---

Hafertepe and Rudeen Look to Build on Past Success

September 3, 2011 will forever be a date etched in the minds of Sam Hafertepe Jr. and everyone associated with The Rudeen Racing Team. On that September evening Sam finally broke through for his first career World of Outlaws feature win and took home a $20,000 pay day. The win was also the first World of Outlaw feature win for car owner Kevin Rudeen and The Rudeen Racing Team. 2012 will once again see Hafertepe and Rudeen join forces as the team will run selected events in the Washington-California area beginning this Thursday night with The World of Outlaws in Las Vegas.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of The Rudeen Racing #26,” said Sam from his Sunnyvale, Texas shop. “Kevin, Shane Anderson, Brent Anderson, Seth Belik and everyone have handled things in a first class manner since my first race in their car. I really get along with the whole team really well and I love racing with them. When you look at Rudeen Racing and all of its past history in terms of drivers and success it really does feel amazing to be a part of something like this.”

Rudeen Racing has been well-known in the sprint car community for having good looking equipment and 2012 will be no exception as Brent Anderson from Fire-Down Graphics. Anderson recently unveiled the team’s 2012 paint scheme which will see the traditional “Rudeen blue” highlighted by black and gold.

“Brent is arguably the top graphics guy in sprint car racing and it really shows with this car,” said Sam. “He takes a lot of pride in his work and it can hardly be argued that The Rudeen car has been one of the best looking sprint cars throughout the year.”

The Rudeen Racing #26 Maxim-Shaver combination was only raced a few times in 2011 but in 2012 the team plans to compete more often.

“As of right now we’re planning on starting the year with The Outlaws at Vegas,” stated Sam. “We are going to run Perris and Tulare with The Outlaws as well and we’ll see how things go from there. I’ve been very fortunate to land un-questionably two of the most respected owners in sprint car racing in Kevin Rudeen and John & Pee Wee Zemaitis this season and I feel honored to be in this position. Hopefully I can put them both in victory lane.”

Back to News