Hafertepe Hustles The Highside For ASCS Sprint Victory At US 36 Raceway Friday

Story By: BRYAN HULBERT / ASCS – OSBORN, MO – Working the Highline at U.S. 36 Raceway, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. held off numerous challenges and, at times, heavy lapped traffic Friday night U.S. 36 Raceway for his 51st career victory with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.

Sam’s fourth win with the Tour in 2020, the Hills Racing No. 15h, gave chase from the fourth starting spot as third starting Harli White took off with the race lead after going three-wide into the first turn. Moving to second on the opening lap, traffic came into the picture by Lap 5 with Sam taking over the lead on Lap 7, only to have a caution negate the pass.

Going slide for slide on the ensuing restart with six laps officially complete, Hafertepe grabbed the point the following lap. Driving back around the No. 15 to lead Lap 8, White was again challenged for the lead with Hafertepe able to fend off the Dustin Dream No. 17w, all while Blake Hahn nearly drove by both drivers with a high line run off the fourth turn as they started back into traffic.

On the battle with White, Sam stated, “I knew lapped traffic was going to be tough and that let Blake [Hahn] almost get by both of us when we were battling for the lead with Harli. That’s how it usually goes here, but I have to say, the track was awesome. This is probably the best surface I’ve ever seen here. To have it on the wall in one and two, and on the top in three and four. If I’m a fan, I couldn’t ask from more than that.”

Keeping the No. 52 at bay, Hahn settled into second.

Holding pace with Hafertepe, the pair worked traffic as the caution shown working Lap 16. Reverting to the last fully completed lap on the restart, the green was short-lived as Shayle Bade flipped in the turn one while running ninth. She was okay.

Going after Hafertepe on the restart, Hahn settled back into Sam’s tire tracks with the pair pulling away from the field. Taking one more shot on the bottom of turns three and four as the pair raced to the white flag, it was not enough as Hafertepe opened his advantage to 0.405-seconds on the closing lap.

“I was actually struggling on one and two when we got into traffic,” commented Sam. “They were running the bottom and kicking up so much dust off the infield, I couldn’t see where the cushion was, or how close I was to the wall, and I didn’t want to jeopardize anything, so I cheated it down there a few times, but at the end on open track, I felt like we had plenty.”

Blake Hahn held on for second with Ayrton Gennetten posting his first podium finish with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network in the Ozark Barge and Dock No. 3 after a torrid battle with Harli White, who ended up fourth. Moving up from 10th, Matt Covington completed the top five.

The night’s Hard Charger from 17th, Roger Crockett ended up sixth with Danny Sams III in seventh after starting 13th. Brodix Rookie of the Year contender, Ryan Bickett, landed his first top ten of the season with an eighth-place finish while Alex Hill earned her second top ten of the year, going from 15h to ninth. Jay Russell completed the top ten.

A field of 30 drivers was on hand at U.S. 36 Raceway from 10 States and three Countries.

SCE Gaskets Heat Race wins went to Riley Goodno, Shayle Bade, Jay Russell, and Sam Hafertepe, Jr. Roger Crockett topped the BMRS B-Feature. Provisionals were used by Jordon Mallett and Travis Reber based on ASCS Owner Points.

The next event for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network is the 30th Annual My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank, happening August 6, 7, and 8 at Knoxville Raceway.

Race Results:

Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV and ASCS Warrior Region
U.S. 36 Raceway (Osborn, Mo.)
Friday, July 17, 2020

Car Count: 30

SCE Gaskets Heat Races (Top 16 in Passing Points advance to the A-Feature)

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 22-Riley Goodno[2]; 2. 24-Garet Williamson[3]; 3. 11A-Austin O’Neal [1]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[6]; 5. 55B-Brandon Anderson[4]; 6. 22S-Slater Helt[5]; 7. 21-Miles Paulus[7]; 8. 88-Travis Reber[8]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 03-Shayle Bade[4]; 2. 17B-Ryan Bickett[1]; 3. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[3]; 4. 77X-Alex Hill[6]; 5. 11-Roger Crockett[8]; 6. 14-Jordon Mallett[5]; 7. 73-Vince Franks[2]; 8. 9M-Glen Saville[7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 76-Jay Russell[1]; 2. 17W-Harli White[4]; 3. 51-Mitchell Moore[2]; 4. 45F-Monty Ferriera[3]; 5. 92J-JR Topper[6]; 6. 45-David Luckie[7]; 7. 82-Jason Martin[5]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn[3]; 3. 24D-Danny Sams III[2]; 4. 89-Todd McVay[7]; 5. 21R-Gunner Ramey[6]; 6. 28-Scott Bogucki[1]; 7. 9-Chase Randall[5]

BMRS B-Feature (Top 6 advance to the A-Feature)

B Feature (12 Laps): 1. 11-Roger Crockett[1]; 2. 92J-JR Topper[2]; 3. 82-Jason Martin[8]; 4. 21R-Gunner Ramey[3]; 5. 55B-Brandon Anderson[4]; 6. 21-Miles Paulus[7]; 7. 22S-Slater Helt[6]; 8. 45-David Luckie[5]; 9. 88-Travis Reber[10]; 10. (DNF) 9-Chase Randall[9]; 11. (DNF) 9M-Glen Saville[11]; 12. (DNF) 14-Jordon Mallett[13]; 13. (DNS) 73-Vince Franks; 14. (DNS) 28-Scott Bogucki

Sawblade.com A-Feature

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn[5]; 3. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[11]; 4. 17W-Harli White[3]; 5. 95-Matt Covington[10]; 6. 11-Roger Crockett[17]; 7. 24D-Danny Sams III[13]; 8. 17B-Ryan Bickett[9]; 9. 77X-Alex Hill[15]; 10. 76-Jay Russell[6]; 11. 21-Miles Paulus[22]; 12. 21R-Gunner Ramey[20]; 13. 14-Jordon Mallett[23]; 14. 22-Riley Goodno[2]; 15. 88-Travis Reber[24]; 16. 11A-Austin O’Neal[14]; 17. 55B-Brandon Anderson[21]; 18. 24-Garet Williamson[7]; 19. 03-Shayle Bade[1]; 20. 51-Mitchell Moore[12]; 21. 45F-Monty Ferriera[16]; 22. 82-Jason Martin[19]; 23. 89-Todd McVay[8]; 24. 92J-JR Topper[18]

Lap Leader(s): Harli White 1-6, 8; Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 7, 9-30
Hard Charger: Roger Crockett +11
High Point Driver: Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
Provisional(s): Jordon Mallett (Points); Travis Reber (Points)