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Photo by http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Bud Kaeding heads for Johnny Key Classic on Saturday after charging from 22nd to 7th with Silver Crown Series in Illinois
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – August 24, 2009…With the USAC Silver Crown Series season winding down Campbell, California's Bud Kaeding put on the charge this past Saturday to bring home a seventh place finish at the helm of the BK Motorsports No. 29 mount at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
The event this past weekend at the Springfield, Illinois based mile dirt track was the seventh event in the 2009 USAC K&N Silver Crown season and Kaeding went into it holding a 60-point lead over Tracy Hines in the series standings.
A 27 car field was on hand for the Tony Bettenhausen 100 on Saturday and Kaeding started it off by qualifying a bit further back than he's been accustomed to this season with his fastest lap of 31.311 good enough for just 22nd quickest overall. The 29 year-old driver didn't let it deter him though and got his elbows-up in the 100-lap race and carved his way through the pack during the event and at the checkered flag crossed the stripe in seventh.
The seventh place result allowed Kaeding to maintain a 59-point advantage over now second place A.J. Fike going into the next scheduled race, which will take place at the famed DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on September 6. "After qualifying that far back we did just what we needed to do in the feature to help in the point race so we gotta be happy about that," Kaeding said. "I want to thank all my guys and all our sponsors for supporting us because I really appreciate them all."
This Saturday night will see Kaeding climb back aboard the Mike Sala/Brian Matherly owned, M&M Powder Coating, Alviso Rock No. 19 Maxim to compete in the GLR 360 Series sanctioned 49th Johnny Key Classic at the Ocean Speedway. This year marks the third season that the Key Classic will be held at the Ocean Speedway and a number of strong teams are expected to throw their hats in the mix at the event, which is held in memory of the late Johnny Key, who lost his life during a racing accident in 1954.
Kaeding himself is a former winner of the Johnny Key Classic in 1996 and looks forward to trying to get another victory in the event on Saturday. "I won this race during my rookie year in sprint cars and it would mean a lot if I could come out and do it again this weekend," he said. "That win still ranks as one my favorite memories in racing and I definitley think it should be a good night on Saturday with a lot of good cars and drivers."
Despite not winning with the GLR Investments Series yet this season, Kaeding has been very strong in his 360 sprint car starts at the Watsonville based quarter-mile clay oval. The three-time Perris Oval Nationals champion has made five GLR Series starts this year and has scored four finishes of fourth or better, including three podiums. The lone time he has failed to finish among the top-four came on May 15 when he suffered a blown engine and was unable to compete the rest of the night after setting fast-time to begin the event.
Kaeding also goes into the Johnny Key Classic fresh off a dominating Golden State Challenge Series victory at the Ocean Speedway on August 8 and was also runner-up with the 410 tour on May 29 at the track. "We've been fast in Watsonville all year long no matter if it's been with the 410 or the 360," Kaeding said. "Running the GLR stuff in the 19 car has been fun and Brian has had the car really good every night so I have a lot of confidence going into the Key."
For people attending this weekend please note an earlier start time is also scheduled for Saturday's Johnny Key Classic with the front grandstand gate opening up at 3pm. The pit board meeting will be held at 3:45 with track packing at 4 and racing scheduled to get underway around 5. This is the same time frame used during all Saturday shows at the Ocean Speedway.
Adult tickets will be $15 with seniors $12, kids 6-12 $9 and five and under free. Ocean Speedway officials also want to stress that the appearance rule from last season is not in place so all teams are invited and welcome to come and compete during the night.
For more info on the 49th Johnny Key Classic visit http://www.oceansprints.com or http://www.oceanspeedway.com and for more on Campbell's Bud Kaeding log onto http://www.budkaedingracing.com
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Bud Kaeding will look to put the Sala/Matherly Racing No. 19 sprinter into victory lane during this Saturday's 49th running of the Johnny Key Classic at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. Photo courtesy Joe Martinez
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