8/25/2009
Sam Hafertepe Jr
Sam Hafertepe Jr. Caps Off Week With 2 Top 5's
[b Sam Hafertepe Jr. Caps Off 3 Race Weekend With 2 Top 5’s]
[i Daryl Turford]
Sunnyvale, Texas-Sam Hafertepe Jr and the Plumbfast Racing Team continued their hot streak with 2 top 5 finishes in 3 races this past weekend. Hafertepe started the week off with a disappointing finish with the World of Outlaws (WoO) at River Cities Speedway but rebounded by winning the Dash and finishing 4th in the WoO feature event in Mandan, ND. The final night saw Sam turn in another strong performance at Husets Speedway where he set quick time and charged from 9th to 4th in the feature event.
Soggy conditions greeted Sam and the rest of the competitors on Friday night in Grand Forks, ND as everyone was forced to pit in the parking lot. The rains led to ultra-fast conditions and resulted in several cars breaking the track record. Hafertepe went out early in time trials and was able to turn in the 3rd fastest time of the night.
Sam continued to build on his momentum as he charged around the top of Tony Bruce on the opening lap of his heat and into 2nd place. Hafertepe would try to track down the leader but ran out of time.
The Dash and Feature did not go well at all for Sam as the car was too tight and on the opening lap of the feature debris from a wreck smashed his top wing. Sam pulled in after a few laps, wisely deciding to not risk further damage to the car.
The following night the team made the tow to Mandan, ND. Hafertepe was once again fast and despite being the last car to time trial on a deteriorating surface Sam blistered the track for the 5th quickest time.
Once again Sam was fast in his heat and slid underneath of Lucas Wolfe and into 2nd. Late in the race Hafertepe changed his line in turns 3 and 4 and was able to track down race leader Tim Kaeding but ran out of laps.
As a result of his heat race finish Sam earned a spot in the Crane Cams Dash. The luck of the draw would be great to the Sunnyvale, Texas resident as he pulled the pole position. Sam burst into the lead at the drop of the green flag and despite a mid race yellow for Steve Kinser he was able to pull away and win in convincing fashion.
Sam won the race to turn 1 in the feature but Danny Lasoski made a bold move to sweep around Sam and into the lead coming out of turn 2. The race was on as Sam tried desperately to catch Lasoski. Lasoski steadily pulled away but a yellow allowed Sam to restart on his bumper. Following the restart Sam was able to stay closer to Lasoski and as the pair along with Jason Meyers in 3rd entered lap traffic Sam saw his opportunity. On lap 16 Hafertepe moved under Lasoski exiting turn 2 and into the lead. Lasoski turned back under Sam while Jason Meyers also attempted to take the lead. Hafertepe would lead the lap but Lasoski’s momentum carried him back into the lead with Sam in 2nd.
Meyers would begin to pressure Sam and a few laps later attempted a slide job in turns 3 and 4. There was no contact between the two but Sam slid off the track as he attempted to defend against the pass and as a result both Meyers and Donny Schatz were able to slip by.
Sam would hold 4th the rest of the way to record yet another top 5 finish this year as the team continued their strong second half of the season.
There was no rest for the Plumbfast Racing Team as they decided that on Sunday night they would race at Husets Speedway in Brandon, SD. The team has always been strong there in the past and they were hoping to break through and get their first win at the facility.
For the 3rd time in 3 attempts Sam would qualify in the top 5 but this time it was particularly satisfying as Hafertepe stopped the clocks almost 2/10ths of a second better than his closest competitor.
The car was once again a rocket as Hafertepe quickly moved from 6th in his heat race up to the 4th position. Just past the halfway point Sam had moved into 3rd and pressured Jake Peters the rest of the way for 2nd at the checkers.
Unfortunately for Sam the worst inversion number was pulled and he would have to start the feature in 9th.
As the feature race got underway Sam quickly moved through the field. An early race yellow slowed the pace and when the race went green again Sam’s car just wasn’t as good. Hafertepe struggled the rest of the way but was able to pass enough cars to run in the top 5 but was no threat for the leaders. Sam eventually crossed the line with a respectable 4th place finish.
Once the team had an opportunity to look at Sam’s right rear tire it became apparent that the reason for the ill-handling car was that during the early yellow flag Sam’s right rear tire had become sealed over.
The team has once again headed back to Orange City, Iowa, the home of Keizer Aluminum Wheels and the 1st Annual Keizer Wheel Golf Invitational where they will prepare for a weekend of racing with the Interstate Racing Association in Wisconsin.
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