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(Photo by DB3 Imaging)

Inside Line Promotions – TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2014) – Sam Hafertepe Jr. was never more excited to leave the state of Florida than after last weekend.

His season-opening, three-week trip to “The Sunshine State” was capped by a frustrating weekend at East Bay Raceway Park for the 38th annual Winter Nationals featuring the 13th annual Ronald Laney Memorial.

“The first two nights the track rubbered up and the last night they overdid it with water,” he said “There just wasn’t much passing.”

Hafertepe Jr. charged from sixth to third place during his heat race on Thursday to start on the positive note. However, he was disqualified because of a muffler violation.

“That put us so far behind,” he said.

Hafertepe Jr. then rallied from 13th to place fifth in a B Main, but missed a transfer to the main event by three spots. He was 34th in points after the first night.

On Friday, after advancing from seventh to fourth place in his heat race, Hafertepe Jr. earned the 12th-most heat race points to lock himself into the feature. He started on the outside of the sixth row, but the track took rubber from the start and Hafertepe Jr. spent the 25-lap main event just outside the top 10.

“The second night it laid rubber right away in the feature,” he said after placing 12th. “Not much passing going on.”

Hafertepe Jr. finished where he started – third – in his heat race during the finale on Saturday. That lined him up on the outside of the second row for a B Main, which transferred the top two. After immediately moving into third place on the start of the consolation and then pulling to the inside of the second-place car heading into turn three on the opening lap, the start was called back.

Hafertepe Jr. didn’t get as good of a start the second time and he finished fourth – two positions out of a transfer.

“We just couldn’t pass anybody,” he said. “Unless you win, you’re really not accomplishing anything if you go there.”

Hafertepe Jr. is headed to Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz., for this weekend’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour season opener on Friday and Saturday. It will mark his first time at the 3/8-mile track.

“Everybody that I’ve talked to says it’s a great place to race,” he said. “It gives me a lot to look forward to going there.”

Fans can watch the action all weekend from Cocopah Speedway via live Pay-Per-View from RacinBoys. For more information, visit http://www.RacinBoys.com.

QUICK RESULTS –

Feb. 20 – East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla. – Heat race: 3 (6); B Main: 5 (13).

Feb. 21 – East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla. – Heat race: 4 (7); Feature: 12 (12).

Feb. 22 – East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla. – Heat race: 3 (3); B Main: 4 (4).

SEASON STATS –

7 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 1 top 15, 0 top 20

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz., for Rounds 1 and 2 of the Cocopah Cup Challenge with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.Sam15.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamHafertepeJr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Hafertepe-Jr-and-The-Plumbfast-Racing-Team/116304711773031?ref=br_tf

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Keizer Aluminum Wheels

Keizer Aluminum Wheels has provided custom aluminum racing wheels for any type of racing application for several decades. For more information, visit http://www.KeizerWheels.com.

“I’ve been using Keizer Aluminum Wheels since 2004,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “They are like family to me and have been with me through the highs and the lows.”

Hafertepe Jr. would also like to thank Lone Star Speedway, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Smiley’s Racing Products, Fisher Racing Engines, J&J Auto Racing, Pro Shocks by OC Shocks, Fire-Down Graphics, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Vortex Wings, Kear’s Speed Shop, Pancho’s Racing Products, GPC, Joe Gibbs Racing Oils, Zemco Headers, Kiebler & Sons Lawn and Landscaping and Simpson Racing Products for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.