Alger, Washington -- What a victory it was for Sam Hafertepe, Jr. of Sunnyvale, TX, who raced from his pole start into the lead on the opening lap of the forty lap, World of Outlaw Sprint Series sanctioned event, hosted by Steve Beitler, Promoter of Skagit Speedway in Alger, WA, to capture a long awaited WoO Sprint Series win, a career first and a huge addition to his racing resume.
"Perhaps the biggest show in this race was the run made by Tim Kaeding of San Jose, CA."
"This is my first WoO Sprint Series win. I can't believe it. I can't even put into words, what this means to me. The track was a cowboy kind of track, just the kind I like. I want to thank Rudeen Racing for giving me this opportunity to race their sprint and I want to dedicated this victory to Travis Rutz" said Hafertepe, Jr. Hafertepe, Jr. had his first run in the Rudeen Racing #26 sprint during the Skagit Speedway Dirt Cup, earlier this season, making this only the second time Hafertepe, Jr., raced with this Rudeen team.
Second place was well earned by Steve Kinser of Bloomington, IN, driving the Tony Stewart Racing, Bass Pro Shops, #11 Sprint, who took over the second spot on the seventh lap, holding off all challenges as he ran his race to the checkered.
"I was having a little trouble out there and I just tried to stay in there (in second) and then try to get into the lead towards the end of the race. He (Hafertepe) was fast enough and I couldn't find a way to get to the front. The track was not too smooth, I can tell you that and a little rough racing in the third and fourth turns." said S. Kinser. With S. Kinser racing in the second spot, it made it even more difficult for the rest of the field to have a try for the lead, the way I see it.
Perhaps the biggest show in this race was the run made by Tim Kaeding of San Jose, CA, racing the Roth Motorsports/HR Cattle #83jr. Kaeding raced from his eighteenth start into third place with six laps to go. Kaeding's run to the front was amazing and the fans loved it.
"It was a great run. I certainly can't complain. We have a great race car at every race. We just need to get better with our qualifying. Racing all the time in California with drivers who aren't as qualified as the WoO Sprint drivers, makes competing on their level more of challenge. I'm not going to Chico (the up coming Gold Cup, Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA) with any expectations. If I can just make the main event there, I would be happy. You can either be good there or you can be bad. It's just Chico. I want to thank Dennis and Teresa Roth. They have given me 100% backing. I just need my qualifying to get better." said Kaeding.
Two cautions flew out as early as lap six and again on lap ten, when two different drivers lost rear tires. Jesse Whitney (WA) brought out the first and it was Barry Martinez (WA) in the second one.
With the field crossed up and ready to charge to the next green flag, an unplanned gathering on the front stretch collected Craig Dollansky (MN), the opening night winner of this two day show at Skagit, Jason Solwold (WA), Brad Sweet (CA) and Toni Lutar (CAN). Dollansky's Big Game Tree Stands #7 had too much damage to return to the race.
Prior to this crash, Sweet was racing in third, Dollansky in sixth, Solwold in thirteenth and Lutar, right behind Solwold. Sweet, Solwold and Lutar tagged the rear of the field, to return to racing. It took a third try to score the tenth lap.
Lucas Wolfe (PA) stopped just out of the first turn on the twenty-fourth lap, then on the restart the red flag flew out when Travis Jacobson (WA) and Jonathan Allard (CA) got together, rolling both of their sprints on the front stretch, just before the flag stand. Both drivers had to retire from the race due to heavy damage to their cars. This was definitely a hard luck event for Allard, as Allard crashed in the opening race of this two day race, unable to return from that incident as well. No injuries were reported. A final caution flew out with just seven laps to go for debris.
At the checkered, Donny Schatz (ND) took fourth followed by Paul McMahan (TN), Kerry Madsen (AUS), "Rookie" Cody Darrah (PA), Jason Sides (TN), Kraig Kinser (IN), Jason Meyers (CA), Sammy Swindell (TN), Wolfe, Trey Starks (WA), Chad Kemenah (OH), Lutar, Solwold, Bill Rose (IN), Bobby McMahan (CA), Whitney, Allard,Jacobson, Dollansky, Martinez.
Ten lap heat races with the top six finishers transferring into the "A" Feature, the eight lap DASH finish will set the line-up for the front ten spots in the "A" and the ten lap Last Chance Showdown, allows the six top finishers to transfer into the "A", Finishes were as follows:
Heat #1: Hafertepe, Schatz, Dollansky, Wolfe, McMahan, B. McMahan, Bill Rose, Kemenah and Austen Wheatley (WA).
Heat #2: S. Kinser, Sides, Swindell, Meyers, Madsen, K. Kinser, Whitney, Logan Forler (WA), Starks.
Heat #3: Allard, Sweet, Jacobson, Kaeding, Lutar, Solwold, Darrah, Martinez.
DASH: Hafertepe, Sweet, S. Kinser, Schatz, Dollansky, Meyers, P. McMahan, Sides, Allard, Lutar.
Last Chance Showdown: Kemenah, Forler, Rose, Darrah, Starks, Whitney, Martinez, Wheatley.
