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Legendary Calistoga track records held by Tony Stewart & Brent Kaeding likely to fall. Vermeil Classic links to `Stoga’s storied past. – By Bobby Gerould – Calistoga, CA. August 24, 2008. …Tony Stewart and Brent Kaeding are connected as ‘track record holders’ at Calistoga Speedway. Stewart owns the single lap midget mark while Kaeding maintains the non-wing sprint car single lap standard. The two greats have been connected in this capacity since Stewart joined Kaeding as a non-wing track record holder in 1994.
On Saturday and Sunday (August 30-31), Kaeding will have some say in whether he maintains his record. “BK” is among the entrants for the Louie Vermeil Classic, a dual show featuring the United States Auto Club (USAC) C.R.A. Sprint Cars, and Western Midgets. The event marks the first non-wing sprint car race at Calistoga since 1985, and the first midget action at the half-mile dirt track since 1996.
Kaeding will have the opportunity to better his own mark in the sprint car portion of time-trials. Stewart however will not have a chance to defend his single lap mark due to his NASCAR commitments. Each driver in the field will have two laps against the clock shooting for Kaeding’s 20.212 single lap record for sprint cars, established on May 26th 1985. Midget drivers have a chance to break Stewart’s amazing 21.031 he set in Larry Brown’s #36 on July 1st, 1994.
The sprint car track record could easily be lowered by BK himself, or it could just as easily be kept in the family with Brent’s boy Tim. Looking to snatch bragging rights from the Kaeding family are heavy hitters “The Demon” Damion Gardner, and “The Rocket” Jesse Hockett. Between half-mile tracks, Perris Auto Speedway and Manzanita Speedway, the best in USAC-CRA time-trials in 2008 has been Mike Spencer, the current series point standings leader.
One entrant that will have fresh equipment is Darrell Hanestad of Clayton, CA. The veteran driver has a brand new Maxim chassis with a new engine specifically earmarked for this event. Hanestad owns six career wins at Calistoga Speedway. In recent years – he has dominated spec sprint racing in the region.
Joining Hanestad, the Kaeding’s, Gardner, Hockett, and Spencer as sprint car competitors and track record threats are: Kevin Swindell, Blake Miller, Josh Ford, Tyler Brown, Danny Sheridan, Daron Clayton, David Cardey, Garrett Hansen, Shane Golobic, Daron Clayton, Andy Forsberg, Rip Williams, Mike Benson, Nic Faas, and many more.
The midget pilots are led by Faas who is ranked atop the series point standings and is coming off a feature event win at Kings Speedway in Hanford, CA. Also expected are Robby Flock, Kyle Larson, Johnny “Lightning” Rodriguez, Scott Pierovich, Shannon McQueen, Travis Berryhill, Ernie Bartley III, Michael Faccinto, Floyd Alvis and ‘double duty drivers’ Ford, Golobic and Hansen.
At 1pm Saturday, a wine tasting event featuring live music and a display of WRA Vintage Sprint Cars and Midgets will occur. Dick Vermeil, Super Bowl winning coach, will host the wine tasting.
The historical significance of the return of non-wing (410 cubic inch) sprint cars and midgets to Calistoga is not lost on racing historian and OpenWheelTimes.com Editor Kevin Eckert, who uses one word to describe his feelings about the 2008 Louis Vermeil Classic. “Elation.”
“There is no valid reason why wingless 410 sprint car racing in California cannot and should not occur above Fresno”, he said. “There are so many tracks in Nor-Cal and so many fans who still appreciate traditional style. Calistoga can help wingless 410s create a buzz, and wingless 410’s can help Calistoga, which may be too big for bullring racers, and is now without a signature 410 event. Pairing sprint cars with midgets is the perfect combo. I only wish that I too could taste wine with Dick Vermeil, ask if Raider linebacker Rod Martin still haunts his dreams, and then watch The Demon and The Rocket's red glare in the Louie Vermeil Classic.”
Race cars are scheduled to be on the track by 5:30 PM each night. Tickets for each race night are $25 (General Admission). Call (916) 863-7223.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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