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Photo by Graph X Designs
Bud Kaeding races to runner-up & 4th during double header in Chico
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – July 5, 2008…Competing at the high-banked Silver Dollar Speedway this past Friday & Saturday Campbell’s Bud Kaeding continued his recent string of consistency and put together one of his strongest overall weekends of competition this season. The 28 year-old timed in well both nights and finished off the weekend with an exciting run that ended with a fourth place finish.
The big 4th of July weekend at the Silver Dollar Speedway saw strong car counts both nights and marked the fourth weekend of the season that Kaeding had competed at the Chico based track. Opening night on Friday saw him qualify sixth quickest out of 34 cars and bring home a fourth place finish in his heat race to transfer into the main event.
With the number six pill being pulled for the inversion it put Kaeding on the front row for the 25 lap main event. As the green flag came out he got the jump on the field and was in command of the race over the first number of laps. Just around lap eight however, he had to deal with a fast moving Jonathan Allard and was able to hang onto the top spot for a few laps, until Allard was able to squeeze underneath him in turn one.
After this Kaeding tried to hang with Allard through traffic and was able to do so, but as the laps ticked down he was passed by a rim riding Brad Sweet on lap 22. The Campbell racer then stayed with the Rod Tiner No. 83 the best he could and took advantage of Sweet getting out of shape coming down for the white flag to get underneath him and take over the runner-up spot.
Just when it looked like Kaeding would finish second, Allard was taken out on the final turn as a few cars got together in front of him. This gave Kaeding a big break as it looked like he’d line-up in the lead, but as cars got back underway he was placed back behind Sweet in the running order. With an open track and just a couple laps to go he couldn’t make anything happen with the leader and settled for a second place finish at the checkered flag.
Coming back on Saturday with momentum from the previous night Kaeding drove the Angelos ATV Rental, Kaeding Performance Maxim to the seventh fastest time in qualifying and finishes of third in his heat race and sixth in the dash. It put him on the outside of the third row for the 30 lap main event and the two-time Silver Crown champ settled into fifth as flagman Willie Williams waved the green flag.
Kaeding then claimed the fourth spot on a lap six restart with a pass of current GSC point leader Jonathan Allard. The track surface had slicked off and developed a large curb that made for some great racing on the Silver Dollar Speedway clay. Kaeding put the No. 29 sprinter on the ragged edge and charged around the outside of the speedway to take third from Tyler Walker and set his sights on father Brent.
While trying to catch up to Brent for second he then lost the third spot to Allard after an exciting wheel to wheel duel with the Chico driver. Kaeding then drove on smoothly over the remaining laps and crossed the stripe in fourth, which marked his second straight fourth place finish in Golden State Challenge Series competition. “It was a good run and was a lot of fun to be able to run up top and use the big cushion that formed tonight,” Kaeding said.
Next weekend will find Kaeding get back behind the wheel of the Werbach Motorsports sprint car to compete at the Ocean Speedway on Friday night looking to maintain the point lead in the Wright One Construction standings. Going into the night Kaeding holds onto a 16 point advantage over his pops in the points and will look to put the No. 20 machine into victory lane for the third time this season.
Then on Saturday the Campbell racer will be back in the BK Motorsports No. 29 at the Silver Dollar Speedway once again as the Golden State Challenge Series heads to Chico for the second straight week. Kaeding continues to sit third in the GSC standings with just five races left until the season comes to an end later this month. Don’t forget to stop by the trailer after the races as we have shirts and hats for sale as well as free hand out cards.
More news and pictures of Bud Kaeding can be found at http://www.budkaedingracing.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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