From Kaleb Hart
Alger, WA – (August 30, 2013) — Night One of the Monster Energy Meltdown at Skagit Speedway saw exciting action across all three divisions of competition. Sam Hafertepe Jr piloted the Rudeen Racing #26 to victory lane for the first time since 2011 to wrap up the Summer Thunder Series presented by Speedmart for the 360 Sprint Cars. Zach McCabe led the final two laps of the A Main to score the prelim night win of the Sportsman Sprint Showdown and Ben Gunderson battled his dad for the opening night win in the Outlaw Tuner Combat Series.
The final night of the Summer Thunder Series presented by Speedmart was owned by Sunnyvale, TX native Sam Hafertepe Jr and the Rudeen Racing #26. After the fastest time trial lap in the 360 division in nine years, Hafertepe Jr started on the pole for the twenty five lap feature. Outside row one was Travis Jacobson, who took to an early lead around the high side of the speedway. Hafertepe Jr rolled the bottom for the first two circuits, building up a big head of steam as he entered the bottom of turn three on lap three for a slider. The move worked, as Sam got great forward drive through the corner, completing the pass as he exited turn four to take the lead. From there, only caution flags would slow him down, as he raced away to the victory, the first for Rudeen Racing at Skagit Speedway since Hafertepe Jr beat the World of Outlaws in 2011. Cam Smith raced to second and Travis Rilat was third. Rilat gave Jacobson a great run in the final Summer Thunder Series point standings, as Jacobson exited the race early with mechanical issues. In the end, it was Jacobson holding on for a nine point win over Rilat, followed by Trey Starks who finished third in the first ever series. Heat wins on the night went to Colton Heath, Eric Fisher and Rilat.
Steve Parker appeared to have night one of the Sportsman Sprint Showdown all wrapped up when disaster struck. Mired in lapped cars, Parker and a slower driver collided, knocking Steve’s top wing askew, which caused the veteran driver all kinds of handling issues. Zach McCabe of Arlington, WA was in prime position to take advantage, having raced his way into second a handful of laps before. At the completion of lap 23, Parker was barely holding on, as was his top wing, before the wing fell completely off. McCabe pounced, passing the slowing Parker and grabbing the lead. Parker would come to a stop and pull off the track, while McCabe readied for a green-white checkered restart. With the drop of the green, it was all McCabe as he ran away for the win, followed by Devin Barnes and Kenny Rutz. Barnes was the fast qualifier of the night. Heat wins went to Cory Swatzina, Paul Burdick and Joey Duperron. McCabe was also the top point scorer of the evening and will start Saturday night’s A Feature on the pole.
A father/son battle headlines the first round of the Outlaw Tuner Combat Series at Skagit Speedway. Jon Gunderson held point for the first thirteen laps with son Ben Gunderson in tow. Ben built a big charge to take the lead on lap fourteen, but Jon got him back off the bottom on lap fifteen before a caution fell. On the restart, Ben built another big run around the outside groove, retaking the lead for good on the 16th circuit before taking the checkered flag one lap later. Jon held on for second, with hard charging Rick Young finishing third. Young and Matt Ploeg won the heat races.
Night two of the Monster Energy Meltdown at Skagit Speedway continues tomorrow with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars invading the 3/10 mile clay oval for the first time this year. The Outlaw Tuners will be back for their second round of the Outlaw Tuner Combat Series. Ticket information and gate times are available online at www.skagitspeedway.com.
Monster Energy Meltdown Thursday
Sportsman Sprint Showdown Night 1
Fast Time – Devin Barnes 12.449
Heat 1 – Cory Swatzina
Heat 2 – Paul Burdick
Heat 3 – Joey Duperron
Main – Zach McCabe, Devin Barnes, Kenny Rutz, Tyler Fox, Bill Rude, Cory Swatzina, Cory Samuelson, Steve Reeves, Ben Gunderson, Kyle Evans, Greg Otis, James Bundy, Mike Murphy, Steve Parker, Kyle Secord, Ashley Lewellen, Skylar Gee, Clayton Sibley, Paul Burdick
Lap Leaders – Barnes 1-13 Parker 14-23 McCabe 24-26
Summer Thunder Series Round 4
Fast Time – Sam Hafertepe Jr 11.462
Heat 1 – Colton Heath
Heat 2 – Eric Fisher
Heat 3 – Travis Rilat
Main – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Cam Smith, Travis Rilat, Eric Fisher, Colton Heath, Trey Starks, Randy Price, Mack Brown, Kelsey Carpenter, Steve James, Matt Jensen, Bud Ashe, Travis Jacobson, Reece Goetz, Brock Lemley
Lap Leaders – Jacobson 1-2 Hafertepe Jr 3-25
Outlaw Tuner Combat Series Night 1
Heat 1 – Rick Young
Heat 2 – Matt Ploeg
Main – Ben Gunderson, Jon Gunderson, Rick Young, Travis Meins, Brandon Berg, Becky Boudreau, Howard Vos, Clint Meins, Tina Thibert, Mark E Toth II, Mike Koerschgen, Matt Ploeg
Lap Leaders – J Gunderson 1-13 B Gunderson 14 J Gunderson 15 B Gunderson 16-17