Hafertepe Progresses Through King Of The 360s For Saturday Night Podium

Bryan Hulbert - TAMPA, Fla. (February 20, 2019) Making progress each time he hit the track during the King of the 360s at East Bay Raceway Park this past weekend, Sam Hafertepe, Jr.'s persistence paid off with the final night yielding a third-place finish.

"East Bay is one of those places we seem to struggle at. We felt good going in, but just started off like we always do and finally on the final night we found some speed and just tried to build on it," commented Hafertepe of his feelings on the weekend.

Coming through B-Feature competition the first two nights, the Thursday opener yielded the better result with the Heidbreder Foundation No. 15h moving to seventh in the A-Feature. Runner-up in the B-Feature on Friday, the move was about half that of the previous night with a 15th place finish.

Setting a bit of a do or die situation for Saturday, the team pulled out all the stops and found the speed they'd been looking for.

"We knew we needed to win the Heat Race. Being the first Heat, that was going to put us starting seventh in the A [Feature] so that was the whole goal."

Fastest in Hot Laps, Sam was able to translate that speed to a Heat Race win.

"I felt like we'd hit on something finally. Speed was there, and for the Main, we didn't really have to change the car up that much. The track had a little more moisture than the prior two nights, and starting seventh, I knew we had a chance to win and when the green dropped, we got to fourth pretty quick and once we got into traffic, I actually go under McCarl and passed the guy for second, but the caution came out right after we crossed the line so that put us behind them and that really hurt us and by the time I was able to get back to third, the race was pretty much over."

Five A-Feature starts on the season with a trio of podiums finishes so far, Sam looks to carry that momentum into this weekend with his first showing with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas on Friday, February 22 and his home track, Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas on Saturday, February 23.

"I'm really looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully, the weather lets us race. We've been working on our 410cid program, so this weekend should be a good test of what we've done."

Both nights can be viewed live on DIRTVISION.COM presented by DRYDENE.

For continued updates on Sam Hafertepe, Jr. log onto http://www.sam15.com and make sure to find him on Twitter (@samhafertepejr). For news on Hill's Racing Team, log onto https://www.facebook.com/hillsracing/ and on Twitter (@HillsRacingTeam).

2019 Season to Date:

Events: 5; Wins -0 ; Top 5 - 3; Top 10 - 4; Top 15 -5; Top 20 -5;

Recent Results:

February 14 - East Bay Raceway Park (Tampa, Fla.) - A-Feature: 9th
February 15 - East Bay Raceway Park (Tampa, Fla.) - A-Feature: 15th
February 16 - East Bay Raceway Park (Tampa, Fla.) - A-Feature: 3rd

Coming Up:

February 22 - Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, Texas) - World of Outlaws
February 23 - Lone Star Speedway (Kilgore, Texas) - World of Outlaws

Sam Hafertepe, Jr. Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011628097506
Website: http://www.sam15.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samhafertepejr

The Sponsors:

Hill's Racing Team, Townline Variety, Heidbreder Foundation Service, Kiebler & Sons Lawn and Landscaping, Fisher Racing Engines, Super Shox, J&J Chassis, Smiley's Racing Products, Hoosier Tire, Huggins Cams, Champion Oil, The Sparks Family, Lonestar Speedway, Keizer Wheels, XYZ Machining, Simpson Racing Products, CP-Carrillo, KSE Power Steering, FK Rod Ends, BMRS, Allstar Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Vortex Wings, DMI, Wilwood Brakes, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Hwy. 79 Collision.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
February 21, 2019

Chase Junghans Speedweeks 2019 Highlighted by Strong Runs
Currently Sits Third in Latest WoO Standings

Manhattan, Kansas (02/21/19) – Chase Junghans recently saw his Speedweeks 2019 draw to a close. The pilot of the Shop Quik Convenience Stores #18 Bozard Ford Lincoln/XR1 Rocket Chassis/ Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model enjoyed his best start to a season to date.

Junghans tabulated a trio of Top-5 finishes to go with nine Top-10 runs in eleven starts.

“We didn’t get any wins, so I’m bummed about that, but honestly we’ve never started a year in the Super Late Model with this much consistency, so I’m really happy about that,” Junghans said. “Our car is really balanced, and it seems like no matter what the condition is or how tough the competition is, we are a contender.”

Junghans kicked off his 2019 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series season with a pair of Top-5 finishes at Georgia’s Screven Motor Speedway. At Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, Florida) in WoO competition, Junghans finished no worse than 11th. With only a driver’s best two Volusia finishes counting toward series’ points, he banked a fourth and a sixth.
Junghans added three Top-10 finishes in just four Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS).

With Speedweeks now in the rearview mirror, Chase is tied for third in the latest WoO standings, just 18 markers removed from the top spot.

