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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeremy Shields (shields@msrmafia.com)
January 21, 2020

Brian Shirley Enjoys Early Season Success in Arizona
Lucas Oil Season Opener Up Next

CHILTON, Wis. (01/21/20) – Brian Shirley and Bob Cullen Racing wrapped up a very successful 14th Annual Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout over the weekend at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, Ariz.).

Shirley ended the six-night miniseries having never finished outside the Top-10. The Illinois driver piloted his No. 3s Hoker Trucking/ Thomason Express/ J&J Ventures Gaming/ XR1 Rocket Chassis/ Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model to three wins, a pair of fourth-place finishes, and one seventh-place finish.

“All in all, [I’m] just proud of my team, proud of these guys,” said Shirley. “From where we were at Vado [N.M., Speedway Park earlier in January], to come here, rebound, figure out some things that were wrong and did do what we were supposed to do. The whole point of us coming here was this – so everybody could get to know each other, work together and figure out how we’re going to get better as the year goes on.”

On Friday, Shirley followed up the fastest lap in his time trial group with a second-place finish in his heat race. After starting seventh in the 30-lap feature, Brian took the lead from polesitter Chris Simpson on the 21st lap and led the rest of the way for his second $5,000 victory of the week. Brandon Sheppard, Simpson, Ricky Weiss, and Ricky Thornton Jr. trailed him to the checkered flag.

Returning on Saturday afternoon, Shirley secured his spot into the $5,000-to-win main event with a convincing heat race victory. In the 40-lapper, Brian overtook outside front-row starter Johnny Scott on the 10th lap and led the rest of the way to capture another $5,000 victory. With his third miniseries victory, Shirley also grabbed a $10,000 bonus.

Wrapping up the 14th edition of the Wild West Shootout on Sunday, Brian earned the 17th starting spot on the feature grid after contact with the turn-three wall in time trials ruined his preliminary efforts. With $15,000 on the line, Shirley broke into the Top-5 after just 14 laps and slipped into the lead for a single lap just past the halfway point in the 50-lapper.

On a lap 33 restart, he got too high and briefly fell to fifth before returning to a solid fourth place at the finish behind race winner Brandon Sheppard, Johnny Scott, and Ricky Weiss. Bobby Pierce rounded out the Top-5.

Despite the way the week ended, Shirley’s performance that included three victories and a $10,000 bonus gave him nearly $30,000 in earnings. He said he “couldn’t be happier for everybody on this team that we put in a solid week.”

For full results from the miniseries, please visit www.WildWestShootout.net.

“I want to express our gratitude to our sponsors, track personnel, friends, and our families,” Shirley added amid a 50-day racing trip. “It was great to have two of our major partners, Thomason Express, and Hoker Trucking, be there to celebrate three wins with us.”

The team now treks east to kickstart the 2020 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) campaign. The Speedweeks action begins at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Ga. on January 31 and February 1. From there, the team will head to East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla. for six straight nights (February 3-8) of competition. The LOLMDS Speedweeks will conclude on Sunday, February 9 at All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Fla. For a complete schedule, visit www.LucasDirt.com.

Brian Shirley and Bob Cullen Racing would like to thank all of their marketing partners which include: Hoker Trucking, Thomason Express, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphix, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Motorsports, Integra Shocks, East Central Coin, Cheers, Cen-Pe-Co Racing Oil, Durham Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis, Jayco Construction, Larry’s Distributing, Hope For A Cure, Midwest Sheet Metal, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, Peterson Fluid Systems, Hooker Harness, Willy’s Carburetor, Fast Shafts, Keyser Manufacturing, Dyers Top Rods, Wehrs Machine, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Allstar Performance, The Joie of Seating, Simpson, Hoosier Racing Tire, Quarter Master, Wilwood Disc Brakes, KKM, Speedwerx, Daugherty Motorsports, Multi Fire, Strange Oval, FK Rod Ends, and MSR Mafia Marketing Services.

For the latest team news and updates on Bob Cullen Racing, please visit www.BobCullenRacing.com .

Sam Hafertepe, Jr. Chasing the All-Star Circuit of Champions In 2020

Bryan Hulbert - SUNNYVALE, Texas (January 20, 2020) A goal of Sam Hafertepe, Jr. for a long time as been to work back into 410cid Sprint Car competition full time, and in 2020 the four-time champion of the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network will achieve that goal as the Hills Racing Team No. 15h takes on the Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1.

"We're going to go a different direction in 2020 and focusing on our 410cid racing to chase the Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions," stated Hafertepe. "In addition to competing full time with the All-Stars, we'll also compete in about 20 World of Outlaws shows and about 10 360 races."

