Podium Finish Shines As Highlight For Hafertepe During Tough Southern Iowa Sprint Week

Bryan Hulbert - KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 14, 2019) The 2019 Southern Iowa Sprint Week was a roller coaster ride for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. Taking in events at Knoxville Raceway and Southern Iowa Speedway, the team struggled to find consistent speed but was still able to mount a crowd-pleasing performance in the Sage Fruit Ultimate Challenge with a second-place finish.

"We didn't really feel that good in the 360 Nationals. We actually felt like we found something, but we just never were able to capitalize on what we found so we just kept on searching and felt like we had some speed at the Capitani Classic, and we used that at Osky and it felt like we actually figured out some more on the car, but the car just seemed to fade once we got to our qualifying night at the Nationals," commented Hafertepe of the overall run.

Tenth in his Qualifying night to open up the My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank, the run locked Sam into Saturday's A-Feature, where the end result was a 13th place finish after starting eighth.

"We were better than usual, but we still just didn't have things figured out. Every time we thought we'd make progress, we'd have to start back where we were, but that's just part of it."

Dropping the 410cid bullet between the rails for the Capitani Classic presented by Bell Helmets, the night started off much like before with speed in Qualifying with a time good enough for ninth in Group 2 Qualifying, followed by a Heat Race win. Gridding the field 10th, Hafertepe maintained but slipped back to 12th in the end.

Back in action with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network at the Sage Fruit Ultimate Challenge, Hafertepe was able to charge forward from the eighth starting spot. Getting close to Wayne Johnson in the closing laps, Hafertepe ran varying lines as hard as he could in the Hills Racing No. 15h.

"We were just searching for the rubber in one and two, and in order to run the cushion in three and four we had to run really hard and bank off it and you could catch it hard enough, you'd get good drive down the banking to the rubber, and we hit it good and reeled in him in until I overdrove turns one and two. After that, we just didn't really have a chance."

Back to Knoxville Raceway for the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Store, Sam began the night 17th in Qualifying. Seventh in the second Heat Race, Hafertepe was relegated to the B-Feature where his night ended with a sixth-place finish. Taking on Fridays Hard Knox Night, Hafertepe rolled in with speed at seventh fastest, followed by a fourth-place finish in his Heat Race. Transferring through the B-Feature, Sam was able to move forward from 21st to 17th.

Running to a transfer spot in the C-Feature on Saturday, Hafertepe wouldn't be able to hold the position to move on.

"We thought we'd be a lot better than what we were, but we struggled. Definitely not pleased with our performance at all," stated Hafertepe.

"Saturday, we felt like we had the bottom rolling pretty good. Just got to guys as the wrong time and that let a few guys get runs on us on the top and by then, that looked like the place to be, then the bottom cam back in. Just ran the wrong line at the wrong time. We just struggled."

Taking the weekend off to regroup, the team is back on the road for Riverside International Speedway on Saturday, August 24 with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.

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: 37; Wins -7 ; Top 5 - 17; Top 10 - 23; Top 20 - 29;

Coming Up:

August 1-3 - Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa) /w Lucas Oil ASCS

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:

Dunn Benson Motorsports and Devin Moran Head to Batesville AR for Topless 100 After Solid 4th Place Finish at North/South 100 Last Weekend

DUNN, NC (August 14, 2019) – Dunn Benson Motorsports and driver Devin Moran will carry the “REBELS WANTED” Big River Steel Logo into the Comp Cams Topless 100 in Batesville, AR this weekend. One of the crown jewel events of the season, the 27th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 - Presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions takes place this Thursday through Saturday, August 15th - 17th, at Batesville Motor Speedway. The crown jewel event is co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the COMP Cams Super Dirt Series.

This year’s Topless 100 will feature a complete program of Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and a $5,000-to-win main event on Thursday and Friday nights. Drivers will earn points in each of the two preliminary nights that will determine the lineups for Saturday night's finale. Saturday’s 100-Lap Feature event pays $40,000 to the winner. This event is special because the cars will compete without any roofs giving fans a unique view from inside the car as they maneuver through the race.

The New BRS Logo represents the employees of Big River Steel who are innovative, implementing cutting edge technology, daring to push the limits, also known as “Rebels” of the steel industry. Big River Steel employees are reinventing what a Steel Company can be in today’s steel industry. Big River Steel wants “Rebels” with vision and passion to GO BIG in the Steel Industry. A large number of Big River Steel employees will be attending this weekend’s events cheering on Devin Moran and the Big River Steel racecar.

After a solid 4th place finish in last weekend’s North/South 100 in KY, Devin looks forward to racing in front of the Big River Steel employees and close to their plant in Arkansas. “I’m excited for this weekend’s Topless 100 and seeing all the big river Steel employees while honoring them with the Rebels wanted logo on the front of the racecar. The new logo looks awesome for all the rebels of Big River Steel and were looking to GO BIG this weekend and get that $40,000 first place prize on Saturday”, stated Devin Moran, driver of the Dunn Benson Motorsports #1 Racecar. For all the latest news, schedule, pictures, sponsors, crew or anything related to Dunn Benson Motorsports and driver Devin Moran, visit our website at www.DunnBensonMotorsports.com or visit Devin Moran’s website also hosted by Delph Communications at www.DevinMoranRacing.com.

About Big River Steel

Big River Steel invested $1.3 billion to build and start up the world’s first Flex Mill™, a technologically advanced steel production facility that has quickly become a leader in the world’s steel making community.  Since operations began in early 2017, Big River Steel has provided steel products to over 225 customers in the automotive, energy, construction and agricultural industries.  At Big River Steel, there’s no talk of the status quo. True innovation leads to growth and is rebellious. To learn more about Big River Steel visit www.bigriversteel.com.

About GETSCO

GETSCO is a privately held company and a leading agricultural chemical and site work material supplier in the Carolinas with a staff that has over 150 years of combined industry experience. With qualified product specialists in agricultural chemicals and certified professionals in Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC) and Storm Water Quality (CPSWQ), GETSCO provides quality products, competitive prices and technical solutions to their valued customers. www.getsco.net

Marketing Partners

Devin Moran and the Dunn Benson Motorsports Team would like to thank all our partners for their support in 2019. Thanks to: Big River Steel, GETSCO, Dunn Benson Ford, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Lincoln Smith Racing, Hot Rod Processing, Rocket Chassis XR1, Pro Power Racing Engines, Roush/Yates FORD Engines, Sunoco Race Fuel, Lucas Oil, Accu-Force Dynos/Testers, Integra Shocks, Eibach Springs, TIGER Quick Change Rear Ends, Fast Shafts, BERT Transmissions, ALLSTAR Performance, FK Rod Ends, Performance Bodies, FLUIDYNE High Performance, Keyser Manufacturing, WEHRS Machine & Racing Products, CTECH Manufacturing, QuickCar, Hoosier Tire, Wilwood, SRI Performance, Arizona Sports Shirts, XS Batteries, Davis Cabinet Co., Donnie Moran Driving School, DYERS Top Rods, Goodridge Lines, The Joie of Seating, KIMS BBQ &Seafood, Miller Welders, UniFirst, Orange Fatkat Media, Quick Rescue Roof, Simpson Race Products, Strange Oval Axles, WRISCO, ASi Racewear, Beyea Headers, Jones Racing Products, Peterson Fluid Systems, Powermaster, UniFirst, WELD Wheels, Hooker Harness, Stealth Racing Carburetors, EDDIES, DirtWrap and Delph Communications.

Follow Dunn Benson Motorsports at:

Official Website- www.DunnBensonMotorsports.com

Facebook- www.facebook.com/dunnbensonmotorsports/

Twitter- www.twitter.com/TeamDBM1  

Follow Devin Moran at:
Official Website- www.DevinMoranRacing.com

Facebook- www.facebook.com/devinmoran99/

Twitter- www.twitter.com/devinmoran99

Instagram- www.instagram.com/devinmoran99/