(Photo by DB3 Imaging)
Inside Line Promotions – ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 21, 2015) – Derek Hagar received a call late last week offering a ride for the 32nd annual Kings Royal.
“We got the call to go race for Pete Grove and went over there and worked on it for a couple of days,” he said. “It’s good equipment. Getting into a new car, it’s just a different feeling and comfort zone so you have to ease into it.”
Hagar made his 410ci winged sprint car season debut on Friday during the Knight Before the Kings Royal, which kicked off the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Eldora Speedway.
Hagar timed in 18th quickest in his group during qualifying and he placed sixth in a heat race, which relegated him to the ninth starting position during a Last Chance Showdown.
“We had a fast car,” he said. “We had a restart with three laps to go and I was running sixth. I got by a couple of cars who were racing each other. I slid both of them. We needed one more restart after that. We were great on restarts. That’s where we were gaining our positions. I got up to fourth, but they only took the top three.”
Hagar missed a transfer by only one position, which gave him confidence entering Saturday’s $50,000-to-win event.
“We had problems during qualifying,” he said. “We weren’t up on the motor like we needed to be. You have to be on your game when you’re running with those guys. We didn’t have it to its fullest potential with the gear and the fuel system.”
Hagar qualified 51st overall and he ended eighth in a heat race, which was preceded by a rain delay of more than four hours. That lined him up on the inside of the second row of the C Main.
“Once the rain came and got the track heavy and narrow it was really tough to pass,” he said. “We were fast. You just couldn’t pass anybody. We finished where we started in the C Main.”
That transferred him to the back of the B Main, where an opening-lap incident dropped him to the back of the field.
“Whenever you’re in a B Main that far back it’s tough to overcome,” he said. “Restarts helped us because they do the double-file restarts. Cars would be worried about blocking a slide job and we’d drive around them. I got more and more comfortable in the car and we got faster every time we hit the track. It just didn’t work out in our favor to get a transfer.”
Hagar rallied from his 21st starting position to finish 11th in the consolation race.
He is scheduled to return to action this Saturday at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., where he has earned a top five during all three races this season.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 17 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 6 (6); B Main: 4 (9).
July 18 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 51; Heat race: 8 (9); C Main: 3 (3); B Main: 11 (21).
SEASON STATS –
26 races, 5 wins, 15 top fives, 18 top 10s, 18 top 15s, 21 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.DerekHagarRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HagarDerek
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Xtreme Race Graphics
Located in Marion, Ark., Xtreme Race Graphics creates custom graphics, banners and wraps. For more information, visit http://www.XtremeRaceGraphics.com.
“Dustin is a real good artist,” Hagar said. “He has a real good imagination. If you want the car to look the best, I’d recommend Xtreme Race Graphics.”
Hagar would also like to thank Dynotech Performance, DHR Suspension, J&J Auto Racing, FSR Radiators, Fragola Performance Systems, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Hinchman Racewear, Wings Unlimited, FK Rod Ends, R.E. Enterprises, Ti64 and B&D Towing 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.
- Shawn Miller on Jul 21, 2015
- Article Date: 7/21/2015 by Inside Line Promotions