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Photos by Johns Racing Photos
Bud Kaeding battles forward to get top 10 at Calistoga
By Gary Thomas
Calistoga, CA – August 11, 2008…Despite challenging conditions Saturday night at the Calistoga Speedway, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding was able to charge forward from the rear of the field to score an eighth place finish after suffering a flat tire during the opening parade laps of the main event.
Competing in the second of two California Civil War Winged 360 Series events at the big half-mile track this season, Kaeding and the Werbach Motorsports team had hoped to get into victory at the historic speedway. So far this year Kaeding has driven the Los Gatos Construction Company, Alviso Rock Maxim to a pair of wins, as well as currently leading the point standings at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.
The two-time Silver Crown Series champion started off the night well by qualifying the Kaeding Performance, SL & M No. 20 third fastest in the 31 car field. He then lined-up sixth in his heat race and was running in a transfer spot when he slowed for a spun car, but unfortunately the driver running behind him couldn’t react in time and clobbered the rear of Kaeding’s machine. It resulted in the other car getting upside down wildly and leaving Kaeding with a flat tire and severe wing damage.
Luckily for the Werbach Motorsports team, race officials decided to wait extra time during the red flag period to allow the sun to set and it gave a chance for the crew to get everything fixed and the get Kaeding back out for the restart. When the green flag waved again the 28 year-old was on the march and carved his way back through the field to tally a runner-up finish and transfer into the main event.
With dry track conditions early on in the evening, it made it likely that rubber would develop and having a good starting spot was crucial to have a chance at victory in the feature. When the big 10 pill was drawn however, it stuck Kaeding on the outside of the fourth row for the main event and things got tougher when he pulled back into pit road with a flat tire after pushing off for the A-main. Early reports were that he had apparently run something over either on the track or pushing onto it.
Tagging the rear of the field Kaeding had his work cut out for him and he was up to the challenge as he quickly moved passed a number of cars. The Campbell racer was able to move all the way up to eighth by the finish, even despite having only one caution during the short 20 lap contest. It was a nice way to end a frustrating event at the long half-mile track for the team and continued the solid season Kaeding has put together in the Los Gatos Construction Company sponsored sprinter.
This coming weekend will find Kaeding jump back behind the wheel of the BK Motorsports No. 29 Silver Crown car to compete with USAC at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois on Saturday.
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