(Image Credit: Serena Dalhamer)
Bryan Hulbert – SUNNYVALE, Texas (July 1, 2020) Bringing his win total to four on the 2020 season, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. was the class of the field twice over this past weekend with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network with wins at Caney Valley Speedway and I-30 Speedway.
A result the team was very much in need of, there was a lot of unknown going into the weekend, "We have speed with our ASCS program, but didn't really know what to expect coming back because it's been a while since we've run and we're on our J&J Chassis which reacts differently than the Cool Chassis we've been running… I'm really big on right rear stick and grip, and that's what we've struggled with getting the car to last as the track changes."
Pursing Scott Bogucki at Caney Valley Speedway on Thursday night, Sam finally garnered the run for the lead as the field clicked off the 25th lap.
"I was surprised with the track on the wall the way it was; that's a track where normally Bogucki does his best work, so it was shocking that he ran the bottom. I don't know if he didn't think I would go to the top or just hadn't been challenged, but with him leaving that open I knew I couldn't just park around the bottom and follow him, so I just had to start trying different things to get the job done," stated Hafertepe of the Caney Valley Speedway win.
Winning every time he hit the track Saturday at I-30 Speedway, Sam went on to lead every lap of the 30-lap A-Feature, despite nearly ending his night early on Lap 26 after contact with an infield tire flattened his left-front tire.
"That was pretty major. I didn't know what kind of damage I'd done to it. Going into one, it surprised me, and I just about spun out," commented Sam on the damage. "After that, it was just bringing it home and hitting my marks, but I was mad at myself for doing that. In position to win and being out front like that, you don't know what kind of advantage you have and just tried too hard, but thankfully it wasn't bad enough to take us out."
Looking ahead on his 2020 schedule, Hafertepe will return to I-30 Speedway on Wednesday, July 1, in 360cid competition before going to Knoxville Raceway this Friday, 3 and Saturday, July 4 to get laps in 410cid competition.
The team is still looking for another crew member. Inquiries can be made to sammy15@sbcglobal.net.
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: 27; Wins -4; Top 5 – 6; Top 10 – 13; Top 20 – 17;
Coming Up:
July 1 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, Ark.) w/360cid
July 3 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa) w/410cid
July 4 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa) w/410cid
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.
- Bryan Hulbert on Jul 01, 2020
- Article Date: 7/1/2020