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Tim Kaeding holds off Jonathan Allard for exciting Calistoga Speedway win
By Gary Thomas
Calistoga, CA – May 23, 2009…A packed house at the Calistoga Speedway on Saturday night saw San Jose's Tim Kaeding hold off a furious closing laps challenge from Chico's Jonathan Allard to claim his fifth career victory at the intimidating half-mile and second of the Golden State Challenge Series season.
The 25 lap main event saw Allard lead the field off turn four from his pole position, but heading into turn one Kaeding executed a thrilling slide job to take command of the race. A yellow after a few laps then setup a restart and when the green lights came back on Los Angeles, CA's Tyler Walker was able to power his way past Allard to put the NMI Industrial No. 24 into second.
Lap seven saw disaster strike for Walker however, as he got upside down big time in turns one and two while navigating through slower traffic. With Walker's car out of the race it moved Allard's Williams Motorsports No. 0 back up to second and when going back green the battle for the lead began to heat up after a couple laps as traffic soon came into play once again. With Kaeding entering lapped traffic Allard quickly closed in on his rear bumper, but just as soon as that, the yellow lights came on for a slowing car and took the leaders out of traffic.
The final 12 laps of the feature were able to run non-stop though and it created some fantastic racing up front as Kaeding and Allard fought for the lead as they both picked their way through the slower cars. Both drivers used the high-side of the fast half-mile and ran nose to tail for a number of laps until Allard got to the inside of Kaeding off turn four with just a handful of laps remaining. With the two leaders side by side Kaeding proceeded to make a breathtaking move to slice in front of Allard and get by a lapped car in one fell swoop entering turn one.
Just as soon as that happened however, Allard charged around the outside of the lapped car and resumed chase of the Roth Motorsports No. 83jr. With the white flag in the air Allard gave it one last shot to try to do something with the fast moving leader and as the pair rounded the final corner he went to the middle of the raceway as Kaeding stayed up on the cushion. Allard charged into turn three and got good traction to get alongside him off turn four, but Kaeding cut a great corner and motored on to take the checkered flag for his fifth Calistoga win.
It marked the third victory of the year for Kaeding to go along with his GSC win on April 11 and a World of Outlaw win on April 23. "It feels great to get another win in Calistoga and this was a fun race so I hope you fans enjoyed this one," Kaeding said. "I knew Jonathan would be coming after me following that last caution and I knew I had to get my elbows up and drive as hard as I could. We just hope everyone comes back tomorrow because it should be a great show as well."
The runner-up finish for Allard was his fifth straight podium and was enough to give him the Golden State Challenge Series point lead for the first time this season. "I really have to thank my whole team for giving me a great car tonight and that was good stuff racing with Tim like that," Allard commented. "It's really awesome to see this much crowd support for us tonight and it's what we need to keep coming back here because we love coming to Calistoga."
Crossing the line in third and scoring his first podium finish of the Golden State Challenge Series season was Campbell's Bud Kaeding aboard the Alviso Rock No. 29. "This is great to bring home a third place finish at Calistoga," Kaeding said. "Tonight is the most comfortable I've felt in a winged car in a long time and trying acclimate myself back to it was a little tough after running the Silver Crown car in Indiana yesterday. Tonight was my little girl's first race at Calistoga and for me to get a podium and her uncle to win is pretty cool." Rounding out the top five in the main event were Grass Valley's Jason Statler and Campbell's Brent Kaeding.
Full results will be available at http://www.goldenstatechallengeseries.com
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