(Image Credit: Lisa Dynes)
ALGER, Wash. (June 23, 2017) What a difference 24-hours can make as Sam Hafertepe, Jr. went from being a lap down on Thursday at Skagit Speedway to Victory Lane on Friday with a run that was hotter than Seattle Coffee during Friday’s 25 lap preliminary A-Feature in the 46th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino and Resort.
“Everybody knows, at least the guys that race with us, when it gets a little rough like that, our car doesn’t normally do very good and I’m not as young as I used to be for that cowboy up,” said Hafertepe on the subject of the overnight difference in his performance.
“The track being a little slicker for us, it got close to what we had last year on Saturday night. Steve’s done a great job. To work as hard as he has, to get what we had tonight form what we started with, hats off to Steve.”
Hafertepe’s eighth win on the season with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series National Tour presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, the Texas native will roll off fourth in Saturday’s $15,000 to win A-Feature.
Positioning his Hwy. 79 Collision No. 15h on the pole through Friday’s Heat/Qualifier format, Hafertepe shot to the point immediately with Roger Crockett in tow.
Keeping the field at bay through a pair of early race cautions, and a red flag involving Seth Bergman and Wayne Johnson, the restarts yield little opportunity for Crockett to attack. Pacing ahead of third running Travis Rilat early on, the No. 39c came under fire from Blake Hahn with the Griffith Truck and Equipment No. 52 taking the show position as Hafertepe began approaching the back of the field.
Green from Lap 7 on, traffic did little to slow Hafertepe’s run with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour point’s leader crossing 5.188 seconds ahead of Roger Crockett, but it’s the driver of the No. 7n that will lead the field to the drop of the green on Saturday.
“We had a good start to last night, and starting second row tonight, we didn’t have any of the cars from last night starting around us so I knew we were in good shape,” commented Crockett.
On his prediction of the track for Saturday, Roger said, “I think it’ll be a lot like tonight. It usually gets hard on tires later in the race, which is good, it makes you save your car, but we’ve got a lot of work to do to catch Sam.”
Blake Hahn completed the podium in the Lucas Oil No. 52 with 10th starting Aaron Reutzel fourth.
The run by the No. 87 earned the outside of the front row for Saturday’s A-Feature. Jason Solwold finished fifth from ninth with Travis Rilat in tow. Colton Heath seventh was trailed by Matt Covington from 14th. Skylar Gee was the night’s CP-Carrillo Hard Charger of the night with a run from 17th to ninth. Austen Wheatley made up the top-ten.
The finale of the 46th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino and Resort on Saturday, June 24 will be preceded by a Fan Fest Party by the track’s main entrance as well as the NSCHoF Charity Auction in the grandstands. Both begin at 1:00 P.M. (PDT).
Modifieds will join the lineup of classes with racing getting underway at 7:00 P.M. (PDT). For more information on the Skagit Speedway, log onto http://www.skagitspeedway.com.
For continued updates on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to any of the seven regional tours that make up the over 150 dates across the ASCS Nation in 2017, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
Race Results:
Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
Skagit Speedway - Alger, Wash.
Friday, June 23, 2017
46th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup - Night 2
Car Count: 44
Event Count: 46
Heat Races: (Top 30 in Passing Points advance to Qualifiers)
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [4]; 2. 29-Brandon Harkness, [1]; 3. 9R-Reece Goetz, [3]; 4. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [6]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [5]; 6. 97R-Jason Reed, [2]; 7. 17W-Harli White, [7]; 8. 33A-Lucas Ashe, [8]; 9. 12-Jared Ridge, [9]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 1-Craig Dollansky, [1]; 2. 18-Jason Solwold, [5]; 3. 8R-Austen Wheatley, [3]; 4. 3-J.J. Hickle, [2]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee, [7]; 6. 98-Matt Jensen, [6]; 7. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [9]; 8. 9A-Luke Didiuk, [8]; 9. 5-Brian Boswell, [4]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Bud Ashe, [1]; 2. 2L-Logan Forler, [3]; 3. 59-Eric Fisher, [9]; 4. 37-Trever Kirkland, [4]; 5. 22M-Brett McGhie, [2]; 6. 5R-Steve Reeves, [6]; 7. 29W-Steven James, [7]; 8. 15-Jeff Dunlap, [8]; 9. (DNF) 10L-Brock Lemley, [5]
Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 7N-Roger Crockett, [1]; 2. 39C-Travis Rilat, [2]; 3. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith, [5]; 4. 22-Garen Linder, [8]; 5. 33S-Lance Sargent, [3]; 6. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [7]; 7. 8RC-Chance Crum, [6]; 8. 22X-Trevor Cook, [9]; 9. 57X-James Bundy, [4]
Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 33-Colton Heath, [1]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn, [3]; 3. 95-Matt Covington, [2]; 4. 23-Seth Bergman, [8]; 5. 21P-Robbie Price, [5]; 6. 91-Chase Goetz, [4]; 7. 51F-Jared Peterson, [7]; 8. (DNF) 55-Trey Starks, [6]
Hoosier Tire Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points advance to the A-Feature)
Qualifier 1 (8 Laps): 1. 39C-Travis Rilat, [2]; 2. 9R-Reece Goetz, [1]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [8]; 4. 33-Colton Heath, [4]; 5. 59-Eric Fisher, [6]; 6. 99-Skylar Gee, [7]; 7. 1-Craig Dollansky, [5]; 8. 98-Matt Jensen, [10]; 9. 2L-Logan Forler, [3]; 10. 33S-Lance Sargent, [9]
Qualifier 2 (8 Laps): 1. 8R-Austen Wheatley, [1]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn, [3]; 3. 22-Garen Linder, [4]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [6]; 5. 57-Bud Ashe, [5]; 6. 29-Brandon Harkness, [2]; 7. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [9]; 8. 37-Trever Kirkland, [7]; 9. 5R-Steve Reeves, [10]; 10. (DNF) 21P-Robbie Price, [8]
Qualifier 3 (8 Laps): 1. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [2]; 2. 95-Matt Covington, [1]; 3. 7N-Roger Crockett, [5]; 4. 23-Seth Bergman, [4]; 5. 18-Jason Solwold, [6]; 6. 3-J.J. Hickle, [7]; 7. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [8]; 8. 91-Chase Goetz, [10]; 9. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith, [3]; 10. 22M-Brett McGhie, [9]
BMRS B-Features (Top 3 from each advance to the A-Feature)
B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 99-Skylar Gee, [1]; 2. 3-J.J. Hickle, [2]; 3. 2L-Logan Forler, [3]; 4. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith, [4]; 5. 33S-Lance Sargent, [7]; 6. 5R-Steve Reeves, [6]; 7. 97R-Jason Reed, [8]; 8. 8RC-Chance Crum, [10]; 9. 33A-Lucas Ashe, [11]; 10. 5-Brian Boswell, [13]; 11. 15-Jeff Dunlap, [12]; 12. 98-Matt Jensen, [5]; 13. 29W-Steven James, [9]; (DNS) 12-Jared Ridge,
B Feature 2 (12 Laps): 1. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [2]; 2. 29-Brandon Harkness, [1]; 3. 21P-Robbie Price, [6]; 4. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [3]; 5. 91-Chase Goetz, [5]; 6. 37-Trever Kirkland, [4]; 7. 9A-Luke Didiuk, [11]; 8. 57X-James Bundy, [14]; 9. 22M-Brett McGhie, [7]; 10. 22X-Trevor Cook, [10]; 11. (DNF) 55-Trey Starks, [12]; 12. (DNF) 17W-Harli White, [8]; 13. (DNF) 51F-Jared Peterson, [9]; (DNS) 10L-Brock Lemley,
Protect the Harvest A-Feature:
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [1]; 2. 7N-Roger Crockett, [3]; 3. 52-Blake Hahn, [4]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [10]; 5. 18-Jason Solwold, [9]; 6. 39C-Travis Rilat, [2]; 7. 33-Colton Heath, [11]; 8. 95-Matt Covington, [14]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee, [17]; 10. 8R-Austen Wheatley, [8]; 11. 22-Garen Linder, [7]; 12. 9R-Reece Goetz, [13]; 13. 3-J.J. Hickle, [19]; 14. 1-Craig Dollansky, [16]; 15. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [5]; 16. 59-Eric Fisher, [6]; 17. 29-Brandon Harkness, [20]; 18. 2L-Logan Forler, [21]; 19. 21P-Robbie Price, [22]; 20. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [18]; 21. (DNF) 23-Seth Bergman, [12]; 22. (DNF) 57-Bud Ashe, [15]
Lap Leader(s): Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1-25
CP-Carrillo Hard Charger: Skylar Gee +8
FSR High Point Driver: Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
Provisional(s): N/A
2017 Lucas Oil ASCS A-Main Winner(s): Sam Hafertepe, Jr. – 8 (3/17 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 3/18 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 4/7 – Texas Motor Speedway; 4/8 – Texas Motor Speedway; 4/15 – Missouri State Fair Speedway; 6/13 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 6/14 – Lawton Speedway; 6/23 – Skagit Speedway); Aaron Reutzel - 4 (5/11 – Lakeside Speedway; 6/15 – Creek County Speedway; 6/17 – Lucas Oil Speedway; 6/22 – Skagit Speedway); Jake Bubak - 1 (6/9 – West Texas Raceway); Kyle Bellm - 1(6/10 – Route 66 Motor Speedway); Brian Brown - 1 (6/16 – Randolph County Raceway);
