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Hafertepe Jr. Breaks Through For First Career Worl

For Sam Hafertepe Jr. crossing under the checkered flag as the winner of this past Saturday night's World of Outlaws feature at Skagit Speedway wasn't just the completion of 40 laps but also a lifelong journey that has included several incredible moments and more than it's share of heartbreak along the way. Sam led all 40 laps driving The Rudeen Racing #26 to a dominating performance that saw Sam utilize the whole race track on his way to his first career World of Outlaws feature win and 6th feature win of the year.

"Kevin, Shane, Brent and Seth gave me an absolutely incredible race car," said Sam following the win. "I remember growing up and you would see Shane Stewart driving The Rudeen #26. It always looked so immaculate and you just looked at that ride as one of the dream rides in sprint car racing. To help Kevin and the guys get that first career World of Outlaws win not only for me but for them too is pretty overwhelming when you stop to think about it."

The weekend actually didn't get off to a great start for Sam and the team as he was taken out in a mid-race crash on Friday night.

"A couple of cars got together on the one restart and I couldn't avoid it," explained Sam. "It knocked out the steering and I didn't realize it so I kept going and unfortunately by the time I realized it and tried to get it stopped Kraig Kinser had nowhere to go and piled into us."

The crash damaged the rear of the frame but Sam felt the car had been so good that rather than go to the backup car they would just straighten it.

"We actually had a very good car the first night too," said Sam. "We just started a little too deep in the field. I think we were going to run top 5 for sure but then we got caught up in that wreck. The car was just so good that I figured we could pull the tail tank off, straighten it and be just as fast again."

The following evening Sam timed in 10th and blasted to a heat win after the first start got called back.

"The WoO officials came down after and complained about my starts," said Sam. "They said they were really going to watch me since I was on the pole of the dash and I told them they could watch all they wanted but the Dash start would be the same story because this car just takes off so well."

Sam got another great jump in the Dash and captured the victory to put himself on the pole of the $20,000 to win feature.

"I got out into the lead of the feature and the car was just perfect," said Sam. "I ran the first half of the race on the bottom and it did everything I wanted. I got through traffic though really well and then I saw Brad Sweet get a really impressive run on the top so I figured maybe we should try up there. We got an open red so Shane and I talked it over and we decided we would run the top on the restart."

Hafertepe attacked the topside of the speedway and the results were impressive to say the least.

"You couldn't ask for a better car up there," said the Sunnyvale, Texas native. "I was driving the car as hard as I could. I wasn't holding back a bit and it would do everything I needed it too. I knew as soon as I went up there that the race was over."

The race wasn't over however as there would be one final caution that would give Steve Kinser another shot at Sam.

"On lap 33 they threw a caution for debris," said Sam. "It was the base of a pylon and it was up over the cushion. It wasn't dangerous and it wasn't on the racing surface. Part of me says it was The Outlaws trying to keep me from winning and part of me says they may just be that dumb. Either way it took away a big lead and put Kinser right beside me on the restart."

"I actually wasn't really worried about Steve to be honest," recalled Sam. "I knew we had a great car and I know my restarts were messing him up all race long so if I just kept doing what I was doing we would be fine."

Sam covered the final 7 laps with ease as he took a popular first career World of Outlaws feature win in front of Rudeen Racing's home track crowd.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," said Sam. "You lie awake at night and sometimes you wonder if it's ever going to come. We've been so close so many times and it always seemed like we could never quite get it done no matter how fast we were. Sometimes we broke, sometimes we faded and a lot of nights we just got flat beat. To be able to stand in victory lane and know what it meant to my family, my team, my friends and supporters makes everything we've done, all of the late nights, all of the hard work worth it."

Following the race Sam was warmly received by several of his competitors.

"It meant a lot to me that guys like Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers came by," said Sam. "People out here on the tour know that I usually like to keep to myself and that we kind of do our own thing. To have them come over and congratulate me meant a lot. The only reason winning a World of Outlaws feature means anything is because you have to go through guys like them to do it."

The victory was not just a victory for Sam however.

"I know this win means so much to my Mom and Dad," beamed Sam. "They have been so incredibly supportive of my career. People who know my Father and I know that we can get at each other's throats pretty hard sometimes but if anyone ever has a bad word to say about me I know my Mom and Dad are going to be the first people to have my back and it means so much to me to know that they support me like they do. We could have a very comfortable life if I didn't race and they make a lot of sacrifices for me so to accomplish something like this makes me feel so happy for them."

