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TK Wins Second Bradway Jr. Memorial at Chico
by: Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 5-17-08)...Tim Kaeding won an exciting but controversial second career Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial main event at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico on Saturday night. On lap 31 Kaeding dove to the bottom going into turn one and slid up into race leader Kyle Hirst. The two cars met wheel to wheel sending Hirst up in the air and off the race track. Hirst came to a stop while Kaeding continued on and assumed the lead. Kaeding went on to lead the final nine laps uncontested. Roger Crockett made the last few laps entertaining by chasing down Kaeding but ran out of laps to challenge for the lead. A very ecstatic Kaeding ripped into victory lane and jumped out of the car pumping his fist. He was greeted with an unfriendly response from the crowd. “I want to apologize to Kyle, it was a racing thing,” Kaeding said into Gary Thomas' infield microphone. “You fans can overreact sometimes. It's not what I wanted to see. I'm sorry.” After his explanation the crowd seemed to turn more positive towards one of the best drivers to ever strap into a winged sprint car at Chico. The win was his 47th of his career at Silver Dollar Speedway and his 36th win during his Golden State Challenge Series career.
The excitement in Kaeding's victory was exactly the opposite in the GP Development pit area after the races. “Once he hit me I just closed my eyes and held on,” said a visibly disappointed Hirst in his trailer. “I'm not sure to what to feel because this race meant so much to me and my family. It's not the way it should have ended.” The Hirst family was very instrumental in organizing the first Dave Bradway Jr Memorial race at Chico. In fact, Kyle's middle name is David, a tribute to Dave Bradway Jr.
This race is so popular because of the extra lap money and special prizes awarded. For the win Kaeding won the normal $3,000. John and Robbie Padjen added an extra $1,000. Each lap of the main event is sponsored. There is a $100 per lap on the line. Leading a lap earns $50, second earns $30 and third earns $20. With the win Kaeding pocketed a little over $5100. Hirst, who lead 21 laps and never drifted outside the top three, was credited with $1300 in extra lap money.
The 40-lap main event started with Hirst taking the lead on lap one. However, it was short lived as Mason Moore passed Hirst on the bottom of the track. Moore is in only his second year of racing but has quickly figured out how to be smooth and fast around the famous speedway. The speedway was set up perfectly for great racing. A mixture of top and bottom grooves provided side by side racing throughout the entire event. The cushion had built up into a think ridge that helped propel the drivers brave enough to race on the ragged edge. Lap five saw Dan Menne come to a stop and bring out a yellow. On the ensuing restart Jason Statler stopped while Sean Becker broke on the back stretch. Statler would continue while Becker was towed to the pits but he too would return.
Moore stuck to the bottom and continued as the leader. On lap nine Tim Kaeding moved into the third spot. A lap later Hirst stayed true to the top of the track and passed Moore for the lead. A few moments later Kevin Sharrah stopped in turn two. An intriguing battle between the Allard brothers was shaping up to enthrall the crowd. Stephen and Jonathan swapped fourth and fifth spot many times during most moments of the race.
Two drivers were on the march towards the front at this point in the race. Evan Suggs had started 20th and by lap 18 he was seventh. Roger Crockett also was charing towards the front. Crockett started 15th and had moved into the seventh spot. There was a $500 hard charger award on the line courtesy of DES Inc. and Dan Simpson Racing. In the end Crockett earned the honors by finishing second in the main event. Suggs fell back to a 14th place finish.
The battle for the lead intensified on lap 18 when Moore took advantage of a Hirst bobble and took the lead. Yet, on the same lap Christian Stover flipped in turn three. Also involved was Jason York. Hirst was moved back to the top spot for the restart. Lap 21 had Kyle Larson spinning off the track and bring out the next caution. The next restart saw Jason Statler slam into the turn four front stretch wall. The hit was very intense and the red flag came out for safety concerns. Statler quickly climbed from the race car and made a motivated and focused walk towards the back stretch. His destination was Blake Robertson. The two had a heated debate before Statler walked back to his trailer.
