 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
This weekend Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing Team will be at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. If
Mother Nature cooperates this two-day show will be full of exciting sprint car action. You can listen to all of the racing
action at www.dirtvision.com for up to the minute coverage.
Knoxville Raceway is a ½ mile, slightly banked dirt oval located at the north edge of Knoxville on ST 14 (WSR)
(fairgrounds). You can view their website at www.knoxvilleraceway.com for results, news, photos, and tickets. You can
reach them via telephone at 641-842-3220 for more information.
Also this weekend, on Sunday, June 8, SPEED will be airing the race action from May 16, 2008 at Williams Grove
Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. This will air from 1-2 p.m. (EST). Be sure to check with your local satellite or cable
company for the SPEED channel.
Also we have new 2008 t-shirts available along with our hero cards. We look forward to seeing all of you again and
meeting new fans. Thanks for all your support and we will see you at your local track.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
5/25/08 update: The PlumbFast Racing team had a real strong performance Saturday night at Sawyer's Virginia Motor
Speedway. At the time of publishing, the official results are not yet posted, but will soon at www.worldofoutlaws.
com/sprint. However, a press release from VMS has been published to their site, and here it is:
Meyers gets fifth win of season in first ever appearance to Virginia Motor Speedway
Jamaica, VA – The first ever appearance by the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series to Bill Sawyer’s
Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA was everything it was billed to be and more as Clovis, CA Jason Meyers held
off Daryn Pittman of Owasso, OK to pick up his fifth win in eleven races driving his Elite Racing #14 GLR Investments,
Elite Landscaping, Primerica Financial, Charlie Garrett powered KPC.
Meyers looked untouchable from the drop of the green flag as here rocketed to the lead from his outside front row
starting position to lead the first lap. As Meyers pulled away the battle for second on battle heated up. On lap 7 the
races only caution came out for Tony Bruce Jr. who made heavy contact with the turn 2 wall. On the restart Joey
Saldana rocketed to the outside of Sam Hafertepe Jr. to take over the third spot. Hefertepe battle back as the two
raced side by side, swapping the position back and forth over the next seven laps.
On lap 16 Meyers and Pittman began working heavy traffic. Pittman got to the inside of Meyers out of turn four taking
the lead at the line. Pittman’s stay at the top was short lived as Meyers wrestled the lead away on lap 18.
Pittman kept applying the pressure, looking for a way around the very fast Myers as they worked lapped traffic. Meyers
was up to the task as he held off Pittman to record his fifth win of the season and extending his current point lead.
“What an exciting race, this facility is just awesome and the track was perfect. I was better with an open track; I
struggled a bit when we were in traffic. We have worked awful hard to get to this point, and getting another win tonight
and extending our point lead gets us heading in the right direction, towards a championship,” commented Meyers in
victory lane.
Rounding out the top five were Daryn Pittman, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Jac Haudenschild and Joey Saldana.
5/23/08 update: The time has arrived for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the PlumbFast Racing Team. The cameras from SPEED
will again be rolling LIVE on Friday, May 23 from 8-11 p.m. Eastern, as the series returns to the blazing fast four-tenths
mile for the Rite Aid Outlaws Showdown tonight at the Dirt Track at Lowe¢s Motor Speedway for the first of many
televised races. Sam and the team will be racing tonight Friday, May 23, 2008 and you can catch all of the action live on
the Speed Channel, check your local cable or satellite television line-up. The television broadcast will begin at 8 p.m.
(EST) and will be a live 3-hour broadcast. If you do not have the Speed Channel you can also list to it at www.dirtvision.
com. For more information, such as tickets and activities you can check out www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. We will
have our hero cards and t-shirts available in the pits after the races. Be sure to stop by and say hello and take
pictures. If you share your photos with us you might see yourself on our website at www.sam15.com. We hope to see
you at your favorite local dirt track.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
5/18 PM update: Well, broken record. Tonight's scheduled WoO event in New York has been rained out. So, we'll see if
the weather can straighten out for our live TV event this coming Friday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway!
5/18/08 udpate: We just can't shake the weather it seems. Last night's rescheduled WoO event at Williams Grove was
cancelled due to rain right after the races began. Tonight we are to race in Middleton, NY; and the forecast there
doesn't look so hot either. Please stay tuned to www.WorldofOutlaws.com/sprint for the latest news on tonight's races.
5/9/08 update: The past several weeks Mother Nature has not been a dirt track fan. Many tracks across the country
have been closed due to inclement weather. However, with the summer months fast approaching there should be
some good racing taking place each weekend.
Tonight's scheduled WoO event at Tri-City Speedway has been postponed due to rain, and has been rescheduled for
June 8.
Then on Saturday, May 10, 2008 Sam and the PlumbFast Racing team will be at Paducah, Kentucky at the Paducah
International Raceway, a ¨3/8 mile, high-banked clay oval. To reach this track take I-24 to exit 11, then 0.4 miles south on
Husband Road (SR 1954), then 1.9 miles east of Lydon Road (SR 3075), then 1.3 miles south on Oaks (SR 450), then 0.9
miles west on Shemwell Lane (near airport). You can view their website at www.paducahraceway.com for news, photos,
results, and ticket information. Their phone number is 270-898-7469.
On behalf of Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the entire PlumbFast Racing team we would like to wish a very Happy Mother¡¯s
Day to all of our female fans.
If you are unable to attend the races you can hear all the action live on www.dirtvision.com for up-to-the minute
information. Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
5/2/08 update: Broken record...tonight's races in Missouri have been rained out. We'll try again tomorrow at Knoxville
Raceway.
4/12/08 update: The races tonight at Eldora Speedway have been rained out.
4/11/08 update: Friday, April 11, 2008 and Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Eldora
Speedway is a half-mile high banked clay oval racing facility located in western Ohio just 2.5 miles north of Rossburg on
ST 118 (ESR). You can visit their website at www.eldoraspeedway.com for results and information or via telephone at
(937) 338-3815.
Our shirts will be available for purchase via our website and at each of the races.
Thank you for your support.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
3/21/08 update: Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will be racing in the state of Oklahoma. On Friday,
March 21, 2008, and Saturday, March 22, 2008, Sam and the team will be racing at the Spring Nationals at the State Fair
Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
State Fair Speedway is located on the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds near the intersection of 10th and May Ave. Tickets
are $20.00 for adults, Seniors and Students are $15.00, and children 5 & under are free. Pit passes are $30.00 per night.
Their website is www.statefairspeedway.com or via telephone (405)-948-6796 or (405)-948-6752 for tickets or further
information. We will have our t-shirts available for sale at the track as well as through our website at www.sam15.com.
We look forward to seeing all of our fans, family, and friends.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
3/13/08 update: Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will be racing at home. On Friday, March 14, 2008,
and Saturday, March 15, 2008, Sam and the team will be racing at the 35th Annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Devil’s
Bowl in Mesquite, Texas.
To reach Devil’s Bowl, take US Highway 80 east of Mesquite to the Lawson Road exit (six miles east of the I-635
interchange). The speedway is three miles south on Lawson Road. Tickets are $25.00 for adults, Children 6-11 are
$10.00, and children 5 & under are free. Reserved seating is an additional $4 to the general admission price.
Their website is www.devilsbowl.com or via telephone 972-222-2421 for tickets or further information. We will have our
t-shirts available for sale at the track as well as through our website at www.sam15.com.
We look forward to seeing all of our hometown fans, family, and friends.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
March 1, 2008 update: Fans, friends, and family…..
After having the last two weeks of racing rained out, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will finally get
to lay down some rubber. The weather and Mother Nature are cooperating for a one-night event. On Saturday, March 1,
2008 at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona. Manzanita Speedway is a ½ & 1/3 mile, semi-banked clay oval tracks.
To reach the track take I-10 to exit 141, then go 4 miles south on 35th Avenue to West Broadway. The track website is
www.manzanitaspeedway.us and their telephone number is (602) 276-7575.
Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/22/08 update: Fans, friends, and family…..
After a disappointing weekend of rain in Mississippi and the race being postponed to a later date, Sam Hafertepe, Jr.,
and the PlumbFast Racing team have headed out to California. However, Mother Nature is not letting up with rain on
the West Coast. At this time we have just received word from the World of Outlaws that the race in Thunderbowl
Raceway in Tulare, California has been canceled and at this time no rain date has been set up.
Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/11/08: Fans, friends, and family…..
This Saturday, February 16, 2007, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will be in Magnolia, Mississippi.
This is the only deep south visit that the Advanced Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint series will make in the 2008
season.
Sam and the team will be racing at the Pike County Speedway located in Magnolia, Mississippi. Pike County Speedway
is a 3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval. To reach the track take I-55 to exit 8, then 0.2 miles east on Gillsburg Road (SR 568).
For more information you can view the track’s website at www.pikecountyspeedway.com or call them at 601-783-2500.
Pit Gate Open 2:00pm
General Admission 4:00pm
Driver Registration cut off 5:30pm
Hot Laps 6:30pm
Racing 7:30
If you are unable to attend the race you can hear all the action live on www.dirtvision.com for up-to-the minute
information. Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/2/08:
LAKE CITY, FL (2-1-08) by Bryan Autullo - All Star PR Director
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions kicked off the 2008 season with an appearance at North Florida Speedway in
Lake City, FL. The first night of the two night show saw 27 cars and stars signed in to do battle in the Icebreaker 2008:
The Sunshine Showdown.
Defending All Star champion Greg Wilson struggled early missing the transfer spot and would start on the pole of the B-
main.Wilson took the green flag, then ran off an hid from the remainder of the field. TJ Stutts finished second with 2008
rookie contender Ryan Meyers third. Paul McMahan, who struggled early with motor issues, took the final transfer spot.
The All Stars implemented a new twist on an old idea in having six young fans join the Top Six A-main starters on the
front stretch to redraw for their starting positions. After the re-draw, Brian Paulus was sitting on the pole for the main
event next to Randy Hannagan. Dale Blaney was shuffled to the third starting position and Brock Mayes to the fourth.
Lucas Wolfe was lined up on the inside of the third row, and Sam Haefertepe Jr. would take the outside of row three.
When the green flag flew on the first ever 410 sprint car A-main at this speedway, Dale Blaney jumped out to the early
lead as Randy Hannagan and Brock Mayes battled hard side by side. Sam Haefertepe Jr took the opportunity to cruise
around the two of them to challenge Brian Paulus for second. Haefertepe got by Paulus and set his sights on Blaney
who was coming into lapped traffic. Haefertepe shot past Blaney only to have the caution fly for Kaley Gharst who was
slowing on the front stretch. “I was really hoping we got that lap compete, but I knew once we got back to lapped traffic
that we may be able to do something with him,” said Hafertepe. “I hate to show somebody my nose and have the
caution come out like that. We got the lapped traffic and it worked in our favor.”
On the restart, it was Blaney, Haeftertepe, Paulus, Hannagan, and Mayes as the green flag flew once again. Lance
Dewease made a charge to the front and challenged Mayes for fifth, eventually taking the spot. Blaney was pulling
away from the field, but slipped up a bit in traffic in turn four, allowing Haefertepe to take advantage and charge into
the lead on lap 12 of the 25 lap event.
At the half way point, Haefertepe was holding off Blaney as Paulus and Hannagan were nose to tail. Hannagan finally got
around Paulus and moved into the third spot as Dewease jumped into fourth. Dewease started to give Hannagan fits as
the laps were winding down. Blaney chased Haefertepe down in traffic, but ran out of laps to make a final challenge on
the kid from Texas.
At the line it was Haefertepe over Blaney, Hannagan, Dewease, and Paulus on the fast 4/10 mile speedway. “The track
was really racy for the feature,” said Haefertepe. “Our car was really hooked up good in the feature. He (Blaney) made a
little mistake and we didn’t.”
The entire event was run with very few incidents, which considering it was the first night of All Star action in 2008, was
quite an accomplishment. The North Florida crowd saw some great racing with the ultra-fast 410 sprints putting on an
exiting show as the All Stars will begin to tally season points with a long season ahead. Will Greg Wilson defend his
championship? Or will one of the other stars step up and give him a run for the money by the time September rolls
around?
Be sure to come out to North Florida Speedway for Night #2 of the Icebreaker 2008: The Sunshine Showdown on
Saturday February 2nd. Gates open at 5pm, racing is at 8pm. Visit www.northfloridaspeedway.com or www.allstarsprint.
com for more info.
North Florida Speedway (2-1-08)
All Star Circuit of Champions
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.378; 2. 15-Sam Haefertepe, 14.456; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 14.536; 4. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 14.732; 5.
11B-Brock Mayes, 14.746; 6. 28-Brian Paulus, 14.813; 7. 39-TJ Stutts, 14.835; 8. 2-Dale Blaney, 14.900; 9. 30C-Lance
Dewease, 14.929; 10. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 14.946; 11. 18-Tony Bruce Jr., 14.955; 12. 6F-Bob Felmlee, 15.008; 13. 25-
Chad Layton, 15.014; 14. 22B-Ben Gregg, 15.122; 15. 51R-Fred Rahmer, 15.163; 16. 71M-Paul May, 15.279; 17. O9-Craig
Mintz, 15.293; 18. 11M-Brandon Martin, 15.303; 19. 8H-Dustin Morgan, 15.366; 20. 51-Kaley Gharst, 15.372; 21. 22-Greg
Hodnett, 15.812; 22. 56R-Ryan Myers, 15.932; 23. 4N-Neil Shepherd, 16.050; 24. 16S-Lee Stark, 16.248; 25. 4-Casey
Shuman, 16.256; 26. 0-Paul McMahan, 18.204; 27. 3-Claire Wintermeyer, 18.622;
Heat 1 -
1. 22-Greg Hodnett; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease; 3. 25-Chad Layton; 4. O9-Craig Mintz; 5. 11B-Brock Mayes; 6. W20-Greg
Wilson; 7. 4-Casey Shuman;
Heat 2 -
1. 11M-Brandon Martin; 2. 15-Sam Haefertepe; 3. 22B-Ben Gregg; 4. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 5. 28-Brian Paulus; 6. 56R-
Ryan Myers; 7. 0-Paul McMahan;
Heat 3 -
1. 8H-Dustin Morgan; 2. 4N-Neil Shepherd; 3. 51r-Fred Rahmer; 4. 18-Tony Bruce Jr.; 5. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 6. 39-TJ
Stutts; 7. 3-Claire Wintermeyer;
Heat 4 -
1. 51-Kaley Gharst; 2. 2-Dale Blaney; 3. 71M-Paul May; 4. 6F-Bob Felmlee; 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe; 6. 16S-Lee Stark;
B-main - University of Northwest Ohio
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 39-TJ Stutts; 3. 56R-Ryan Myers; 4. 0-Paul McMahan; 5. 4-Casey Shuman; 6. 16S-Lee Stark; 7. 3-
Claire Wintermeyer;
A-main - MSD Ignition Starting Position
1. 15-Sam Haefertepe[6]; 2. 2-Dale Blaney[3]; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan[2]; 4. 30C-Lance Dewease[7]; 5. 28-Brian Paulus[1];
6. 11B-Brock Mayes[4]; 7. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[5]; 8. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[8]; 9. 25-Chad Layton[13]; 10. 6F-Bob Felmlee[10];
11. 51R-Fred Rahmer[15]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson[11]; 13. 18-Tony Bruce Jr.[9]; 14. 22-Greg Hodnett[21]; 15. 39-TJ Stutts
[12]; 16. 11M-Brandon Martin[18]; 17. 71M-Paul May[16]; 18. 22B-Ben Gregg[14]; 19. 4N-Neil Shepherd[23]; 20. O9-Craig
Mintz[17]; 21. 8H-Dustin Morgan[19]; 22. 0-Paul McMahan[24]; 23. 56R-Ryan Myers[22]; 24. 51-Kaley Gharst[20];
Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 February 2008 )
2/1/08:
Fans, friends, and family….
2008 is going to be great for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the PlumbFast Racing team.
Sam and the team left out today heading for the sunshine state of Florida. They will be racing this weekend at the North
Florida Speedway. This 3/8 mile, high banked clay oval. This is the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions 2008
Icebreaker. It will be two nights of racing on Friday, February 1, 2008 and Saturday, February 2, 2008. You can view the
track’s website at www.northfloridaspeedway.com for news and information. North Florida Speedway is located 3 miles
south of Lake City on US 41, then east on C-133-B (SSR). Their telephone number is 386-754-8800.
Also we have new 2008 t-shirts available. There are two different styles. We look forward to a great year and seeing all
of you again and meeting new fans.
Thank you for your support.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/1/08: We recently helped support members of the Apache Junction (NM) welding club with a variety of sam15.com to
help with their fund raiser to make a class trip to Kansas City. With our support and others, they were able to raise
enough money to go. To see a picture of the winners, please click here.
With the holiday season close at hand, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing Team would like to take this
opportunity to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
We would also like to say thank you for your support and all the friendships, both new and old.
As you spend this time of year with your family and friends we hope that you have a safe journey. In the off-season, we
are preparing for the 2008 season and look forward to hitting the road again in January 2008.
We again will be seeing many of you as we travel coast to coast racing with the World of Outlaw Sprint Series.
Merry Christmas to you and your family from Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing Team.
11/21/07 update: To all our fans, friends, and family from Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and everyone with the PlumbFast Racing
Team and Sam15.com we would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
We hope that you enjoy visiting with your family and friends, eating lots of delicious home-cooked food, and watching
plenty of football. May your journey to and from be a safe trip and we look forward to see you all in the upcoming racing
season.
Happy Thanksgiving…
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
11/18/07 update: Concord, NC —
2007 World of Outlaws Season Review: Sam Hafertepe Jr.
By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
Sam Hafertepe Jr. entered the 2007 World of Outlaws season with just four starts in a 410-car in his career. He didn’t let
that lack of experience slow him down though, as he finished fifth on just the second night of the season during the
Florida DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, with a field over 50 of the strongest cars in the country in
attendance.
The rookie won the third heat race on that night back in February, to earn a spot in the Crane Cams Dash, which he also
won, to claim the pole position in the 25-lap A-Feature. He ran in the Top-Five the entire race, battling with two-time
defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, as well as former series titlist Danny Lasoski, veteran Craig
Dollansky and fellow rookie Kerry Madsen. It was Hafertepe’s first career Top-Five finish with the World of Outlaws in
just his sixth start in a 410-sprint car.
“It boosted our confidence and let us know that we were capable of running with these guys,” he noted of his strong
run on the second night of the season. “We proved time and time again that we will be there at the end of the night.”
With nearly 30 cars beginning the season full-time with the World of Outlaws in 2007, Hafertepe had to race as hard as
he could every time he hit the track. At season’s end, he was second in the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award
standings and had earned three Top-10 finishes. He also won the B-Main five times over the course of the season to
race his way into the A-Feature. He completed the season a very respectable 19th overall in the championship
standings.
“I believe it was even more competitive than I thought it would be,” said Hafertepe, driver of the G.H. Plumbing J&J,
when looking back at the 2007 season. “We turned our program around from the middle of the year on out. Looking
back on the year, I think we did pretty good.”
After claiming the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Sooner Region title in 2006 in a 360-sprint car, Hafertepe knew it
would be no easy task competing full-time with the World of Outlaws, especially with his limited experience in a 410-
sprint car. Throughout the season, he earned 10 Top-10 starting spot in main events, by racing his way into the Crane
Cams Dash, and also had several Top-10 qualifying runs in time trials.
“It was a real big adjustment at the beginning of the year,” explained the native of Sunnyvale Texas. “That is probably
why we started to turn it around in the middle of the year, because we had more time and laps under our belts. Toward
the end of the year we got more comfortable each night.”
Hafertepe visited countless tracks for the first time this season from coast-to-coast, including his first trip to the East
Coast, as well as competing in California and also two separate jaunts up to Canada. He also had the opportunity to
compete once in his home state of Texas, as the World of Outlaws returned to Houston Raceway Park.
“Some of the tracks you go to, you miss it the first time you are there,” he said. “Then when you go back for the second
time you have a good idea of what you need to do.”
Hafertepe welcomed three-time World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell to his team during the summer to help
guide them as they continued their rookie campaign. A string of strong qualifying runs would follow and the first-year
driver gained more confidence at some of the most demanding tracks on the schedule, including Eldora Speedway,
Lernerville Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway.
“That was one of the biggest helps that we had all year,” said the always optimistic driver of having Swindell helping
turn the wrenches on his car. “He helped get us pointed in the right direction and we had a good baseline every night.
It gave us something to look forward to every night.”
One of the highlights of the season for the first-year driver was when he led the first laps of his World of Outlaws
career at Ohsweken Speedway in Canada in July. In his first trip north of the border he lined up second in the A-
Feature next to Donny Schatz and quickly jumped to the lead on the opening circuit, pacing the first 13 laps of the 30-
lap contest. He also won the second heat race that night to earn a spot in the Cane Cams Dash, where he finished
second.
“I knew we were capable of doing it and we just had to do it,” stated Hafertepe of leading laps with the World of
Outlaws. “I look back on that race and there are probably some things I should have done differently. Maybe next year
we will be smart enough to do those things differently.”
Lining up every night again drivers that have been racing sprint cars longer than he has been alive, helped the young
driver to build confidence and continue to learn the intricacies of racing full-time with the best sprint car drivers in the
world. Another of the highlights of his season came at Lernerville Speedway in the Commonwealth Clash in May. In his
first visit to the always racy 0.4-mile track, Hafertepe lined up on the front row of the A-Feature with 20-time World of
Outlaws champion Steve Kinser.
“You look at guys like Steve Kinser and you just think about how long he has been as good as he is, and sometimes
that does intimidate you a little bit,” said the rookie driver. “It also helps build your confidence as well.”
After finishing the season on November 5 with the World of Outlaws annual Night of Champions, Hafertepe returned to
his home state of Texas, where he competed in the November Sprint Shootout at Cowtown Speedway in a 360-sprint
car last weekend. He finished second in the 35-lap A-Feature, and followed that up with a win in the special “Short
Track Showdown,” a dash for cash that pit four cars against each other for six laps. After winning the race, which
earned him $1,000, it brought his weekend winnings to $5,000.
With racing now complete for the year, Hafertepe and his team have returned to their shop in the Lone Star State,
where they will spend the next 10 weeks preparing for the 2008 season. He will use all of the priceless experience and
knowledge he gained in 2007 to ready himself and his team for another season with the World of Outlaws.
“We’ll be back in the shop getting ready for next year,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot of time for rest.”
The 2008 World of Outlaws season begins on February 8 with the 37th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia
Speedway Park.
For an extensive list of weekly updates previous to 11/18/07, please click here.
Mother Nature cooperates this two-day show will be full of exciting sprint car action. You can listen to all of the racing
action at www.dirtvision.com for up to the minute coverage.
