8/15/2018
Sam Hafertepe Jr
Hafertepe Finds Speed Despite Tough Southern Iowa Sprint Week
(Image Credit: Craig Mobley)
Bryan Hulbert – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 14, 2018) The 2018 Southern Iowa Sprint Week was a test for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and the Hills Racing Team. In seven nights of racing across Lucas Oil ASCS and 410cid competition, the Heidbreder Foundation No. 15h made the call in five A-Features.
“We came in with some goals set and didn’t really achieve any of what we had set, but by the end of the week, we finally felt like we got the speed we expected to have when we got there. We weren’t the car we wanted to be when we got there, and it was a little too late, but we finally did find speed,” commented Hafertepe.
Going into the Knoxville and Oskaloosa with a win at Mason City Motor Speedway, the speed didn’t translate to the opening of the 28th annual Knoxville 360 Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank with Sam struggling on his Qualifying night. Ending with a 19th place finish, the point’s shakedown put him deep in Saturday’s B-Feature where his night would close with a 12th place run.
Regrouping for the Weld Wheels Capitani Classic, Sam timed 12th with a 15.750-second lap. Winning his Heat Race, the A-Feature would yield a 21st place finish.
Drawing near the back of a very loaded Heat Race in Tuesday’s Ultimate Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway, Sam raced to fifth and earned enough passing points to grid the front row of the B-Feature. Taking the win, Hafertepe clawed his way to 12th in the A-Feature.
Back to Knoxville Raceway, Hafertepe timed in 31st out of 51 entries. Winning his Heat Race, Sam was able to further salvage points with a 13th place run in the A-Feature. Putting the No. 15h in Saturday’s C-Feature, the win came easily to advance to the B-Feature where Hafertepe dug his way to a 12th place finish.
“It wasn’t the week we wanted, but we learned a lot. Different engine, different tire, it only helps us to rise up and this week, I defiantly learned a lot that we can even apply to our 360cid program.”
Speaking of his 360cid program, the team joins up with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by Sawblade.com at Hamilton County Speedway on Saturday, August 18 and Missouri State Fair Speedway on Sunday, August 19.
Having never raced at Hamilton County, Sam is looking forward to a new venue while hoping to continue a wave of success at Missouri State Fair Speedway.
“I think I won just about every race we had last year at Sedalia, so we feel really good there, and with everything we did last week, we have a lot to add to the program and feel like we are right where we need to be.”
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).
2018 Season to Date:
Events: 49; Wins -9 ; Top 5 - 25; Top 10 - 29; Top 15 –33; Top 20 –39;
Coming Up:
August 18, 2018 – Hamilton County Speedway (Webster City, Iowa) with Lucas Oil ASCS
August 19, 2018 – Missouri State Fair Speedway (Sedalia, Mo) with Lucas Oil ASCS
Sam Hafertepe, Jr. T-Shirts:
http://www.kevinquirkracewear.com/buy-driver-tees.htm
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.
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert