|
Photos courtesy http://www.JohnsRacingPhotos.com
Bud Kaeding & Werbach Motorsports look for Key Classic glory
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – August 25, 2008…With the 48th running of the Johnny Key Classic coming up this Friday night at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway, Bud Kaeding and Werbach Motorsports are locked and loaded and ready to do battle while trying to continue the strong season the team has put together at the quarter-mile bullring.
This year marks the second season that the Johnny Key Classic will be held at the Ocean Speedway and a number of strong teams are expected to throw their hats in the mix at the event, which is held in memory of the late Johnny Key, who lost his life during a racing accident in 1954.
So far this season Kaeding has driven the Werbach Motorsports No. 20 sprinter to a pair of wins and a number of strong runs in the Wright One Construction 360 Series at the Ocean Speedway. He had led the points at the track up until August 15, when another commitment forced him to miss a race and give up his lead in the standings.
During the night Kaeding missed, owner Tim Werbach put former King of California Ronnie Day in the No. 20 machine and the veteran driver qualified second fastest in the field, before transferring out of the B-main and charging up to sixth in the feature. “We were happy with Ronnie’s performance and knew we were getting a solid driver when we decided to put him in the car,” Werbach said.
For the 48th running of the Johnny Key Classic however, Kaeding will be back behind the wheel of the Los Gatos Construction Company sponsored sprinter and Werbach looks forward to trying to bring home the win in the prestigious event. “We’re all tuned up and ready to give it our best shot on Friday,” Werbach stated. “I’d like nothing more than to bring home the Key Classic for all the sponsors and supporters of this team.”
Kaeding himself is a former winner of the Johnny Key Classic in 1996 and also looks forward to trying to get another victory in the event. “I won this race during my rookie year in sprint cars and it would mean a lot if I could come out and get a win for Tim Werbach and this whole team on Friday,” the 28 year-old driver said. “There will be a lot of good cars and drivers at the event so it will be tough, but I have a lot of confidence because we have been real fast all year here.”
The Johnny Key Classic will also mark Kaeding’s final 360 start of the season at the Ocean Speedway, as he will be at the 4-Crown Nationals in Eldora during the final Wright One Construction event on September 20. “I have to thank Werbach Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to run the car in Watsonville this year and I’m really looking forward to driving this thing in the special post season 360 shows later on this year,” Kaeding said.
The front gate will open at 4:30 pm this Friday night at the Ocean Speedway with adult tickets costing $15, kids 6-12 $8 and children 5 & under will be free. The evening of racing will be capped off with a 50 lap main event that will be run in two 25 lap segments. Following the first segment teams will be allowed to re-fuel and make adjustments on their cars to get ready for the final 25 laps of racing that will crown the 48th Johnny Key Classic champion. The Ocean Speedway is located at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. More info can be found at http://www.oceanspeedway.com
Following the Johnny Key Classic on Friday Kaeding will then fly out to compete on Sunday with the USAC Silver Crown Series in the Ted Horn 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois. After that he’ll fly back out to the west coast in time for the 55th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, where he’ll be in action during the opening prelim night on September 4.
More information and pictures of Bud Kaeding can be found by logging onto http://www.budkaedingracing.com
--------------------------------
Bud Kaeding will look to put the Werbach Motorsports, Los Gatos Construction Company No. 20 into victory lane this Friday night at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville during the 48th running of the Johnny Key Classic
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