Knoxville Raceway is a ½ mile, slightly banked dirt oval located at the north edge of Knoxville on ST 14 (WSR)
(fairgrounds). You can view their website at www.knoxvilleraceway.com for results, news, photos, and tickets. You can
reach them via telephone at 641-842-3220 for more information.
Also this weekend, on Sunday, June 8, SPEED will be airing the race action from May 16, 2008 at Williams Grove
Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. This will air from 1-2 p.m. (EST). Be sure to check with your local satellite or cable
company for the SPEED channel.
Also we have new 2008 t-shirts available along with our hero cards. We look forward to seeing all of you again and
meeting new fans. Thanks for all your support and we will see you at your local track.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
5/25/08 update: The PlumbFast Racing team had a real strong performance Saturday night at Sawyer's Virginia Motor
Speedway. At the time of publishing, the official results are not yet posted, but will soon at www.worldofoutlaws.
com/sprint. However, a press release from VMS has been published to their site, and here it is:
Meyers gets fifth win of season in first ever appearance to Virginia Motor Speedway
Jamaica, VA – The first ever appearance by the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series to Bill Sawyer’s
Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA was everything it was billed to be and more as Clovis, CA Jason Meyers held
off Daryn Pittman of Owasso, OK to pick up his fifth win in eleven races driving his Elite Racing #14 GLR Investments,
Elite Landscaping, Primerica Financial, Charlie Garrett powered KPC.
Meyers looked untouchable from the drop of the green flag as here rocketed to the lead from his outside front row
starting position to lead the first lap. As Meyers pulled away the battle for second on battle heated up. On lap 7 the
races only caution came out for Tony Bruce Jr. who made heavy contact with the turn 2 wall. On the restart Joey
Saldana rocketed to the outside of Sam Hafertepe Jr. to take over the third spot. Hefertepe battle back as the two
raced side by side, swapping the position back and forth over the next seven laps.
On lap 16 Meyers and Pittman began working heavy traffic. Pittman got to the inside of Meyers out of turn four taking
the lead at the line. Pittman’s stay at the top was short lived as Meyers wrestled the lead away on lap 18.
Pittman kept applying the pressure, looking for a way around the very fast Myers as they worked lapped traffic. Meyers
was up to the task as he held off Pittman to record his fifth win of the season and extending his current point lead.
“What an exciting race, this facility is just awesome and the track was perfect. I was better with an open track; I
struggled a bit when we were in traffic. We have worked awful hard to get to this point, and getting another win tonight
and extending our point lead gets us heading in the right direction, towards a championship,” commented Meyers in
victory lane.
Rounding out the top five were Daryn Pittman, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Jac Haudenschild and Joey Saldana.
5/23/08 update: The time has arrived for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the PlumbFast Racing Team. The cameras from SPEED
will again be rolling LIVE on Friday, May 23 from 8-11 p.m. Eastern, as the series returns to the blazing fast four-tenths
mile for the Rite Aid Outlaws Showdown tonight at the Dirt Track at Lowe¢s Motor Speedway for the first of many
televised races. Sam and the team will be racing tonight Friday, May 23, 2008 and you can catch all of the action live on
the Speed Channel, check your local cable or satellite television line-up. The television broadcast will begin at 8 p.m.
(EST) and will be a live 3-hour broadcast. If you do not have the Speed Channel you can also list to it at www.dirtvision.
com. For more information, such as tickets and activities you can check out www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. We will
have our hero cards and t-shirts available in the pits after the races. Be sure to stop by and say hello and take
pictures. If you share your photos with us you might see yourself on our website at www.sam15.com. We hope to see
you at your favorite local dirt track.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
5/18 PM update: Well, broken record. Tonight's scheduled WoO event in New York has been rained out. So, we'll see if
the weather can straighten out for our live TV event this coming Friday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway!
5/18/08 udpate: We just can't shake the weather it seems. Last night's rescheduled WoO event at Williams Grove was
cancelled due to rain right after the races began. Tonight we are to race in Middleton, NY; and the forecast there
doesn't look so hot either. Please stay tuned to www.WorldofOutlaws.com/sprint for the latest news on tonight's races.
5/9/08 update: The past several weeks Mother Nature has not been a dirt track fan. Many tracks across the country
have been closed due to inclement weather. However, with the summer months fast approaching there should be
some good racing taking place each weekend.
Tonight's scheduled WoO event at Tri-City Speedway has been postponed due to rain, and has been rescheduled for
June 8.
Then on Saturday, May 10, 2008 Sam and the PlumbFast Racing team will be at Paducah, Kentucky at the Paducah
International Raceway, a ¨3/8 mile, high-banked clay oval. To reach this track take I-24 to exit 11, then 0.4 miles south on
Husband Road (SR 1954), then 1.9 miles east of Lydon Road (SR 3075), then 1.3 miles south on Oaks (SR 450), then 0.9
miles west on Shemwell Lane (near airport). You can view their website at www.paducahraceway.com for news, photos,
results, and ticket information. Their phone number is 270-898-7469.
On behalf of Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the entire PlumbFast Racing team we would like to wish a very Happy Mother¡¯s
Day to all of our female fans.
If you are unable to attend the races you can hear all the action live on www.dirtvision.com for up-to-the minute
information. Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
5/2/08 update: Broken record...tonight's races in Missouri have been rained out. We'll try again tomorrow at Knoxville
Raceway.
4/12/08 update: The races tonight at Eldora Speedway have been rained out.
4/11/08 update: Friday, April 11, 2008 and Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Eldora
Speedway is a half-mile high banked clay oval racing facility located in western Ohio just 2.5 miles north of Rossburg on
ST 118 (ESR). You can visit their website at www.eldoraspeedway.com for results and information or via telephone at
(937) 338-3815.
Our shirts will be available for purchase via our website and at each of the races.
