(Image Credit: Devin Mayo)
Bryan Hulbert – PETALUMA, Cali. (March 12, 2020) Posting a top-five finish with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network at Petaluma Speedway, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. is headed home for action with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
“We had a lot of speed in California. Sunday, we just made the wrong call for the Feature and were good early. Looking back, we should have listened to the people who race there all the time and freed the car up, but we didn’t and go tight and it was something we talked about, but just didn’t do it and in all honesty, that cost us the race,” stated Hafertepe of his overall weekend.
Starting off at Merced Speedway on Friday, the night ended early for Hafertepe after getting called for jumping the start in his Heat Race. Not agreeing the call made, and knowing he was now buried in points, Sam made the decision to park and regroup.
“We weren’t happy with the call. It put us 40th in points and out there not point’s racing this year, I knew there wasn’t a whole lot of good things that could come from starting at the back of a Qualifier. Even if we did pass three or four cars, we’d still be in a B-Main no matter what, so it just wasn’t worth it. We just took our licks and got to Petaluma with a new mindset.”
With Mother Nature ending events at Placerville Speedway on Saturday, the team rolled into Placerville with good speed. Earning the right of the front row in the A-Feature, Hafertepe took off with the lead for the first 15 laps before traffic came into play and took the No. 15h out of clean air.
“The longer the race went on, the tighter the car was getting. We had maybe 11.5 inches of stagger and we probably could have gotten away with that and freed the car up other ways, but as I said, we just didn’t make those changes and at the end of the race it bit us. Really, I feel like if we’d had just a little bit more pressure in the right rear, that would have helped a lot.”
When all was said and done, Sam’s earned a four place finish.
Looking to his coming weekend, Hafertepe will take on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Friday, March 13 at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas and Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore, Texas.
“I’m excited about his weekend. Hopefully, the weather works for us. I’m probably more excited about going to Lonestar Speedway because my Father owns it, but anytime you get to run close to home is special. Plus getting in your own bed at night makes it better.”
Both nights can be seen live on http://www.dirtvision.com.
For continued updates on Sam Hafertepe, Jr. log onto http://www.sam15.com and make sure to find him on Twitter (@samhafertepejr). For news on Hill’s Racing Team, log onto https://www.facebook.com/hillsracing/ and on Twitter (@HillsRacingTeam).
2020 Season to Date:
Events: 12; Wins -1; Top 5 – 2; Top 10 – 5; Top 20 – 6;
Coming Up:
March 13, 2020 – Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, Texas) w/World of Outlaws
March 14 – Lonestar Speedway (Kilgore, Texas) w/World of Outlaws
Sam Hafertepe, Jr. Online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011628097506
Website: http://www.sam15.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samhafertepejr
The Sponsors:
Hill’s Racing Team, Townline Variety, Heidbreder Foundation Service, Kiebler & Sons Lawn and Landscaping, Fisher Racing Engines, Super Shox, J&J Chassis, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Tire, Huggins Cams, Champion Oil, The Sparks Family, Lonestar Speedway, Keizer Wheels, XYZ Machining, Simpson Racing Products, CP-Carrillo, KSE Power Steering, FK Rod Ends, BMRS, Allstar Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Vortex Wings, DMI, Wilwood Brakes, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Hwy. 79 Collision.
