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Fifth annual Howard Kaeding Classic shaping up to be a can’t miss weekend on July 10 & 11 at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway
Special events include July 8 Car Show & BBQ, Post Race Party Friday & Saturday Afternoon Luncheon
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – July 1, 2015…One of the most anticipated events of the year in Northern California Sprint Car racing will take place next weekend when the fifth annual Howard Kaeding Classic converges at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.
Everything begins on Wednesday night July 8, with the 2nd annual HK Classic Car Show & BBQ at High Five Pizza located at the Silver Creek Sports Plex in San Jose. Various drivers, hot rods and race cars will be on hand at the get-together that runs from 5pm-9pm, which is the official kick-off for the Howard Kaeding Classic week.
There will be a BBQ dinner from 6pm-8pm for donation, with proceeds going to the Silver Creek Sports Plex Foundation, which aims to ensure that every child, regardless of financial ability, is able to participate in local amateur athletic training and competition. Please come out and enjoy a fun night with some great food, all put on for a terrific cause. Hive Five at the Plex is located at 800 Embedded Way in San Jose, CA 95138.
The racing weekend then begins on Friday night July 10 at Ocean Speedway with the Civil War 360 Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster taking on the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo. The event concludes Saturday July 11 with the Howard Kaeding Classic finale featuring the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series & Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprints. Both nights also showcase the Dwarf Car Regionals.
Following Friday nights races High Five Pizza will be putting on a post-race party at the track with appetizers, drinks and a lot of fun to be had. Teams & fans are all encouraged to come and join in following the races. On Saturday afternoon the annual HK Classic Luncheon takes place, which kicks-off the final night’s action. Both events are held to support the Northern Auto Racing Club Benevolent Fund. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction.
The Friday night Post Race Party & Saturday afternoon HK Classic Luncheon will both be held in the Big White Tent off turn four.
The NARC Benevolent Fund uses 100% of the funds raised to support the families of injured drivers, crew members and officials running Sprint Car Series’ in California. Various beneficiaries of the fund over the last 10-years include Dennis Moore Jr., Billy Sellers, Danny Faria Jr., the family of Alan Urias, Randy Hannagan, Tom Milne, Brad Bumgarner, the family of David Tarter and Peter Murphy.
“We definitely hope to see everyone at the Howard Kaeding Classic in Watsonville,” said Brent Kaeding, who is one of the NARC Benevolent Fund coordinators. “The special events support a very good cause and it’s an opportunity for everyone to have the chance to socialize and enjoy some great food. We always love getting the opportunity to hang with all the fans and we look forward to seeing everyone there. It’s going to be a big weekend with Civil War, the King of the West Series and the Hunt Series all at Ocean Speedway. This event has really grown into being a premier showcase for Sprint Car racing in our state.”
The HK Classic luncheon catered by High Five Pizza on Saturday July 11 at the track will feature an excellent steak lunch for a $20 donation to the benevolent fund. Howard, Brent & Bud Kaeding, along with other drivers will all be available for photos and autographs at the luncheon. Easy access is available to enter from both the pit area and the campgrounds. All race teams & fans are encouraged to come enjoy a great lunch prepared by Myles & the crew at Catering by 5.
“We really want to thank Myles at High Five Pizza & Catering by 5 for all of his support at the Howard Kaeding Classic,” said Brent Kaeding. “Myles is doing so much for us when it comes to the food and set up for these extra functions. We’re trying to make this event one of the big happenings in Northern California and one that fans want to attend every year. The racing this season at Ocean Speedway has been second to none, so if you haven’t made it out yet this year, be sure and do so at the HK Classic.”
Tickets for the Friday night July 10 Civil War 360 Series vs Ocean Sprints event will be $20 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, children five & under free. Tickets for the Saturday July 11 King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series & Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprints event will be $25 for adults, $20 for kids 6-12, children five & under free. Saturday will see an earlier start time like usual during Saturday events at Ocean Speedway.
Camping for the weekend will be allowed on the grass area near & behind the grandstands. Hook ups cost $40 with dry camping $20. Money will be collected by the fairgrounds.
Howard Kaeding was a multiple-time California state super-modified champion, a four-time Johnny Key Classic winner and once captured a record 17-straight races at the San Jose Speedway. The driver known as the "Campbell Comet" claimed over 300 main event victories in his career and even raced into his 60's, before retiring in the 1990's. The HK Classic has been a great weekend of re-living memories from the past and will certainly be so once again in 2015.
The Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, two miles east of Watsonville, California on SR 152. The physical address is 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076. More info on all things Prentice Motorsports Group can be found at www.racepmg.com
Previous Howard Kaeding Classic winners
2011- Evan Suggs
2012- Jonathan Allard
2013- Jonathan Allard
2014- Bud Kaeding
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
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