Thank you for your support.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
3/21/08 update: Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will be racing in the state of Oklahoma. On Friday,
March 21, 2008, and Saturday, March 22, 2008, Sam and the team will be racing at the Spring Nationals at the State Fair
Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
State Fair Speedway is located on the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds near the intersection of 10th and May Ave. Tickets
are $20.00 for adults, Seniors and Students are $15.00, and children 5 & under are free. Pit passes are $30.00 per night.
Their website is www.statefairspeedway.com or via telephone (405)-948-6796 or (405)-948-6752 for tickets or further
information. We will have our t-shirts available for sale at the track as well as through our website at www.sam15.com.
We look forward to seeing all of our fans, family, and friends.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
3/13/08 update: Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will be racing at home. On Friday, March 14, 2008,
and Saturday, March 15, 2008, Sam and the team will be racing at the 35th Annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Devil’s
Bowl in Mesquite, Texas.
To reach Devil’s Bowl, take US Highway 80 east of Mesquite to the Lawson Road exit (six miles east of the I-635
interchange). The speedway is three miles south on Lawson Road. Tickets are $25.00 for adults, Children 6-11 are
$10.00, and children 5 & under are free. Reserved seating is an additional $4 to the general admission price.
Their website is www.devilsbowl.com or via telephone 972-222-2421 for tickets or further information. We will have our
t-shirts available for sale at the track as well as through our website at www.sam15.com.
We look forward to seeing all of our hometown fans, family, and friends.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
March 1, 2008 update: Fans, friends, and family…..
After having the last two weeks of racing rained out, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will finally get
to lay down some rubber. The weather and Mother Nature are cooperating for a one-night event. On Saturday, March 1,
2008 at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona. Manzanita Speedway is a ½ & 1/3 mile, semi-banked clay oval tracks.
To reach the track take I-10 to exit 141, then go 4 miles south on 35th Avenue to West Broadway. The track website is
www.manzanitaspeedway.us and their telephone number is (602) 276-7575.
Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/22/08 update: Fans, friends, and family…..
After a disappointing weekend of rain in Mississippi and the race being postponed to a later date, Sam Hafertepe, Jr.,
and the PlumbFast Racing team have headed out to California. However, Mother Nature is not letting up with rain on
the West Coast. At this time we have just received word from the World of Outlaws that the race in Thunderbowl
Raceway in Tulare, California has been canceled and at this time no rain date has been set up.
Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/11/08: Fans, friends, and family…..
This Saturday, February 16, 2007, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing team will be in Magnolia, Mississippi.
This is the only deep south visit that the Advanced Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint series will make in the 2008
season.
Sam and the team will be racing at the Pike County Speedway located in Magnolia, Mississippi. Pike County Speedway
is a 3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval. To reach the track take I-55 to exit 8, then 0.2 miles east on Gillsburg Road (SR 568).
For more information you can view the track’s website at www.pikecountyspeedway.com or call them at 601-783-2500.
Pit Gate Open 2:00pm
General Admission 4:00pm
Driver Registration cut off 5:30pm
Hot Laps 6:30pm
Racing 7:30
If you are unable to attend the race you can hear all the action live on www.dirtvision.com for up-to-the minute
information. Remember we, have our 2008 t-shirts available at the races or via our website at www.sam15.com.
We hope to see you at your favorite local dirt track. Thank you for your support.
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/2/08:
LAKE CITY, FL (2-1-08) by Bryan Autullo - All Star PR Director
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions kicked off the 2008 season with an appearance at North Florida Speedway in
Lake City, FL. The first night of the two night show saw 27 cars and stars signed in to do battle in the Icebreaker 2008:
The Sunshine Showdown.
Defending All Star champion Greg Wilson struggled early missing the transfer spot and would start on the pole of the B-
main.Wilson took the green flag, then ran off an hid from the remainder of the field. TJ Stutts finished second with 2008
rookie contender Ryan Meyers third. Paul McMahan, who struggled early with motor issues, took the final transfer spot.
The All Stars implemented a new twist on an old idea in having six young fans join the Top Six A-main starters on the
front stretch to redraw for their starting positions. After the re-draw, Brian Paulus was sitting on the pole for the main
event next to Randy Hannagan. Dale Blaney was shuffled to the third starting position and Brock Mayes to the fourth.
Lucas Wolfe was lined up on the inside of the third row, and Sam Haefertepe Jr. would take the outside of row three.
When the green flag flew on the first ever 410 sprint car A-main at this speedway, Dale Blaney jumped out to the early
lead as Randy Hannagan and Brock Mayes battled hard side by side. Sam Haefertepe Jr took the opportunity to cruise
around the two of them to challenge Brian Paulus for second. Haefertepe got by Paulus and set his sights on Blaney
who was coming into lapped traffic. Haefertepe shot past Blaney only to have the caution fly for Kaley Gharst who was
slowing on the front stretch. “I was really hoping we got that lap compete, but I knew once we got back to lapped traffic
that we may be able to do something with him,” said Hafertepe. “I hate to show somebody my nose and have the
caution come out like that. We got the lapped traffic and it worked in our favor.”
On the restart, it was Blaney, Haeftertepe, Paulus, Hannagan, and Mayes as the green flag flew once again. Lance
Dewease made a charge to the front and challenged Mayes for fifth, eventually taking the spot. Blaney was pulling
away from the field, but slipped up a bit in traffic in turn four, allowing Haefertepe to take advantage and charge into
the lead on lap 12 of the 25 lap event.
At the half way point, Haefertepe was holding off Blaney as Paulus and Hannagan were nose to tail. Hannagan finally got
around Paulus and moved into the third spot as Dewease jumped into fourth. Dewease started to give Hannagan fits as
the laps were winding down. Blaney chased Haefertepe down in traffic, but ran out of laps to make a final challenge on
the kid from Texas.
