Nicolas Hammann

Nicolas J. Hammann (born July 26, 1993)[1] is an American professional road racing driver. He won the 2014 U.S. GT Academy television show. Hammann made his first NASCAR start at Watkins Glen International in 2016.

Nicolas Hammann
Hammann at Road America in 2016
BornNicolas J. Hammann
(1993-07-26) July 26, 1993
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Achievements2014 GT Academy winner
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
4 races run over 3 years
2019 position65th
Best finish65th (2019)
First race2016 Zippo 200 at The Glen (Watkins Glen)
Last race2019 CTECH Manufacturing 180 (Road America)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 18, 2019.

Background
Hammann's 2008 kart at the Briggs & Statton Motorplex

Hammann helped at his family's garage in Elkhart Lake.[2] The village is the home of Road America. After his father quit racing, Hammann began racing karts as a six-year-old on the Karting Kettle (now the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex) at Road America.[3][4] He won track championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009.[5] In 2010, the 16-year-old got an SCCA license to race cars and competed in the STU and STL classes.[5][3] He raced at Road America's June Sprints SCCA, along with Blackhawk Farms, Gingerman Raceway, and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.[3] Hammann set the Kiel High School track and field record in the 800 meters and qualified for the state competition.[3] After graduating from high school, he went to college to study mechanical engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,[1] hoping to become a test driver.[3] He graduated in May 2018 with an concentration in motorsports.[6]

GT Academy

As he was finishing high school, Hammann heard about a racing competition on television show called GT Academy.[3] The show gives PlayStation Gran Turismo video game drivers a chance to compete in a variety of scenarios on real racing tracks. Only the fastest 32 drivers on a specified course advance to the following round.[3] He finished in the top 100 in high school then top 60 in his first year of college.[3] At a Road America race, he met one of the previous winners of the show who was racing professionally after beginning his career as a parts delivery driver.[3] The experience caused Hammann to see the potential of show and he began to take the competition very seriously; he studied other top competitors' lap times and frequently practiced.[3] His mother gave him improved steering equipment as a Christmas present.[3] Hammann raced over 3,400 miles (5,500 km) to obtain his best lap time and averaged nearly 300 miles (480 km) per day;[3] his best time was in the fastest 20 (within the top 32 positions out of 450,000 competitors)[3]) to advance to the next round in New York City.[4] He took a break from college to compete 2014 show.[1] Judges, including Danny Sullivan, interviewed Hammann to see how well he would represent Nissan, his fitness, and his skills.[3] He made the top 12 and was entered in a week-long competition at Silverstone, England.[4] Hammann won the competition.[1]

Racing career

After winning the show, Hammann was signed as a Nissan factory driver.[1] He earned an International license and competed in the 2015 Dubai 24 Hour endurance race.[7] His team of five drivers finished 5th overall (and second in the GT3 class)[5] in a Nissan GTR GT3 car.[8] He competed in several different classes at different tracks throughout the world including the Blancpain Sprint Series, IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, and Pirelli World Challenge.[5] For 2016, Hammann raced in the NISSAN MicraCup series in Quebec.

Hammann's NASCAR Xfinity Series car at Road America, 2016
Hammann's 2017 No. 17 Xfinity Series car at Road America, 2017

Hammann made his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start as a road course ringer at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2016. Hammann had been working at his family garage when Mike Harmon came in to have a tire serviced for the 2015 Road America 180. He asked Harmon to let him know if he ever needs a driver and Harmon called the following year.[9] He qualified to start 36th in the Mike Harmon Racing No. 74 for the Zippo 200 at the Glen.[10] His car was involved with a Kyle Busch spin; he recovered until his race ended with an oil leak after completing 67 of 82 laps for a 28th-place finish.[11] Hammann made his second start at the 2016 Road America 180 in his hometown. He qualified 33rd and passed several cars during the race.[12] He completed a total of 22 (of the 48) laps with his race ending early with mechanical issues.[12]

Personal life

Hammann's parents are Gary and Debbie Hammann; he has two older sisters.[3]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series
NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2016 Mike Harmon Racing 74 Dodge DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN
28		 MOH BRI ROA
36		 DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 68th 18 [13]
2017 17 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA
29		 DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 72nd 8 [14]
2019 Mike Harmon Racing 74 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA
15		 DAR IND LVS RCH CLT DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 65th 22 [15]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References
  1. "Nicolas profile". Gran-Turismo.com. Gran Turismo. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. Hansen, Scott (August 14, 2014). "Auto Racing: Local seizing opportunity to be pro driver". Sheboygan Press / USA Today Wisconsin. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  3. Mathes, Eric (January 10, 2015). "Hammann finishes first". Tri-County News. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  4. Lehman, Bert (June 2017). "Making the Most of It". Full Throttle. Waupaca, Wisconsin: Multi Media Channels LLC.
  5. "About Nicholas Hammann". Nicholas Hammann. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  6. Lambeth, Kobe (20 October 2019). "Nic Hammann Thrived In Homecoming Race". The Podium Finish. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  7. Domol, Anthony (March 31, 2017). "NEW Motorama 2017". Local 5 Live!. 2:35 minutes in. WFRV. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  8. "2015 official results". Dubai 24 Hour. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  9. "2016 Road America 180". NASCAR Xfinity Series race coverage. August 27, 2016. Event occurs at 13:39. Motor Racing Network. Road America feed (88.3 FM).
  10. "2016 Zippo 200 at the Glen qualifying results". Racing-Reference.
  11. "Zippo 200 at The Glen results". NASCAR. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  12. "2016 Road America 180". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  13. "Nicolas Hammann – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  14. "Nicolas Hammann – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  15. "Nicolas Hammann – 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
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