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(Photo by RAD Action Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (Sept. 24, 2024) – Derek Hagar captured a podium result for two different car owners last weekend to give him 17 podiums in 30 sprint car starts this season.

Hagar drove for Paul Hart on Friday at Benton Speedway in Benton, Mo., where a second-place finish in a heat race was followed by a rally from sixth to second place in the Jim Hall Memorial main event.

“Friday was dangerous racing the 410 against a handful of 305s,” Hagar said. “It made it kind of sketchy. We made the top work and went from sixth to second fairly quickly. Everybody was following each other around the bottom. I got a run on Joe B. (Miller) and slid him. He got back underneath me and moved to the top. Once we got to traffic it was ridiculous. We were having to run caution speed to make sure we weren’t going to run over anybody. It made it exciting for the fans. We fell to fourth and got back to third. We had a restart with one lap to go and I was able to slide Kameron Key and hold on for second.”

Hagar ventured to Riverside International Speedway on Saturday to race a McCord Farms car. He advanced from sixth to fourth place in a heat race and from seventh to third place in the main event.

“We had a bad pill draw and it was a one-lane track in the heat race,” he said. “They don’t do passing points so that lined us up seventh in the feature. The modifieds went out before us and rutted the track up big time. I was able to make the top work and keep the car underneath me. I finally got up to third with a handful of laps to go. Once I got clear of everybody else I was able to run down the leaders, but just ran out of laps.”

Hagar will return to Riverside International Speedway this Friday and Saturday for the $10,000-to-win World Short Track Challenge featuring the ASCS National Tour and USCS Series.

“I think we have as good of a shot as any to win this deal,” he said. “We just need to do things the way we’ve been doing them forever. I feel confident going into this weekend. I don’t see why we can’t keep plugging along and be in contention.”

Hagar has earned three victories at the track this season to extend his winning streak to five years in a row. He won nine races there last year, five in 2022, three in 2021 and four in 2020.

QUICK RESULTS –

Sept. 20 – Benton Speedway in Benton, Mo. – Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 2 (6).

Sept. 21 – Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. – Heat race: 4 (6); Feature: 3 (7).

SEASON STATS –

30 races, 8 wins, 18 top fives, 23 top 10s, 25 top 15s, 25 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., for the World Short Track Challenge with the ASCS National Tour and USCS Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DerekHagarRacing.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dhrracing

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – West Tennessee Expediting, Inc.

West Tennessee Expediting, Inc., which was founded in 2000 in Ripley, Tennessee, offers transportation, brokerage and warehouse services within the hauling industry. For more information, visit http://www.westtnexpediting.com.

“West Tennessee Expediting, Inc., has come on board with Paul Hart’s No. 44 sprint car team and is supporting us as we race in select marquee events,” Hagar said. “We’re grateful for the support of Jeff Buckner and everyone at West Tennessee Expediting, Inc.”

Hagar would like to thank Nutrien Ag Solutions, Sonic of Dyersburg, Keith Jones Promotions, Boat Warehouse, West Tennessee Expediting, Inc., Ameri-Panel, J&J Auto Racing, B & D Towing and Recovery, FK Rod Ends, Dynotech Performance Race Engines, A.M.P., Fragola Performance Systems, Administrative Consulting Services, Killer Coatings, Beazt Composites, Xtreme Race Graphics, Southern Collision Centre, AR Dyno Specialty, Jeff’s Heating and Cooling, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Weld Wheels, DHR Suspension, Hinchman Racewear, Wix Filters, Valvoline, Ti64 and Builtwiser Wings 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.