At the line it was Haefertepe over Blaney, Hannagan, Dewease, and Paulus on the fast 4/10 mile speedway. “The track
was really racy for the feature,” said Haefertepe. “Our car was really hooked up good in the feature. He (Blaney) made a
little mistake and we didn’t.”
The entire event was run with very few incidents, which considering it was the first night of All Star action in 2008, was
quite an accomplishment. The North Florida crowd saw some great racing with the ultra-fast 410 sprints putting on an
exiting show as the All Stars will begin to tally season points with a long season ahead. Will Greg Wilson defend his
championship? Or will one of the other stars step up and give him a run for the money by the time September rolls
around?
Be sure to come out to North Florida Speedway for Night #2 of the Icebreaker 2008: The Sunshine Showdown on
Saturday February 2nd. Gates open at 5pm, racing is at 8pm. Visit www.northfloridaspeedway.com or www.allstarsprint.
com for more info.
North Florida Speedway (2-1-08)
All Star Circuit of Champions
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.378; 2. 15-Sam Haefertepe, 14.456; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 14.536; 4. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 14.732; 5.
11B-Brock Mayes, 14.746; 6. 28-Brian Paulus, 14.813; 7. 39-TJ Stutts, 14.835; 8. 2-Dale Blaney, 14.900; 9. 30C-Lance
Dewease, 14.929; 10. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 14.946; 11. 18-Tony Bruce Jr., 14.955; 12. 6F-Bob Felmlee, 15.008; 13. 25-
Chad Layton, 15.014; 14. 22B-Ben Gregg, 15.122; 15. 51R-Fred Rahmer, 15.163; 16. 71M-Paul May, 15.279; 17. O9-Craig
Mintz, 15.293; 18. 11M-Brandon Martin, 15.303; 19. 8H-Dustin Morgan, 15.366; 20. 51-Kaley Gharst, 15.372; 21. 22-Greg
Hodnett, 15.812; 22. 56R-Ryan Myers, 15.932; 23. 4N-Neil Shepherd, 16.050; 24. 16S-Lee Stark, 16.248; 25. 4-Casey
Shuman, 16.256; 26. 0-Paul McMahan, 18.204; 27. 3-Claire Wintermeyer, 18.622;
Heat 1 -
1. 22-Greg Hodnett; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease; 3. 25-Chad Layton; 4. O9-Craig Mintz; 5. 11B-Brock Mayes; 6. W20-Greg
Wilson; 7. 4-Casey Shuman;
Heat 2 -
1. 11M-Brandon Martin; 2. 15-Sam Haefertepe; 3. 22B-Ben Gregg; 4. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 5. 28-Brian Paulus; 6. 56R-
Ryan Myers; 7. 0-Paul McMahan;
Heat 3 -
1. 8H-Dustin Morgan; 2. 4N-Neil Shepherd; 3. 51r-Fred Rahmer; 4. 18-Tony Bruce Jr.; 5. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 6. 39-TJ
Stutts; 7. 3-Claire Wintermeyer;
Heat 4 -
1. 51-Kaley Gharst; 2. 2-Dale Blaney; 3. 71M-Paul May; 4. 6F-Bob Felmlee; 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe; 6. 16S-Lee Stark;
B-main - University of Northwest Ohio
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 39-TJ Stutts; 3. 56R-Ryan Myers; 4. 0-Paul McMahan; 5. 4-Casey Shuman; 6. 16S-Lee Stark; 7. 3-
Claire Wintermeyer;
A-main - MSD Ignition Starting Position
1. 15-Sam Haefertepe[6]; 2. 2-Dale Blaney[3]; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan[2]; 4. 30C-Lance Dewease[7]; 5. 28-Brian Paulus[1];
6. 11B-Brock Mayes[4]; 7. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[5]; 8. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[8]; 9. 25-Chad Layton[13]; 10. 6F-Bob Felmlee[10];
11. 51R-Fred Rahmer[15]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson[11]; 13. 18-Tony Bruce Jr.[9]; 14. 22-Greg Hodnett[21]; 15. 39-TJ Stutts
[12]; 16. 11M-Brandon Martin[18]; 17. 71M-Paul May[16]; 18. 22B-Ben Gregg[14]; 19. 4N-Neil Shepherd[23]; 20. O9-Craig
Mintz[17]; 21. 8H-Dustin Morgan[19]; 22. 0-Paul McMahan[24]; 23. 56R-Ryan Myers[22]; 24. 51-Kaley Gharst[20];
Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 February 2008 )
2/1/08:
Fans, friends, and family….
2008 is going to be great for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the PlumbFast Racing team.
Sam and the team left out today heading for the sunshine state of Florida. They will be racing this weekend at the North
Florida Speedway. This 3/8 mile, high banked clay oval. This is the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions 2008
Icebreaker. It will be two nights of racing on Friday, February 1, 2008 and Saturday, February 2, 2008. You can view the
track’s website at www.northfloridaspeedway.com for news and information. North Florida Speedway is located 3 miles
south of Lake City on US 41, then east on C-133-B (SSR). Their telephone number is 386-754-8800.
Also we have new 2008 t-shirts available. There are two different styles. We look forward to a great year and seeing all
of you again and meeting new fans.
Thank you for your support.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
2/1/08: We recently helped support members of the Apache Junction (NM) welding club with a variety of sam15.com to
help with their fund raiser to make a class trip to Kansas City. With our support and others, they were able to raise
enough money to go. To see a picture of the winners, please click here.
With the holiday season close at hand, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing Team would like to take this
opportunity to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
We would also like to say thank you for your support and all the friendships, both new and old.
As you spend this time of year with your family and friends we hope that you have a safe journey. In the off-season, we
are preparing for the 2008 season and look forward to hitting the road again in January 2008.
We again will be seeing many of you as we travel coast to coast racing with the World of Outlaw Sprint Series.
Merry Christmas to you and your family from Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and the PlumbFast Racing Team.
11/21/07 update: To all our fans, friends, and family from Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and everyone with the PlumbFast Racing
Team and Sam15.com we would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
We hope that you enjoy visiting with your family and friends, eating lots of delicious home-cooked food, and watching
plenty of football. May your journey to and from be a safe trip and we look forward to see you all in the upcoming racing
season.
Happy Thanksgiving…
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
PlumbFast Racing
www.sam15.com
11/18/07 update: Concord, NC —
2007 World of Outlaws Season Review: Sam Hafertepe Jr.
By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
Sam Hafertepe Jr. entered the 2007 World of Outlaws season with just four starts in a 410-car in his career. He didn’t let
that lack of experience slow him down though, as he finished fifth on just the second night of the season during the
Florida DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, with a field over 50 of the strongest cars in the country in
attendance.
The rookie won the third heat race on that night back in February, to earn a spot in the Crane Cams Dash, which he also
won, to claim the pole position in the 25-lap A-Feature. He ran in the Top-Five the entire race, battling with two-time
defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, as well as former series titlist Danny Lasoski, veteran Craig
Dollansky and fellow rookie Kerry Madsen. It was Hafertepe’s first career Top-Five finish with the World of Outlaws in
just his sixth start in a 410-sprint car.
“It boosted our confidence and let us know that we were capable of running with these guys,” he noted of his strong
run on the second night of the season. “We proved time and time again that we will be there at the end of the night.”
With nearly 30 cars beginning the season full-time with the World of Outlaws in 2007, Hafertepe had to race as hard as
he could every time he hit the track. At season’s end, he was second in the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award
standings and had earned three Top-10 finishes. He also won the B-Main five times over the course of the season to
race his way into the A-Feature. He completed the season a very respectable 19th overall in the championship
standings.
“I believe it was even more competitive than I thought it would be,” said Hafertepe, driver of the G.H. Plumbing J&J,
when looking back at the 2007 season. “We turned our program around from the middle of the year on out. Looking
back on the year, I think we did pretty good.”
After claiming the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Sooner Region title in 2006 in a 360-sprint car, Hafertepe knew it
would be no easy task competing full-time with the World of Outlaws, especially with his limited experience in a 410-
sprint car. Throughout the season, he earned 10 Top-10 starting spot in main events, by racing his way into the Crane
Cams Dash, and also had several Top-10 qualifying runs in time trials.
“It was a real big adjustment at the beginning of the year,” explained the native of Sunnyvale Texas. “That is probably
why we started to turn it around in the middle of the year, because we had more time and laps under our belts. Toward
the end of the year we got more comfortable each night.”
Hafertepe visited countless tracks for the first time this season from coast-to-coast, including his first trip to the East
Coast, as well as competing in California and also two separate jaunts up to Canada. He also had the opportunity to
compete once in his home state of Texas, as the World of Outlaws returned to Houston Raceway Park.
“Some of the tracks you go to, you miss it the first time you are there,” he said. “Then when you go back for the second
time you have a good idea of what you need to do.”
Hafertepe welcomed three-time World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell to his team during the summer to help
guide them as they continued their rookie campaign. A string of strong qualifying runs would follow and the first-year
driver gained more confidence at some of the most demanding tracks on the schedule, including Eldora Speedway,
Lernerville Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway.
“That was one of the biggest helps that we had all year,” said the always optimistic driver of having Swindell helping
turn the wrenches on his car. “He helped get us pointed in the right direction and we had a good baseline every night.
It gave us something to look forward to every night.”
One of the highlights of the season for the first-year driver was when he led the first laps of his World of Outlaws
career at Ohsweken Speedway in Canada in July. In his first trip north of the border he lined up second in the A-
Feature next to Donny Schatz and quickly jumped to the lead on the opening circuit, pacing the first 13 laps of the 30-
lap contest. He also won the second heat race that night to earn a spot in the Cane Cams Dash, where he finished
second.
“I knew we were capable of doing it and we just had to do it,” stated Hafertepe of leading laps with the World of
Outlaws. “I look back on that race and there are probably some things I should have done differently. Maybe next year
we will be smart enough to do those things differently.”
Lining up every night again drivers that have been racing sprint cars longer than he has been alive, helped the young
driver to build confidence and continue to learn the intricacies of racing full-time with the best sprint car drivers in the
world. Another of the highlights of his season came at Lernerville Speedway in the Commonwealth Clash in May. In his
first visit to the always racy 0.4-mile track, Hafertepe lined up on the front row of the A-Feature with 20-time World of
Outlaws champion Steve Kinser.
“You look at guys like Steve Kinser and you just think about how long he has been as good as he is, and sometimes
that does intimidate you a little bit,” said the rookie driver. “It also helps build your confidence as well.”
After finishing the season on November 5 with the World of Outlaws annual Night of Champions, Hafertepe returned to
his home state of Texas, where he competed in the November Sprint Shootout at Cowtown Speedway in a 360-sprint
car last weekend. He finished second in the 35-lap A-Feature, and followed that up with a win in the special “Short
Track Showdown,” a dash for cash that pit four cars against each other for six laps. After winning the race, which
earned him $1,000, it brought his weekend winnings to $5,000.
With racing now complete for the year, Hafertepe and his team have returned to their shop in the Lone Star State,
where they will spend the next 10 weeks preparing for the 2008 season. He will use all of the priceless experience and
knowledge he gained in 2007 to ready himself and his team for another season with the World of Outlaws.
“We’ll be back in the shop getting ready for next year,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot of time for rest.”
The 2008 World of Outlaws season begins on February 8 with the 37th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia
Speedway Park.
For an extensive list of weekly updates previous to 11/18/07, please click here.
| Click here for our latest results from the World of Outlaws! |
Update For June 6, 2008:
