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Photo courtesy http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Bud Kaeding moves forward in feature for 7th place finish at Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial on Saturday & scores podium at Ocean Speedway Friday
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – May 11, 2009…After making a last turn pass for the final transfer spot in the b-main Campbell, CA's Bud Kaeding proceeded run a smart and veteran like feature, carving his way from dead last to seventh during the 19th Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial on Saturday night at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway.
The prestigious event saw a very stout field on hand to remember one of California's best sprint car drivers, who unfortunately lost his life in a crash at the Skagit Speedway Dirt Cup in 1987. Going into the evening Kaeding sat eighth in points on the heels of his first top five finish of the season with the Golden State Challenge Series during the most recent event held in Watsonville.
The night got off to a bit of a rough start for Kaeding however, as his fastest lap in qualifying was good enough for just 26th fastest overall in the 39 car field. He then started deep in the field for his heat race and brought home an eighth place finish to put the K&N Filters, Alviso Rock, Kaeding Performance No. 29 into the b-main. Lining up eleventh in the semi the 29 year-old had to get to the top six to transfer into the main event and he immediately got his elbows up trying to make that happen.
A very fast and hooked up track was put together and Kaeding found the high-scary side to his liking right from the get go. The Campbell driver got up to seventh after a couple of laps and would hound Washington driver Jason Solwold for the duration of the semi main. Kaeding looked high for much of the 12 lap race and with the white flag in the air gave it a hard run into turn one, but ducked to the low side off turn two and slid underneath Solwold to steal away the transfer spot in exciting fashion.
With the lower qualifying time however, Kaeding was forced to start from the 22nd position on the grid. The lightning fast surface created some action packed and intense racing on the quarter-mile bullring as cars fought very tight conditions for much of the feature. Kaeding would move forward quickly and do battle with father Brent for a good part of the main event, which was dragged on due to a number of stoppages. He was able to use his veteran experience to miss a number of the wrecks and do a nice job to hang on for seventh by the checkered and earn the $500 hard charger award, courtesy Southern Pacific Farms.
Kaeding also competed on Friday night at the Ocean Speedway where he was once again strong all evening aboard the Sala/Matherly Racing, M&M Powder Coating, Weldway Construction No. 19. The event marked the third point race of the season for the GLR Investments 360 weekly series and Kaeding went into the night sitting third in points, just five back of father Brent for the lead.
The 29 year-old racer kicked off the evening by timing in third fastest in the 25 car field and then bringing home victory in the third and final heat race. Kaeding lined-up fourth in the main event and battled right around the top five for the entire running of the 25 lap contest, before making up a couple of positions late in the gong to tally a third place finish. It marked his third podium in three starts this season with the GLR 360's and continued his consistency at the helm of the Sala/Matherly Racing, Kaeding Performance Maxim.
Up next for Bud Kaeding will be another double-header weekend beginning on Friday night with another GLR Investments 360 event at the Ocean Speedway. Fresh off his third place finish this past weekend the Campbell driver will go into the evening sitting second in the standings, just one digit behind Brent Kaeding for the top spot. Then on Saturday Kaeding will head for the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway to compete for the first time this season at the racy 1/3 mile clay oval. He'll bring the Hive Five Pizza, Swift Metal Finishing, MDR Machine No. 29 into the night ranking seventh in the current Golden State Challenge Series standings.
For more news, pics and to order merchandise please visit our website at http://www.budkaedingracing.com
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After picking up his third podium finish in three starts with the GLR 360's Campbell's Bud Kaeding has moved to just one point behind his father Brent for the lead in the Ocean Speedway standings. Photo courtesy http://www.lnjphoto.com
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