This message was edited on
August 09, 2009 at
01:16:38 PM by Gary Thomas
Photo courtesy Joe Martinez http://picasaweb.google.com/jmart16164?pli=1
Bud Kaeding works traffic to perfection for Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series victory at Ocean Speedway
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – August 8, 2009…Using a dominating drive in the main event at the Ocean Speedway on Saturday night Campbell, CA's Bud Kaeding became the fifth multi-time winner of the year with the Golden State Challenge Series during what was also the penultimate event of the season for the traveling 410 tour.
Kaeding had been one of the most consistent drivers over much of the summer whenever he's competed with the Golden State Challenge Series and Saturday's victory marked his second of the year to go along with his other triumph in Chico on July 4. "We haven't won a GSC race at this place in a few years so it feels really good to finally get another one at our home track," said a very excited Kaeding in victory lane. "We have some sponsors here tonight in attendance as well so I don't think we could have picked a better night to win."
The 30 lap Golden State Challenge Series main event began with 2004 King of California Jason Statler winning a side-by-side drag race between himself and Kaeding however, it was all for naught as the yellow lights flashed on before a lap could be completed for an incident involving Oregon's Zach Zimmerly and b-main winner Mark Barroso of Merced. When the green flag came out once again Statler wasted no time charging out into the top spot and would hold the field at bay until cautions appeared on lap four and lap six to slow the pace of the feature.
During the early stages Statler had been running the bottom side of the speedway with Kaeding riding the rim as the well prepared Ocean Speedway surface created multi-groove action on the quarter-mile bullring. When the racing got back underway the man on the move though was current GSC point leader Tyler Walker of Los Angeles, who got into a strong rhythm running the high-scary side of the track aboard the SC Motorsports, NMI Industrial Contractors No. 24. "T-dub" had restarted sixth on the grid, but blew by competitors utilizing the high-line to perfection and charged up into third by lap seven. Kaeding also stepped up his challenges at that same time and on lap eight would make a beautiful move off the second corner to claim the lead from Statler and put the BK Motorsports, Alviso Rock No. 29 into the top spot.
As the racing continued on Walker remained committed to the high-side and on lap 10 would slice his way past Statler to move into second and give chase after Kaeding for the lead. With the long green flag run the leaders soon moved into traffic and it gave Walker the chance to close right up to Kaeding's bumper as he looked for his ninth victory of the season to set a new all-time GSC record. Kaeding appeared to have other plans though and kicked it into another gear as he drove through traffic phenomenally and impressively pulled away from Walker, putting his machine on every inch of the Ocean Speedway surface to work the slower cars.
With Kaeding amassing a huge lead the final caution of the race came out on lap 25 and for the restart the 29 year-old driver had a four lapped car cushion between himself and Walker. When the green lights came on for the last time it was all about Kaeding up front as he pulled away from the field with ease to drive away and pick up his sixth career Golden State Challenge 410 Series victory, putting him into a tie for 15th on the all-time list with Randy Tiner, Paul McMahan and Bobby McMahan.
Walker would cross the line in second to solidify his Golden State Challenge point lead by scoring his sixth podium finish in the last seven series races and should take a more than 20-point lead into the finale at Placerville in two weeks. "We really want this championship and this is the kind of finishes we need to get that done," Walker said. "Bud did a great job tonight and this track is really awesome so I hope we put on a good show for you fans and everyone enjoyed it. I have to thank this team for giving me a great car again and the championship is definitely something we want bad and just can't wait for the last show in two weeks."
After leading the first eight laps of the main event Statler came home in third to tally another strong finish at the helm of the Statler Racing, DF Rios Construction No. 00. It was a solid rebound for the "Big Guy" after getting upside down on the final lap while fighting for the lead during the most recent GSC event at Ocean Speedway in late May. Statler was also the winner of the evening's dash as he held off Kaeding by about a foot in an exciting conclusion to the six lap contest.
Crossing the line in fourth was Easton's Tommy Tarlton, who scored his third top-five finish of the Golden State Challenge Series season aboard the Tachi Palace, Tarlton & Son Inc. No. 21. The veteran driver spent much of the race locked in an intense battle with Statler and Chico's Jonathan Allard who came home in fifth at the checkered flag in the Williams Motorsports, K&N Filters No. 0. Statler, Tarlton and Allard ran nose-to-tail for much of the last half of the main event as they navigated through thick and heavy traffic. For Allard it was his series leading 16th top-five finish in 20 starts and to begin the night the two-time King of California also set a new all-time GSC track record at Ocean Speedway with a clocking of 11.496.
Elk Grove's Kyle Larson charged forward in the main event and very nearly got Allard over the final couple of laps, before settling for a sixth place finish after starting 15th aboard the Vertullo Racing No. 83v. Finishing seventh at the checkered was Placerville's Andy Gregg in the Guts Racing No. 16x and crossing the line in eighth was Ripon's Brandon Carey, who had an impressive run after starting the main event in 19th. Rounding out the top 10 in the feature were Fremont's Brent Bjork in the Bjork Construction No. 7b and Campbell's Brent Kaeding in the Al's Roofing Supply No. 69.
The full results will be available at http://www.goldenstatechallengeseries.com
Up next- The Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series will take this coming weekend off, before convening at the Placerville Speedway on Saturday night August 22 for the season finale where the King of California will be crowned. With the week off in California current GSC point leader Tyler Walker and second place Jonathan Allard will both be running in the Midwest next week beginning with the Front Row Challenge in Oskaloosa, Iowa on Monday.
Both drivers will then take part in the 49th annual Knoxville Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway starting on Wednesday. Allard is scheduled to qualify on Wednesday night with Walker scheduled for Thursday. To keep up with their results log onto http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com and to listen to the action visit http://www.hosheadsradio.com
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