Taking in several 410cid events over the past couple of seasons while on tour with the American Sprint Car Series, Sam has had varying results and admits there will be challenges but is ready to pursue the task at hand.

"The biggest adaptation we'll have to make in our program is getting used to the H tires. In the past, we've struggled on them, but our team has made some pretty noticeable gains in our program this off season and I'm excited to see where we stack up against the best racers in the country. I think you'll see us have nights that we are really good and nights that we may struggle but on the whole, I think by the end of the year we should be consistently fast everywhere we go."

Picking up 40 wins, 94 top-fives, and 114 top-tens in 139 A-Feature starts with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, Hafertepe leaves a lasting legacy with the nation's top 360cid touring series.

"I want to thank everyone involved with The Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour for everything they have done over the course of my career. The series provided me with an opportunity to hone my skills against some of the most talented drivers in the country early in my career and during the last 5 years has played an important role in my maturing as a driver. Most importantly, the series taught me what it takes to be a champion. I'm very proud of my accomplishments with The ASCS and I wish them nothing but continued success in 2020."

Looking at a nearly 80 race lineup in 2020, Hafertepe's season begins in only a few days as the team heads to Florida for the season opener on Wednesday, February 5 at Volusia Speedway near Barberville, Fla. More information on the series, including the entire 2020 lineup can be found online at http://www.allstarsprint.com.

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).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeremy Shields (shields@msrmafia.com )
January 21, 2020

Dustin Strand Tops Wild West Shootout Field on Friday
Clinches Arizona Miniseries Modified Points Title

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (01/21/20) – Dustin Strand took his Q&Z Plumbing & Heating No. 71 Keewatin Truck Service/ Flagstaff Nissan Subaru/ Millenium Chassis/ Ben Adams Racing Engine Modified to the Winner’s Circle on Friday night at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, Ariz.).

Strand concluded the six-night, 14th Annual Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout with one win and five Top-5 finishes. The North Dakota ace also clinched the miniseries’ Modified Championship, earning him a $1,000 bonus.

“The car was bad fast all week. We’ve been trying to make it better and I’ve been telling the guys I think we just need to get the driver a little better,” an elated Strand joked in Victory Lane. “It feels great to get back to Victory Lane, especially with the cars we’re competing with here. We had a blast all week and I’m proud of our team.”

“It’s not easy to be a contender all week long against this caliber of cars,” Strand added. “I want to thank my team, my family, my sponsors, and all of my fans for making this possible.”

On Friday evening, Strand passed five cars in his heat race to place fourth. Starting the feature in fourth, Dustin blasted past Rodney Sanders for the lead on the high side following a caution on the fifth lap. Holding off Sanders through lapped-traffic late in the 25-lapper, Dustin Strand soared to his first win of the season over Sanders, Tyler Peterson, Mitch Keeter, and Calvin Iverson. He pocketed a $1,000 payday for the triumph.

Saturday afternoon saw Dustin lock his spot into the main event with an 8-lap heat race victory. Rolling off third, Strand dropped two spots in the 25-lapper to place fifth behind Matt Leer, Tyler Peterson, Lucas Schott, and Rodney Sanders.

Wrapping up the 14th Annual Wild West Shootout on Sunday, Strand gained six spots in his heat to register a fourth-place finish. Starting the finale in fourth, Dustin gained one spot to notch a third-place finish behind Tyler Peterson and Joe Duvall with Rodney Sanders and Lucas Schott trailing them to the checkers.

For full results from these events, please visit www.WildWestShootout.net .

Next on the schedule for Strand Racing is a trip to Red Dirt Raceway (Meeker, Okla.) on April 2-4 for a United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) event. The three-day extravaganza dubbed “The Godfather” boasts a $10,000 top prize. Additional information is available at www.USMTS.com .

Dustin Strand would like to thank all of his sponsors including Q&Z Plumbing & Heating, Keewatin Truck Service, Carr's Grain Service, Flagstaff Nissan Subaru, Naastad Acres, RHRebelStorage.com, Double Deuce Bar & Grill, Walhalla Building Center, Generations Salon, Sam’s Auto Body, Bemidji Welders Supply, RHR Swag.com, Air Seeder Parts LLC, Ben Adams Racing Engines, Forest Flying Service, Anytime Fitness EGF, Shocks by Hammer, Bilstein Shocks, Bemidji Marine, Millenium Chassis, Troy Pecka Trucking, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Dustin Strand, please visit his official internet home at www.StrandRacing.com .