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Photo by http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Bud Kaeding leads all 30 laps for first Golden State Challenge Series victory of season
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – July 4, 2009…After putting together a number of consistent runs in recent weeks Campbell, CA's Bud Kaeding was poised to break into victory lane and the veteran driver made it happen on Saturday night at the Silver Dollar Speedway to score his first Golden State Challenge Series triumph of 2009.
The victory marked Kaeding's first win with the touring 410 sprint car series since April 19 of last season and he was visibly excited to get back into the winners circle after climbing from the car. "Man it feels great to finally get a win with Golden State again and I have to really thank my guys who have been working real hard all season long," said the driver of the BK Motorsports, Alviso Rock, K&N Filters No. 29.
Kaeding started on the pole of the feature after winning his first Golden State Challenge Series dash of the season, but would lose the lead on the initial start of the main event to outside front row starter Jonathan Allard. Just as soon as that occurred however, the yellow lights flew for a spun car in turn four, which created a complete restart. This time around the 29 year-old driver got the bite he wanted on the low side of the speedway to blast into the lead when the green lights came on again.
The Silver Dollar Speedway bullring had slicked off much more than usual in the early going and Kaeding had his hands full with Los Angeles, CA's Tyler Walker, who would mount a strong challenge on lap three. The pair would trade slide jobs in exciting fashion fighting for the lead, but Kaeding held strong and withstood the battle to retain the top spot. As the race went on rubber began to develop on the quarter-mile clay oval and made tire wear become a crucial factor with the laps winding down.
With just over a handful of circuits remaining in the race Walker closed back in as he tried to make one more bid at the lead, but a caution on lap 26 gave Kaeding a clear track ahead and he used it to pull away from the field to pick up his fifth career Golden State Challenge Series victory, putting him into a tie for 18th on the all-time win list with Dennis Moore Jr, Eric Rossi and Tommy Tarlton. "We've had this car running really good lately and have been pretty consistent, but we definitely wanted to get a win real bad," commented Kaeding. "The track was tough tonight, but thankfully we were able to hang on because Tyler gave me everything I could handle early in the race."
It also marked Kaeding's first victory at the Silver Dollar Speedway in over a decade and was his second win of the season to go along with his USAC Silver Crown triumph at the Copper on Dirt in February. "In 1998 at the Mini Gold Cup I got in a bad wreck over in turn four here and haven't won at this place since, so it's great to get a win in Chico," Kaeding said. "I haven't won here since 1997 so it's definitely been a long time coming. The track was a bit different tonight than it usually is, but Alan Padjen is putting in a lot of work to make this place the best it can be so we have to give it up to him."
Kaeding also competed on Friday night at SDS during a Feather Falls Casino 410 point event and it saw him put together a strong night as well that included setting fast-time and scoring a fourth place finish in the 25 lap feature. "It was a great weekend for this whole team and now we have some momentum heading into Santa Maria next Saturday. We hope everyone will come on down to support the show because it should be good with the wheelie contest and extra money to start the main event. We certainly want to get a good run for Angello's ATV Rental, who are big time supporters of myself and my dad, as well as the race and it would be awesome if we can put this car on the front straightaway again next Saturday," Kaeding concluded.
The event at the Santa Maria Speedway next Saturday night will be the Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series first visit to the track since 2005 and Kaeding will go into it sitting seventh in the series standings, having competed in 11 of the 14 races held so far this season.
For more info on current USAC Silver Crown Series point leader Bud Kaeding log onto http://www.budkaedingracing.com
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Campbell's Bud Kaeding led flag-to-flag in the main event on Saturday night at the Silver Dollar Speedway to pick up his first Golden State Challenge King of California Series victory of the season. Photo by http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
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