10/20/2015
Inside Line Promotions
Hafertepe Jr. Sticks to Game Plan to Win 42nd annual Winter Nationals
(Photo by Serena Dalhamer)
Inside Line Promotions – MESQUITE, Texas (Oct. 20, 2015) – Sam Hafertepe Jr. accomplished his mission during the 42nd annual Winter Nationals despite a rough start to last weekend.
Hafertepe Jr. kicked off the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour doubleheader at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday by advancing from seventh to fifth place in a heat race before maneuvering from seventh to fourth in a B Main, which missed a transfer into the main event by only one spot.
“We drew in the back of the heat race and could only muster up a fifth-place finish,” he said. “We started seventh in the B Main and probably would have made the A Main, but I made a mistake trying to get the last transfer. All in all, we still knew we had speed. Sometimes it’s not your night. I knew that we were still plenty good and that there wasn’t any problem with our race car. We just stayed with the game plan.”
That mentality helped Hafertepe Jr. and car owner Keith Dobbs on Saturday as the team overcame a hectic start to the heat race.
“The track was a little more racy and we drew a little easier heat race,” he said. “We had a stout race car. It took a little because on the start the inside row didn’t go. We fell back to seventh on the start. We got up to fourth and had a caution. I think the second-place car blew an engine. On the restart we got around Jordan Weaver for second.”
That earned Hafertepe Jr. enough points to make the feature redraw. He then pulled the No. 3 during the random draw to line up on the inside of the second row for the main event, which was shortened from 30 to 25 laps because of track conditions.
“The track had laid rubber in the B Mains,” he said. “Unfortunately they didn’t rework the surface and they shortened the race to 25 laps. I didn’t think many cars would make it the distance. On the start we got up to second right away and we just rode around there. The leader was setting a torrid pace and I thought there was no reason to run that hard. Sure enough on Lap 21 the leader blew a tire. It worked right into our hands. I had been conserving my tire. On the last restart I ran as hard as I could for two laps and the final two I eased it around there and limped it home.”
The win was the sixth of the season for Hafertepe Jr. and his first with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour. It was also his first Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour triumph at Devil’s Bowl Speedway since March 2011.
Hafertepe Jr. and Dobbs will take this weekend off before competing Oct. 28-31 at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., for the 28th annual Comp Cams Short Track Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 16 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas – Heat race: 5 (7); B Main: 4 (7).
Oct. 17 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas – Heat race: 2 (5); Feature: 1 (3).
SEASON STATS –
41 races, 6 wins, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s, 21 top 15s, 26 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Oct. 28-31 at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., for the 28th annual Comp Cams Short Track Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.Sam15.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamHafertepeJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Keizer Aluminum Wheels
Keizer Aluminum Wheels has provided custom aluminum racing wheels for any type of racing application for several decades. For more information, visit http://www.KeizerWheels.com.
“I’ve been using Keizer Aluminum Wheels since 2004,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “They are like family to me and have been with me through the highs and the lows.”
Hafertepe Jr. would also like to thank Lonestar Speedway, Kiebler & Sons Lawn and Landscaping, Wells Racing Engines, 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller