By T.J. Buffenbarger
Knoxville, IA – (August 10, 2013) – Sam Hafertepe, Jr. won the C-Main during the 53rd Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals. Hafertepe took the lead at the start and held off a late race challenge from Tim Shaffer for the victory.
Hafertepe, Jr. and Josh Schneiderman started on the front row, but Danny Dietrich made it three wide at the start and took the lead, but Hafertepe took the lead back down the backstretch. Meanwhile E and D-Main transfer driver Sammy Swindell went up and over the berm on both ends of the race track and actually dropped backwards.
While working lap two Tasker Phillips’ car turned into the wall and flipped hard in turn one. Phillips got out of the car under his own power.
During the restart Dustin Selvage dove under Hafertepe to take the lead. Selvage and Hafertepe then raced side by side for multiple laps until Selvage’s engine began to show smoke. Winner of the 50th Annual Knoxville Nationals Tim Shaffer then moved up to third with Danny Dietrich getting heat from Josh Schneiderman and Kraig Kinser.
Just as Hafertepe started to lap slower traffic with five laps to go Selvage’s engine problems forced him to drop off the track just as the caution flag came out for Austin McCarl stopping on the front stretch. McCarl was unable to make the restart.
After the restart Shaffer looked under Hafertepe for the lead, but could not make the pass. Behind them Josh Schneiderman, Dietrich, Kraig Kinser, and Brad Loyet were in a torrid battle for the final two transfer position.
Hafertepe was never headed over the final four laps and won the C-Main and secured a transfer spot to the B-Main along with Shaffer, Dietrich, and Schneiderman. Sammy Swindell, who had transferred from the E and D-Main events, finished in seventh after starting 21st position.
53rd Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Saturday August 10, 2013
C-Main (15 Laps): 1. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 2. Tim Shaffer, 3. Danny Dietrich, 4 Josh Schneiderman, 5. Kraig Kinser, 6. Brad Loyet, 7. Sammy Swindell, 8. R.J. Johnson, 9. Rager Phillips, 10. Brent Marks, 11. Ed Lynch, Jr. 12. Lance Dewease, 13. Cole Wood, 14. Sheldon Haudenschild, 15. Jimmy Light, 16. Johnny Herrera, 17. Kaley Gharst, 18. Skylar Prochska, 19. Dustin Selvange, 20. Austin McCarl, 21. Rob Kubli, 22. Dale Blaney, 23. Danny Smith, 24. Tasker Phillips. (First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)