Sam Hafertepe Jr. and The Zemco Racing Team used a couple of time trial shows at Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway this past weekend to prepare for this week’s World of Outlaw (WoO) invasion of Pennsylvania. Friday night at Williams Grove was rained out but not before Sam laid down the fastest lap in time trials. Saturday night saw Hafertepe battle hard all night long and finish solidly in the top 10.
Friday night at Williams Grove Hafertepe was hooked up in The Zemco Header’s #1 and it showed as he turned a lap of 17.027 which was good enough for quick time. Unfortunately Sam was experiencing a vibration that worsened from warm-ups to time trials.
“The car was shaking pretty badly,” explained Sam. “The car actually probably had a little more in it but the vibration was holding us back a little. I’m just really happy we had the car dialed in like it was because time trials are so crucial at WoO races.”
Crew chief Tommy Carl and the rest of The Zemco team were in the middle of searching through the driveline of the Maxim-Rider combination when the skies opened up and cancelled the rest of the evening’s events.
Saturday night was Sam’s 2012 Lincoln Speedway debut and he was up to speed quickly as he went out late but still managed the 5th fastest lap in time trials.
The Zemco Tool & Die #1 was a little off in the heat race as Sam fought a loose race car but he was able to qualify for the feature with a 5th place run.
Sam lined up 11th for the feature event and appeared to have a very fast car as he made his way as high as 7th early in the race. As the race wore on however it was clear that the handling was fading and Hafertepe had to fight hard to hold on to a top 10 position. A late race restart afforded Sam one last opportunity to make some headway and the Sunnyvale, Texas native took advantage of the opportunity to move into the 8th position. A last lap slide job on Jim Siegel in turns 1 and 2 moved Sam into 7th which was the position he would maintain as he crossed beneath the checkered flag.
“All in all I’m happy with the run,” explained Sam. “We weren’t where we needed to be in the heat race or feature but we made the most of it. These guys aren’t really used to double-file restarts like I am and I tried to take advantage of that, especially on restarts where I started on the top because it gave me so many options in terms of lines to run when I went into turns 1 and 2.”
Sam and the rest of the sprint car world will now turn their attention to Pennsylvania this week as The WoO are scheduled to invade Lincoln Speedway Wednesday night and then Williams Grove Friday and Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to running with The Outlaws again,” said Sam. “Whenever The Outlaws take on The Posse it’s always special and driving a Pennsylvania-based car just adds to that excitement. I really like our chances because The Outlaw shows put such an emphasis on qualifying and we’ve really been taking care of that aspect of our program. If we can keep the car as fast as it is early in the night all of the way through the evening I don’t see any reason why we can’t win.”
Sam and The Zemco Racing Team would like to thank their partners and supporters: Zemco Speed Equipment, Zemco Tool & Die, Zemco Headers, Recchione Auto Body, Rider Racing Engines, Penske Shocks, Butlerbuilt, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Maxim Chassis, Moose Blocks, Arts Radiator, DMI, Spectro Oils, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Simpson, Smith Precision Products, MPD, Jake’s Golf Carts, Raace Foundation, Baps, CMC, Wings Unlimited and Kelly Racing Fuels
Follow Sam online at: www.sam15.com
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- administrator on May 08, 2012
- Article Date: 5/8/2012