2017 Lucas Oil ASCS Driver Standings (Top 10): 1. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 2,012; 2. Aaron Reutzel 1,877; 3. Matt Covington 1,771; 4. Johnny Herrera 1,771; 5. Wayne Johnson 1,746; 6. Seth Bergman 1,737; 7. Blake Hahn 1,642; 8. Skylar Gee 1,511; 9. Justin Henderson 1,434; 10. Dustin Morgan 1,414;
ASCS Online:
American Sprint Car Series: http://www.ascsracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs (@lucasoilascs)
Instagram: ASCSRACING
Audio Broadcast: http://www.racinboys.com
Live Scoring (Where Applicable): http://www.ascsracing.com/live and the Race Monitor App
ASCS National Tour Drivers Online:
Kyle Bellm (Nixa, Mo.): http://www.kylebellm.com
Seth Bergman (Snohomish, Wash.): http://www.sethbergmanracing.com
Matt Covington (Glenpool, Okla.): http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com
Skylar Gee (Leduc, Ont. Can.): https://twitter.com/SkylarGee99
Jake Greider (Haysville, Kan.): https://twitter.com/JakeGreider2013
Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, Texas): http://www.sam15.com
Justin Henderson (Sioux Falls, S.D.): http://www.bdsmotorsportsllc.com
Alex Hill (Six Nations, Ont. Can.): https://twitter.com/alexhill77x
Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, Okla.): http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, N.M.): http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com
Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, Okla.): https://www.facebook.com/WayneJohnsonRacing?fref=ts
Dustin Morgan (Owasso, Okla.): https://www.facebook.com/dustin.p.morgan?hc_ref=SEARCH
Aaron Reutzel (Clute, Texas): http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com
Harli White (Lindsay, Okla.): http://www.harliwhiteracing.net
ASCS Sponsors:
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV Motorsports Network is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network include: Hoosier Racing Tire, CP Carrillo Pistons, EMI, and Brodix. All Heat Races are brought to you by ButlerBuilt Professional Seating Systems. All B-Features are presented by BMRS.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, Geico, Zotto Mattress, Spray Nine, LucasOilRacing.tv, Carlyle Tools, and General Tire.
Communications for the American Sprint Car Series is provided by Racing Electronics. All events are broadcast online at http://www.racinboys.com.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, BMRS, SpeedMart, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, MyRacePass.com, Weld Wheels, Maxwell Industries, Simpson, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection.
2017 Dirt Cup Event Points:
- Roger Crockett -755
- Aaron Reutzel -753
- Jason Solwold -731
- Sam Hafertepe Jr -729
- Blake Hahn -727
- Colton Heath -726
- Matt Covington -720
- Seth Bergman -707
- Garen Linder -691
- Travis Rilat -691
- Austen Wheatley -689
- Wayne Johnson -684
- Reece Goetz -681
- Skylar Gee -678
- Johnny Herrera -661
- Eric Fisher -651
- Logan Forler -639
- Robbie Price -635
- Chris Schmelzle -633
- Bud Ashe -622
- Cameron (Cam) Smith -607
- Chase Goetz -605
- Lance Sargent -596
- Trey Starks -560
- Craig Dollansky -528
- Brandon Harkness -520
- J.J. Hickle -515
- Harli White -504
- Jared Peterson -501
- Chance Crum -496
- Trever Kirkland -496
- Steve Reeves -490
- Jason Reed -488
- Brett McGhie -484
- Lucas Ashe -483
- Matt Jensen -479
- Trevor Cook -473
- James Bundy -376
- Luke Didiuk -375
- Steven James -373
- Brian Boswell -373
- Jeff Dunlap -367
- Jared Ridge -359
- Brock Lemley -358
- Cale Brooke -190
- Greg Hamilton -181
Saturday Feature Lineups:
B Feature 1 (15 Laps, Lineup): 1-Forler.L 2-Schmelzle.C 3-Smith.C 4-Sargent.L 5-Dollansky.C 6-Hickle.J 7-Peterson.J 8-Kirkland.T 9-Reed.J 10-Ashe.L 11-Cook.T 12-Didiuk.L 13-Boswell.B 14-Ridge.J 15-Brooke.C
B Feature 2 (15 Laps, Lineup): 1-Price.R 2-Ashe.B 3-Goetz.C 4-Starks.T 5-Harkness.B 6-White.H 7-Crum.C 8-Reeves.S 9-McGhie.B 10-Jensen.M 11-Bundy.J 12-James.S 13-Dunlap.J 14-Lemley.B 15-Hamilton.G
A Feature (40 Laps, Top 16 Lineup): 1-Crockett.R 2-Reutzel.A 3-Solwold.J 4-Hafertepe.S 5-Hahn.B 6-Heath.C 7-Covington.M 8-Bergman.S 9-Linder.G 10-Rilat.T 11-Wheatley.A 12-Johnson.W 13-Goetz.R 14-Gee.S 15-Herrera.J 16-Fisher.E
- Bryan Hulbert on Jun 24, 2017
- Article Date: 6/24/2017