ASCS2 events are comprised of three classes of cars: the 600cc Outlaws, the Non-Wing class, and the Restricted "A" class, and - like the ASCS sprints - all three divisions utilize passing points to determine feature starting lineups.

With a full plate of the ASCS sprints' National and regional series, the Chili Bowl (which he promotes each year with partner Lanny Edwards) and Sprint Bandits Tour 'N' Topless events. Hahn claims he wasn't looking to form another series. It was his grandchildren that pulled him into the micro-sprint ranks.

"I've got three grandsons that are running [micro-sprints], and they've enjoyed it," the recent National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee explained . "I tell you what, it's good for the kids, good for their daddies. And so, that's what got me into it."

For 50 years, the NMMA was a premier sanctioning body for the "modified midgets," now often classified as micro sprints. However, in recent years the organization began losing affiliations with racetracks, and after an announcement that Coles County Speedway in Illinois would not be running any races sanctioned by the NMMA for the 2007 season, the organization's future was in question. While many of the organization's members are expressing the need to revitalize the group, presently the attempts are fragmented.

After becoming more involved with the micro-sprints, Hahn felt that the decline of the NMMA created a need for a strong sanctioning body.

"The National Modified Midget Association kinda went by the wayside, and they've been around as long as I can remember," Emmett Hahn explained. "Were just gonna come in and try to keep the engine stuff under control, and basically do what they were doing. And, we're gonna take a few of the rules out that are unenforceable.

"We want to stay similar to their rules and we'll just run three classes, set it up where we have a champion out of each state, to where these guys don't have to travel very far. Two races a month would be great; some of them will have more than that.

"I think this first year, if we can have six or seven states involved it would be good. And, one thing we can do with that is, when we have our Tulsa Shootout then we will take our 1st and 2nd out of each one of our states and let them come in and run for a championship, so we can really have a national champion in each one of the classes.

"And, I think we've got the people that can run the shows in each state. I know we've talked to some people in Arizona, we've talked to them in Texas, we ran them here in Oklahoma this season. Like I say, i think we can do six or seven states, but instead of calling them modified midgets we're just gonna call them what they are: 600 micro-sprints."

This season was a test year for the ASCS2 and the results in Oklahoma have been positive. Hahn feels the division has the same potential in other parts of the country as well, but wants to ensure that his new series proceeds realistically, with a focus on making it as easy as possible for racers to transition to the new series.

According to Hahn, "I think this is a series where we're gonna have to crawl before we can walk. We've made our deal with Hoosier, and the NMMA tire that they had stamped NMMA - that's a 50 compound - they're just putting our ASCS2 stamp on it, so that when we start they can run either an NMMA-stamped tire or one with the ASCS2 stamp. And, we'll just have some money up here for guys at the end of the year. And I think we can come in there and probably do a little bit better job on tech at some of the local racetracks, kind of get with the tracks a little bit regarding what they need to look for, because currently a lot of them don't do very much tech.

"And, it gives our guys down here an opportunity to run for a little bit more money. I talked to them at Phoenix last week, and their money's about like our deal here [in Oklahoma]. And it's not a lot of money, but I think if we can get it up there where some guys are running for $500-to-win then that'll just help them keep their cars going."

Within micro-sprint racing, rules can often vary greatly from one pocket of the country to the next and, with the collapse of the NMMA, Hahn sees an opportunity for a sanctioning body that could offer a uniform set of rules that could potentially benefit the races, as well as the promoters.

"Well, this is kinda what we did with 360s in sprint cars when we brought ASCS into the fold," said Hahn. "360s around the country were just going in different directions, and I think if we can catch it before it gets out of control with these 600s. I just think it would be a lot better. I think we can keep it under control. We've got some racetracks calling, saying "Hey, give us your rules where we can keep this thing on a national basis."

The plan is to utilize a uniform set of rules that can be adopted by tracks in different regions of the country to allow a racer who runs locally throughout the year the opportunity to compete in different areas of the country if he or she wishes, or in national events against a field running the same rules package. And, Hahn acknowledges that his series might not be for everybody. Despite the turmoil surrounding the NMMA. Hahn acknowledges that there are several micro-sprint organizations that have been, and continue to be, successful series.

"I'm not here to affect any of those guys. I mean, for example POWRi that Kenny Brown's got up around the St. Louis area. He's got a great thing going, good races, he's got some good cars. And, those guys travel six, seven, eight hours and that's good. I think he's got a good thing going.

"What we're trying to do is more what we do with our regional races - set up local regions where a guy can go race and come home and sleep in his own bed that night. We've gone through the National Speedway Directory and there's like 81 different racetracks we found that run micro-sprints. So, we went through the rules and put together a letter to them telling promoters what we're trying to do."

Hahn feels there are several areas in which whis sanctioning body can benefit racers and promoters. "For example, a lot of these micro-sprint tracks don't buy an abundance of medical insurance, so our little membership thing - kind of like our ASCS sprints - it lets them get some additional medical insurance at the racetrack."

So, what's the motivation behind forming a successful micro-sprint series? "If we can get some more families involved in this, whether it's the kids or the daddy or the older son, or what have you, that's our goal. Because those guys are the future of our sprint car races."

 By: Doug Auld