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Hafertepe Finishes Florida Strong at Winternationa

[i Hafertepe Finishes Florida Strong at Winternationals]

Daryl Turford

Sam Hafertepe and The Plumbfast Racing Team finished off Speedweeks this past Saturday night with a strong run that saw Sam charge from 18th in the field to 9th in the non-stop 40 lap Winternationals finale at East Bay Raceway Park. Hafertepe who has been racing in Florida for the past 2 1/2 weeks had an up and down Speedweeks that saw his efforts rewarded on most nights with a few disapointing nights along the way as the 25 year old kicks off what he hopes will be a break out season.

Sam kicked off the 2011 season with a strong run at Ocala with The All Star Circuit of Champions. Hafertepe had his Fisher powered Maxim in the 4th position but unfortunately with 4 laps remaining a lapped car cut across his front end and spun him out. Hafertepe charged back to 14th during the final 4 laps.

Next on the schedule for Sam and The All Stars was 2 nights of racing at Volusia County Speedway. Hafertepe earned the pole for the feature and had a very strong race car in the feature but unfortunately he broke a vavle spring and had to pull pitside on lap 2. The following evening Hafertepe charged from his 12th place starting position up to 7th with an exciting run around Volusia's cushion.

The following 3 races again took place at Volusia however this time under The World of Outlaws banner .The opening evening saw the team struggle and in the feature as Sam was running 13th when a questionable, late race double-file restart dropped him to 19th. Sam and the team struggled the following night and could never come to grips with the track as they settled for a 24th place finish after Sam pulled in after several close calls.

The final night at Volusia was Sam's most impressive night as Hafertepe utilized some early race restarts to move up in the field and then found the bottom late in the race as he charged up to a hard-earned 6th place finish.

Following Volusia Sam and The Plumbfast crew decided to stick around in Florida and compete in the 35th Annual Winternations at East Bay Raceway Park. Hafertepe had been strong in the past in 360 competition but had always struggled at East Bay so the team went into the race hoping find something and take home the $10,000.

East Bay utilized their own passing points system and as a result Sam's 6th to 4th place run in his heat Sam landed on the pole of the B Main which he won handily. During the opening laps of the feature the front left support of Sam's nose wing broke and Sam ran the feature race with his front wing dangling. In the end Sam was able to race to a 12th place finish.

Sam had one final night to set himself up for the Saturday finale and again he went from 6th to 4th in his heat to again land on the pole of his B Main. Hafertepe had jumped out into the early lead and was all alone when his front axle broke suddenly sending him spinning and ending his night.

As a result of the B Main finish on Friday night Sam had to start his heat race in 3rd on the final night. Hafertepe finished where he started and then came home 2nd in his B Main to lock himself into the 18th starting position for The Winternationals finale.

At the drop of the green flag Sam was a rocket as he powered to the outside of the speedway and ripped through the field. By the completion of the first lap Hafertepe had charged from 18th to 11th. Sam disposed of Russ Hall for 10th around the mid-way point of the race and then Pat Cannon for 9th with just a few laps remaining. Hafertepe tracked down David Gravel and Tim Shaffer as they battled for 7th but ran out of laps in a 40 lap feature that went without a caution.

The Plumbfast Racing Team will now slip a 410 back between the frame rails of The Lone Star Speedway #15h Maxim for a weekend of competition with The World of Outlaws at Pike County and then the following night in Sam's home state of Texas at Houston Raceway Park as he chases his first career World of Outlaws feature win.

Sam would like to thank the following supporters: Plumbfast Mechanical, Lone Star Speedway, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Pancho's Racing Products, Kear's Speed Shop, PPM Titanium Products, GPC Race Products, Butlerbuilt, Infinity Shocks, DMI, Finish Line Machining, Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, Smiley's Racing Products, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Vortex Wings, AFCO Racing Shocks, Simpson Racing Products.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO SAM'S PRESS RELEASE LIST PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO: sam15press@gmail.com

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