Another Aussie looking to make a future in NASCAR

Andrew Hagen is helping dig tunnels under the tropical city of Brisbane, not far from where he grew up in Australia. A few weeks ago, he was living in White Lake, pursuing a dream of making it as a NASCAR driver. Hagen, 24, isn't giving up. He returned Down Under in November to see his family and make some seed money. He will be back in Michigan in the New Year to resume his racing career, competing in the Must See Racing Extreme Sprint Series, one of the fastest short-track oval series in the country. In the past Hagen drove in the Super Late Model Series at tracks like Toledo Speedway and Auto City Speedway in a car owned by Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski. Hagen said he would like to run the series again, doubling it up with his dirt and pavement sprint-car program. "It's going to get busy on the track," said Hagen, a regular in the Michigan International Speedway media room since arriving in the U.S. a couple years ago. "Every time you get behind the wheel of a racecar is valuable. You learn something different." Right now, Hagen is working 20-hour shifts under Brisbane. He drives a truck hauling dirt out of the tunnels. "It's not glamorous but the pay is great," Hagen said. "Driving a truck underground at night is a little crazy but it all helps." Hagen drove a couple of sprint-car races late in the 2010 season, one at Berlin Raceway near Grand Rapids and the other at Anderson Speedway in Indiana. He will drive next year for Don and Suellen Wilshe, owners of Wilshe Motorsports Bio-Based USA team. Detroit Free Press