“It’s no big secret that my top priority this year is making a run at the Outlaw championship,” Junghans noted. “Brandon (Sheppard) is off to a great start and with guys like (Shane) Clanton, Chris Madden and (Darrell) Lanigan out there I know it won’t be an easy task, but we are coming at this deal with guns blazing.

“I just want to thank my team for all of their hard work and for giving me a great car every night. I want to also definitely thank my family and all of my sponsors for their great support.”

Junghans will resume his 2019 season March 8-9 with a WoO Tennessee doubleheader. Action opens on Friday, March 8 at Duck River Raceway Park (Lewisburg, Tennessee) before shifting to Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, Tennessee) on Saturday, March 9.

For more information on the events, please visit www.WoOLMS.com .

Make sure to visit the Apparel page at www.ChaseJunghans.com to get the brand-new team apparel.

Chase Junghans would like to thank his principal and associate sponsors including Shop Quik Convenience Stores, Bozard Ford Lincoln, Sunoco Race Fuels, Junghans Discount Liquors, Paulson Rock Products, Hoosier Tire, Rocket Chassis, Clements Racing Engines, Hooker Harness, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Fast Shafts Driveshafts, Speedway Motors, PRC, Sweet Manufacturing, and MSR Mafia Marketing Services.

For the latest team news and updates on Chase Junghans and Shop Quik Racing please visit www.ChaseJunghans.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
February 21, 2019

Jeff Roth and Joe Godsey Wrap Up Australian Invasion
Prepare for American Season

Bentonville, Arkansas (02/21/19) – Bentonville, Arkansas-based Roth Motorsports – with drivers Jeff Roth and Joe Godsey – recently concluded their 2019 Australian Invasion. While the results were not what the team had hope for, they still had a great time.

“As I sit her with my entire team I get to reflect on this year’s trip,” Roth said. “I am extremely grateful for this privilege to be representing team Roth and all our great partners down under. We have had our highs and lows. This sport is so very humbling, yet very satisfying. Joe (Godsey) and I both scored our first podiums in Australia with Joe finishing second at the Motorplex in Perth and me finishing second at Valvoline Speedway in Sydney.

“It’s truly an amazing feeling being part of all this. We were so close to winning the national title that the entire team could taste it. We experienced the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in emotions. The fans across Australia that have voiced their opinions and the support has been amazing. Thank all of you for your support.”

On Friday evening Roth Motorsports kicked off their final weekend of action in Australia with a trip to Valvoline Raceway (Sydney, Australia) as both Jeff Roth and Joe Godsey competed in the two-day Australian Late Model Championship.

In a stout field of 40 cars, Roth followed up a heat-race win in his first heat with a fourth-place finish in his second. Godsey secured his spot into the main event with a pair of fourth-place finishes.

Reeling in a podium finish in the 25-lap affair, Jeff notched a runner-up performance behind Cameron Pearson with Nathan Disney, Brad Giffen, and Ben Nicastri completing the Top-5 finishers. Joe ran into trouble in his feature, which forced him to retire early from the 25-lapper.

Returning on Saturday night, Jeff recorded a runner-up finish in his heat race, positioning him fourth on the starting grid for the $4,000-to-win finale. Joe started the night with a heat race victory, earning him the 14th-starting position for the feature.

While running in the Top-5 early in the main event, contact from another competitor sent Roth hard into the wall. He was thankfully uninjured, but the damage forced him to retire from the 40-lapper.

Joe Godsey charged from the middle of the pack to begin challenging race-leader John Lodge Jr. for the top spot by lap-20. After swapping back-in-forth for the top spot Godsey ultimately took control. Unfortunately, his night would also soon come to an untimely early end. Contact from Lodge Jr. sent Godsey into a tire barrier, ending his night and eliminating his chances of winning.

“It was gut wrenching to see both of our nights come to an end in such disappointing ways,” Roth recounted. “It’s all part of the game though, I guess. We’ll definitely look forward to coming back next year to pick up with the same speed and momentum.”

For full results from these events, please visit www.ValvolineRaceway.com.au .

Roth and Godsey are now back in the United States and eagerly preparing for the 2019 season stateside. They are currently finalizing their schedule, and once it’s ready it will be posted at www.TeamRothMotorsports.com .

Roth Motorsports would like to thank their principal and associate sponsors including Homes by Roth, Waco Title, Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette, Roth Family Farm, Hot Water Heroes, The Odd Soul, District III, Shock Squad, Golden Boys Concrete, Budda Bert Transmission, Speede Lube, G&S Insulating, S&M Exteriors Inc, Surfaces Quality Stone, Tune Concrete, West Pest Control, Joseph Hayes & Associates, C&C Construction, and MSR Mafia Marketing Services.

For the latest team news and updates on Roth Motorsports, please visit www.TeamRothMotorsports.com .