Next year, Saige will begin racing at some different tracks as she competes at the street stock level. She will drive in a safer car that her grandfather has made and hopes to continue her success on the track.
By the time she races next year, Saige will likely have her actual driver’s license as well. There is no doubt that driving a race car on the track and a standard car on the road are very different, but it is unique that the 15-year-old can currently say she can drive a car without officially having a license.
“It’s actually very different when you drive an actual car compared to a race car but it’s also very cool to see that difference,” Saige said.
Already having two feature wins under her belt, Saige is following in the same path as both Doug and Charlie. But she also has the advantage of having two experienced racing legends in her corner, and has taken away many lessons from both early on in her career.
“Having instincts is a big part of racing and I definitely get that from my dad,” Saige said. “I get a lot of pointers from them like I need to go in higher on the corners and that you pay attention way in front of you and watch the leaders rather than watching the car in front of you.”
Saige will continue to race throughout the rest of the summer and will begin her sophomore year at Goshen High School in the fall. A multi-sport athlete, Saige also plays volleyball and softball at Goshen.
Last fall, volleyball tournaments and races often coincided making for some long days for the 15-year-old. But Saige appreciates that all of her coaches have been supportive of her racing career in addition to her high school athletics.
A former travel softball player, Saige decided to forgo playing travel ball this year to play at Goshen. But after making the team and battling back from a knee injury, her first season of high school softball was unfortunately canceled. However, the 15-year-old – who typically plays first base, third base, and left field – is looking forward to getting her first season in next spring.
But for now, Saige will continue to focus her time and efforts on the track. She has many goals for her future racing career, including competing in CRA as her father did years ago.
“My goal is to go into CRA in a couple years,” Saige said. “I also want to be known as a clean driver like my dad and really make a name for myself as my grandpa and my dad have.”
With the history the Hanna family has in the sport, it is no surprise to see Saige excelling on the race track, even at such a young age. As a natural talent with good genes on her side, it might not be long before another Hanna is deemed a local racing star.
