OSBORN, Mo. – Working the high line at U.S. 36 Raceway, Sam Hafertepe Jr. held off numerous challenges Friday night for his 51st victory with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.
Hafertepe 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 five with Hafertepe taking over the lead on lap seven, 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 eight, 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.
“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,” said Hafertepe. “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 .405 seconds on the closing lap.
“I was actually struggling on one and two when we got into traffic,” commented Hafertepe. “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.”
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 White, who ended up fourth. Moving up from 10th, Matt Covington completed the top five.
The finish:
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].