Hattori Racing Enterprises drivers Sergio Pena and Brett Moffitt both scored top-five finishes in the Pork Be Inspired! 150 at Iowa Speedway on Friday, August 3, 2012.
Sergio Pena qualified and finished the #1 Don Valley North Toyota Camry in the 3rd position.
“I am pretty happy with our finish,” Pena said. “We were loose in qualifying but I knew the track would tighten up and we would be good.” Pena continues,
“We were still free at the half way break running 6th but my guys worked on it, made the right adjustments and we went to the front.”
Brett Moffitt, a Grimes, Iowa native finished 5th at his hometown track. He qualified the #11 AISIN Toyota Camry 6th and was ready for the 150-lap event.
“We were loose in qualifying and this track tends to tighten up,” Moffitt explained. “So I wasn’t real worried about our race set up. I was good but not where I needed to be to win the race.” Moffitt continues, “We made some adjustments at the half-way break and I took the lead right on the initial restart, but I could not hang on to the lead.”
Moffitt led three laps but gained a precious bonus point for his efforts. His 5th place finish kept him in Championship contention and he leaves Iowa with a 20-point lead over the second place driver.
HRE made history at Iowa Speedway as well with their third entry, the #01 Toyota Technical College Camry. Matt DiBenedetto drove the car and raced as high as 7th position until being caught up in a late race incident and finishing 30th. What makes the event historic is that 13 of the school’s students were on hand from Japan, they worked on the car all week at the race shop, they learned how to change tires and practiced all week. At the track they crewed the car and pitted the entry at the half-way break.
“I was really proud of the students form TTCT,” stated Shige Hattori, owner of HRE. “They did a really good job and enjoyed the experience. The language barrier and different culture were obstacles, but they integrated well and the program was a success.” Hattori continues, “Special thanks to NASCAR Technical Institute for allowing them to attend classes and practice pit stops while in the United States and Mooresville (North Carolina).”
The HRE team will enjoy three weeks off before their next event, the Greenville 140 at historic Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC.