World Of Outlaws Late Model Series

Sam Hafertepe Jr. Is Finally Perfect In The FloSports Power Rankings

Sam Hafertepe Jr. Is Finally Perfect In The FloSports Power Rankings

With the American Sprint Car Series out of action this week and one old World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race aging out of the FloSports Power Ranking formula, Sam Hafertepe is finally perfect.

May 3, 2017 by Dan Beaver
Sam Hafertepe Jr. Is Finally Perfect In The FloSports Power Rankings
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series ran one race last week while both major late model sanctions had all of their events rained out, but there was still significant movement in the Combined FloSports Power Rankings this week.

The most notable change was a single position at the top of the rankings. Sam Hafertepe Jr.'s average has been dragged down all season by an 18th-place finish in a World of Outlaws race in early March. He was familiar with the home state Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas, but somewhat unacquainted with the competition. He earned only 39 percentage points of a possible 100. After that, he started his record-setting run in the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) by winning its first five races.

That displaced last week's leader Shannon Babb. The late model driver's three top fives are simply no match for the sprinter's wins.

Another ASCS racer Johnny Herrera held his position in third, but the Outlaw David Gravel managed to shave one point off his lead by winning the Bob Newton Classic at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, IN. Gravel remains fourth on the overall list.

Donny Schatz continues to round out the top five, but his Plymouth effort was notable as well because it arrested a two-race slide of results outside the top five. He finished fourth in the Newton Classic. 

The biggest mover this week came from deep in the rankings. Jason Sides was one position short of winning in Plymouth, and his second-place finish earned 97 percentage points. It also extended a streak of top 10s to nine consecutive. Meanwhile, with the Outlaws race at Lone Star aging out of the Power Rankings formula, he is no longer penalized by a 21st-place finish there. That combination of factors allowed him to climb from 41st last week to 24th. He's not done yet, because another disappointing outing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track will not count against him next week.

Aaron Reutzel also rocketed up the rankings with a third-place finish at Plymouth. He has been splitting his time between the Outlaws and the ASCS this season with limited success in both. He has been strong on those occasions when he finds the right handle, however. His last two starts provided a seventh at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in ASCS completion and the third with the Outlaws. 

Combined Power Rankings

1. Sam Hafertepe Jr., 100.00 percentage points
2. Shannon Babb, 91.67
3. Johnny Herrera, 89.20
4. David Gravel, 87.93
5. Donny Schatz, 86.07
6. Justin Henderson, 86.00
7. Chris Madden, 84.25
8. Brandon Sheppard, 84.13
9. Devin Moran, 83.67
10. Billy Moyer Sr., 83.50
View Full Combined Rankings