While there are so many people who have helped Sam throughout his career 2 people in particular immediately came to mind.

"Pancho Lawler and Kevin Rudeen have stepped up and helped me more than anyone can imagine," said Sam. "Pancho was the first guy to ever have faith in me. He was the first guy who ever put me in their race car with no ulterior motive other than that he thought I could drive a sprint car and it was probably him hiring me that showed other owners like Kevin that I was available to drive other people's cars. It really bothers me to see people trashing him and his team on the message boards because he is giving me all of the things I need to win and he doesn't deserve that all. We just ran 7th and 12th against The Outlaws at The Grove. That's damn impressive and you can't do that in a pile of junk. I really hope that by the end of the year I'm able to pay back Pancho for the faith he has shown in me and you better believe he is giving me everything I need to do it."

For Sam a call from The Rudeen Racing Team has forever impacted his career.

"I got a call from Shane in the spring asking me if I could fill in for Bud Kaeding at The Dirt Cup," recalled Sam. "I jumped on the opportunity. The Rudeen Racing #26 has always been one of those cars that you looked at and it always looked absolutely first class. All you have to do is spend a little time with Kevin and his team and you can see why. Kevin, the Andersons (Shane and Brent) and Seth are all first class people and have given me everything they've got. From the shop to the trailer to the car to how they treat their people these guys just do everything first class."

For car owner Kevin Rudeen watching the 40 laps wasn't easy.

"I found out after the race that Kevin didn't even watch because he was so nervous," said Sam with a smile. "He looked at the ground in the infield for all 40 laps and would periodically look up at his friend's face and guage his reaction to see how the car was running. He didn't even know the race was over until someone came up and grabbed his arm and congratulated him. You have to care that much to succeed at this level and if I have a guy in my corner who cares that much you better believe I'm going to give him everything I've got."

Along with Kevin and Pancho there have been several people along the way who have helped Sam get to this point.

"There are so many people who this win means so much to," said Sam. "Wade Huisman from Keizer Wheels has been one of my longest and most loyal friends in racing and Rick Ferkel has done so much more in terms of teaching me how to drive and think in a sprint car than he will ever imagine. My crew guy Daryl actually went home to Canada this week for a vacation and to see his grandma before she has surgery Tuesday and this was the first weekend of racing in years that he missed so I know he's thrilled for me and can't wait to get another crack at The Outlaws in our car. There's just so many people and they know who they are. I just can't thank them enough for their support through the years and I hope they know what it has meant to me."

Following a Sunday flight from Seattle Sam was picked up at the Cleveland airport and spent the night at Rick Ferkel's house in Tiffin, Ohio. The following morning Rick told Sam that the race scheduled for the night before at Wayne County had been re-scheduled for that night.

"We leave and work on our car at The Big Lots in Tiffin, Ohio just down the street from Rick's house," explained Sam. "So we spent Sunday night at Rick's and he told us there was a $4000 to win show re-scheduled for that night. Fortunately, Daryl, his father Pete and I had done most of the maintenance on the car before I left for Seattle so Daryl and I hustled, got everything done and we took off for Wayne County with Rick."

The decision to race paid off as Sam timed in 2nd, finished 2nd in his heat and won the feature after leading all 30 laps from the pole to pick up the $4000 win.

"We scrambled a bit getting there but Rick and Daryl had the car pretty good for the feature," said Sam. "I guess Haud was pressuring me pretty good in traffic but we got a red flag and after that we set sail and won. It was the perfect way to cap off an incredible weekend. I love whenever Rick can come racing with us and if anyone questions how good he still is on these cars all you have to do is look at our record when he's turning the wrenches."

Sam and The Plumbfast Racing Team will now prepare The Lone Star Speedway #15h Maxim-Fisher for a weekend in Pennsylvania.

"We are going to take a shot at The Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal," said Sam. "We're going to run our car and I think we're going to be pretty good. We learned a lot the last time there in The Factory Pancho's car and I think it should translate pretty good to our car so hopefully we can head up there and finally get a win in PA."

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, Torco Racing Oils, Smiley's Racing Products, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Vortex Wings, AFCO Racing Shocks, Simpson Racing Products, Quick Sand Express Inc.

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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