Swindell Captures Castrol Raceway’s Sixth annual Oil City Cup

Swindell Captures Castrol Raceway’s Sixth annual Oil City Cup
Hafertepe Jr. unhappy with late-race pass that nets Swindell his 10th Outlaws win
 
EDMONTON, Alberta – Aug. 25, 2012 – Sam Hafertepe Jr. won’t be inviting Sammy Swindell over for a barbecue any time soon.
The duo nearly touched racing for the lead with two laps remaining on a brisk Saturday evening at Castrol Raceway, where Swindell edged Hafertepe Jr. to claim Night 2 of the Sixth annual Oil City Cup and his 10th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature win of the season.

“I definitely had the better car,” Hafertepe Jr said. “He had to pretty much drive through us to pass us. That’s part of it sometimes. We’ll do the same thing when the option comes around (to) my turn.”

Hafertepe Jr., who seized the lead from World of Outlaws championship points leader Craig Dollansky in thick traffic on lap six, had the dominant car until a caution with four laps remaining. It erased a half a straightaway lead and gave Swindell a renewed shot at the victory.

While Hafertepe Jr.’s car became tight running the cushion, Swindell powered around the bottom within striking distance for two laps after the restart. Then, opportunity arose as Hafertepe Jr. had a slight bobble in turn two.

Swindell rocketed off the bottom and slid across the nose of Hafertepe Jr., who said he had to nearly slam on the brakes to avoid a collision. The move was enough for Swindell, who held off Hafertepe Jr. during the final lap and a half to record his third World of Outlaws win in the last 11 points races.

“It looked like he kind of missed the top, got off and was out there kind of spinning his tires some,” he said. “Things just gotta go your way. We were in the right place at the right time to capitalize on the way the race played out and so we were able to get the win.”

The racing was just as close behind the lead change, where Steve Kinser got around Joey Saldana for the final spot on the podium during the last restart.

“We were pretty good and passed some good cars,” Kinser said after his 23rd top five of the season. “I can’t complain. We ran good.”

Cody Darrah finished fourth and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five. Dollansky placed sixth and while Saldana dropped to seventh in the closing laps, he earned enough points to snag the overall title at the Oil City Cup.

“All in all, it was a good, solid weekend and obviously (we) had enough points to win the cup,” Saldana said. “That’s a good thing to come up here and win the overall like we did.”

Kerry Madsen charged from 15th to eighth, Chad Kemenah ended ninth and Travis Rilat won the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 19    th to 10th.