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Hagar Learns Lessons and Moves Forward Throughout Knoxville Nationals

(Photo by Paul Arch)

Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2021) – Derek Hagar recorded a career-best NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores last weekend at Knoxville Raceway.

Although the end result wasn’t what he was aiming to achieve, it was a step forward at a track where Hagar doesn’t have many laps.

“We have to figure out how to get speed in qualifying,” he said. “We can race well with them, but we need to start further up. I was happy with the way we raced. We just need to improve more on qualifying. I think the motor is running good. We have a couple of things to change on the setup, maybe unhook the car a little bit so it’s not so stuck to the race track. I think it’ll just come with time.”

Hagar’s preliminary night a week ago Wednesday began with the 46th quickest qualifying time before he advanced from 10th to eighth in a heat race and from 20th to 19th in the B Main.

Qualifying put him behind the eight ball during Friday’s Hard Knox Night as well, but Hagar maneuvered from 10th to eighth in a heat race and from 20th to 15th in a B Main.

“I was pleased with that,” he said. “We passed some good cars and hung with some good cars. I was able to learn a lot driving-wise as far as how to use air, hitting the bottom, running the top. We just started so far back it’s hard to move forward that much.”

The event concluded on Saturday with Hagar picking up two positions to finish ninth in the D Main. All three nights were career-best finishes for Hagar at ‘The Sprint Car Capital of the World.’

“We changed some setup stuff and the car felt the best it’s probably been since we’ve been there,” he said. “We’ve got some good notes for next year. We’ll try to be better early in the night and get a good qualifying lap so we’re not so far behind.”

Hagar will return to action this Saturday at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., with the USCS Series.

“I want to go out there and do what we know how to do,” he said. “I’ve been at Knoxville the last three weekends so the speed will be totally different than what I’ve gotten accustomed to. I’m sure it will change my driving stye and depth perception, but hopefully we can adapt quickly and contend for the win.”

QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 11 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 46; Heat race: 8 (10); B Main: 19 (20).

Aug. 13 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 29; Heat race: 8 (10); B Main: 15 (20).

Aug. 14 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – D Main: 9 (11).

SEASON STATS –

32 races, 3 wins, 8 top fives, 16 top 10s, 20 top 15s, 22 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Saturday at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., with the USCS Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DerekHagarRacing.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HagarDerek

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Dynotech Performance

Dynotech Performance is an engine building and performance shop based in Memphis, Tenn., and operated by Ricky Stenhouse Sr.

“Ricky has been doing our engines since the beginning,” Hagar said. “We’ve had great success. Every time we get something from him it’s reliable. It makes it easy on the pocket book knowing you have something that will last.”

Hagar would like to thank B&D Towing and Recovery, Pafford Medical Services, KO Motorsports, J&J Auto Racing, Fragola Performance Systems, Summit Truck Group, FK Rod Ends, Administrative Consulting Services, Killer Coatings, Xtreme Race Graphics, Southern Collision Centre, Jeff’s Heating and Cooling, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Weld Wheels, DHR Suspension, Hinchman Racewear, Wix Filters, Valvoline and Ti64 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.

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