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Hafertepe and Zemco Build Momentum in Florida

Sam Hafertepe Jr. and The Zemco Racing Team had a successful week at Volusia Speedway competing with The All Star Circuit of Champions as well as the season opening events for The World of Outlaws. The week was highlighted by 3 top 10 finishes with a best finish of 6th coming Friday night against The Outlaws.

Hafertepe kicked off the first of 5 straight nights of racing at the Barberville, Florida half-mile by timing in 20th fastest and safely transferring out of his heat.

Hafertepe was moving forward steadily in the feature however his night came to an abrupt end with a blown left rear tire as Sam entered turn 1 with 2 laps remaining. Sam lightly flipped the Maxim-Rider combination and was done for the night.

“It was an unfortunate way to end the evening,” Sam said. “We weren’t great by any means and we were sliding around a lot but we were going forward. I just wish we could have could have finished the night in one piece.”

The following evening Sam timed in 10th quick and again transferred safely out of his heat to earn a spot in the 6 car dash to line up the first 3 rows of the main event. The team decided to use the dash to experiment with the car and backed up to 5th.

Hafertepe did not make a good start at the beginning of the A Main and immediately dropped into the 8th position where he would settle in and ride. A yellow brought about a restart and again was unable to make a good start and dropped to 10th.

“We were spinning the tires really badly on starts and restarts,” explained Sam. “Once we got settled in and could race I was fine but the initial take offs were just killing us.”

As the race wore on Sam held his position and began to run down Steve Kinser for 9th. Hafertepe was able to execute a late race pass on “The King” and cross the line in 9th to record his first top 10 with his new team.

Friday evening was the season opener for The World of Outlaws and Sam got the season under way in impressive fashion by timing in 3rd quick. Sam transferred through the heat to lock himself into the 11th place starting position for the feature event.

From the drop of the green flag it was clear that Sam had one of the fastest cars in the field as he used both the top and bottom of the track to steadily move through the field. As Sam drove under the white flag the famed Zemco #1z was right on the tail of Aaron Ott for the 6th position. Hafertepe executed a perfect slide job on the final corner of the final lap to take 6th from his youngster and his best finish of the week.

“That was the best we’ve had the car all year,” said Sam. “We have been getting faster and faster every time out and it’s nice that we are finally getting the results we have been looking for.”

The following day two feature events had to be run as Friday night’s events had been rained out and re-scheduled for Sunday.

Sam qualified 7th on a rapidly deteriorating surface and started and finished his heat in 3rd place to lock into the 12th starting position in the feature.

A rubber down surface greeted the racers in the feature event. Sam was able to move forward a few positions but passing was at a premium throughout. Hafertepe was passed late in the feature by a hard charging Kraig Kinser for 8th and settled for 9th.

“The track was terrible,” said Sam. “You just had to make sure you hit your line and stayed in the rubber. The level of competition is so good here that not too many mistakes are going to be made. Kraig was willing to leave the rubber to try to make something happen so more power to him. I just wasn’t going to risk making a mistake and losing some spots.”

The final race of the week saw Sam turn in the the 19th fastest time. Unfortunately Sam lost out on a tight battle with Greg Hodnett that resulted in Sam missing the transfer position to the feature event and forced him to run the B Main.

During an early race restart Sam charged around the outside of Glenn Styres and Ott to move from 4th to 2nd and safely work his way into the A Main to become one of only 9 drivers who made every Volusia A feature event.

Hafertepe struggled during the early laps of the feature and fell through the field rapidly. Much of the field was running the topside of the speedway however as the race wore on Sam’s bottom line became faster and faster. During the final laps Sam began to move back through the field. A final lap pass on Brian Paulus for 16th.

“We didn’t end the week as we planned but I think we certainly made great strides as a team,” said Sam. “Tommy Carl, Ryan Hand, Sean Michael, Daryl Turford and Special Events Scraper Skye Michael worked their butts off all week to give me a good car and I think by the time we get home from Ocala next weekend we are going to be one of the toughest cars in PA or anywhere really.”

Sam and The Zemco Racing Team would like to thank the following supporters: Zemco Speed Equipment, Zemco Headers, Zemco Tool & Die, Recchione Auto Body, Rider Racing Engines, Penske Shocks, Butlerbuilt, BMRS, Maxim Chassis, Moose Blocks, Arts Radiator, DMI, Spectro Oils, All Pro Heads, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Simpson, Smith Precision Products, MPD, Jakes Golf Carts, Raace Foundation, Baps, CMC and Kelly Racing Fuels

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