Lap 23 saw Kaeding move into the second spot. Hirst had a decent lead but Kaeding as in typical fashion closed in and challenged for the lead. On lap 30 Kaeding moved to within a car length. On the next lap Kaeding decided it was time to go for the lead. Entering turn one Hirst stayed committed to the top while Kaeding dove to the bottom. As Kaeding slid up Hirst stayed true to his line and contact ensued. Hirst took the worst of the wheel banging and ended up parked off turn two. Hirst did resume and finished the race in the 12th spot.
The final few laps Crockett charged from fourth to second. Following him was Tyler Walker. Walker ran in the fifth and sixth spot most of the race but within the final few laps he moved into third. Crockett was the fastest car during the final nine laps but by the time he moved into second Kaeding had built up too large of a margin. Stephen Allard held on to finish in the fourth spot while Jonathan Allard braved a tough night and finished fifth. Allard was sore from the previous night's hard crash into the front wall. Bud Kaeding has an impressive finish after coming out of the B main event. The Campbell driver started 11th and finished sixth. Brent Kaeding also moved up in the race. He finished seventh after starting the race in the 14th spot,
“We found something that turned our car around after the heat race,” said Crockett. “It's so awesome to have so many fans out supporting.” Tyler Walker was equally as thrilled with finishing third. “I am having so much fun driving sprint cars and tonight the track was real fun to race on. There were times I had to calm myself down and hit my marks,” said Walker.
Hirst won the six-lap dash to put him on the front row of the main event.
Blake Robertson won the 12-lap B main event. Bud Kaeding and Dan Menne followed Robertson across the checkered flag. Other drivers transferring include Jason York, Andy Forsberg and Christian Stover.
Mark Workentine won the 10-lap C main event. Finishing second and earning the last transfer was Brandon Carey.
Heat race winners winners included Brent Kaeding, Roger Crockett, Tyler Walker and Evan Suggs. All four heat winners stopped on the front stretch for interviews. The winner also received a right rear tire, tear offs, Watson Carbon Fiber nose front wing cap and a trophy. The winners also walked into the grandstand to give trophy's and prizes to the children in attendance.
Qualifying was intensified by the generous donations from fans and business' who added money for the top two. Jonathan Allard set the tracks quickest lap with an 11.871. For his hard driving he won an extra $1500. Stephen Allard, who was the first car out on the track, turned the second fastest lap at 12.049. He received a $750 bonus for his effort. Contributing to the money were NMI Industrial Contractors, ManCamp Motorsports, Shane Scott, Angie's Poker Club, Fry's Metal, Steve Tatum and Kim Tatum of NSR, Leanne Tatum of Element Hair Studio in Oroville, Jack's Family Restaurant, Claude Whelchel Construction, Mike's Landscaping Service, Paul Armstrong Construction, Jeff Klassen Construction, the Withrow and Thain families, Medi-Pro Billing and JP”s Paint and Auto Body and the Kyle Larson fan club.
A total of 43 cars entered the 18th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.
Results Dave Bradway Jr.
Fast Time: Jonathan Allard – 11.871
Heat 1: Brent Kaeding, J. Allard, Korey Lovell, Willie Croft, Dan Menne
Heat 2: Roger Crockett, Tim Kaeding, Sean Becker, Stephen Allard, Mike Henry
Heat 3: Tyler Walker, Greg DeCaires, Jason Staler, Kevin Sharrah, Blake Robertson
Heat 4: Evan Suggs, Mason Moore, Kyle Larson, Kyle Hirst, Bud Kaeding
C Main: Mark Workentine, Brandon Carey, Emalee Ramirez, Jim Richardson, Pat Harvey
B Main: Blake Robertson, Bud Kaeding, Menne, Jason York, Andy Forsberg, Christian Stover, Robbie Whitchurch, Brett Miller, Mark Hall, Chris Masters, Brent Bjork, Carey, Mike Henry, Workentine, Shane Golobic
A Main: T. Kaeding, Crockett, Walker, S. Allard, J. Allard, Bud Kaeding, Brent Kaeding, Blake Robertson, Moore, Becker, DeCaires, Hirst, Menne, Suggs, Lovell
Full results at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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