1/7/2015
Inside Line Promotions
Hafertepe Jr. Fighting Luck Throughout First Three Rounds of Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown
(Photo by http://www.OpenWheelPhotos.com)
Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 7, 2015) – Sam Hafertepe Jr. is entering the final weekend of the inaugural Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown searching for some luck.
Hafertepe Jr. has been derailed in each of the first three nights of the five-race event, which wraps up this Friday and Saturday at Cocopah Speedway.
“Part of the reason for heading out to Arizona this early in the year is to fine-tune everything and get some of the kinks worked out,” he said. “We’ve had issues each night so hopefully we can get that out of the way and end this event with good finishes on Friday and Saturday.”
The Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown got off to a rough start for Hafertepe Jr. last Friday, when he was forced to the pits early in his heat race because the brake pedal fell off. Hafertepe Jr., who started third and would have moved to the outside of the front row for a restart following an opening-lap caution, was credited with a sixth-place finish.
He then won his qualifier before finishing fourth in the B Main, garnering a transfer to the back of the main event. Hafertepe Jr. capped the night by rallying from 20th to 11th in the main event to narrowly miss a top-10 finish.
“That issue early in the night put us behind the eight ball, but we rebounded throughout the night,” he said. “I felt like we were rolling fairly well in the main event.”
Hafertepe Jr. opened Saturday’s event by finishing fifth in his heat race before winning a qualifier for the second straight night. That locked him into the 30-lap feature starting 11th. Unfortunately, the left front wheel came off the car in turn two on the third lap while Hafertepe Jr. was in contention for a top 10. He was unable to restart and was relegated to a 24th-place result.
Luck didn’t get any better on Tuesday for the midweek show of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown.
Hafertepe Jr. advanced from third to second place in his heat race and he placed sixth in a qualifier. That started him on the inside of the second row of the B Main, which transferred the top eight to the feature. He maintained a transfer spot for the first 10 laps of the consolation race before mechanical issues forced him into the infield.
“The weather has been good and the event has been fun,” he said. “We just need to get the minor things lined out and we’ll be in contention.”
SPEED SPORT will showcase live Pay-Per-View of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown this weekend. For ordering information, visit http://www.SPEEDSPORT.TV/live.
QUICK RESULTS –
Jan. 2 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 6 (3); Qualifier: 1 (1); B Main: 4 (2); Feature: 11 (20).
Jan. 3 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 5 (5); Qualifier: 1 (2); Feature: 24 (11).
Jan. 6 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 2 (3); Qualifier: 6 (5); B Main: DNF (3).
SEASON STATS –
3 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 1 top 15, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz., for the inaugural Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.Sam15.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamHafertepeJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Wells Racing Engines
Wells Racing Engines Founder Dennis Wells has been building performance engines for circle track, drag race, boats and street since 1968. For more information, visit http://www.WellsRacing.com.
“Dennis Wells has been in business for a long time and is a leading engine builder in the 360 ranks,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “He helps our team out quite a bit.”
Hafertepe Jr. would also like to thank LoneStar Speedway, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Kiebler & Sons Lawn and Landscaping, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Smiley’s Racing Products, Fisher Racing Engines, J&J Auto Racing, Pro Shocks by OC Shocks, Fire-Down Graphics, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Vortex Wings, Kear’s Speed Shop, Pancho’s Racing Products, GPC, Joe Gibbs Racing Oils, Zemco Headers and Simpson Racing Products for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller