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(Photo courtesy John's Racing Photos)

Brent Kaeding Ready to Duke It Out for Third Johnny Key Classic Win

By Gary Costa

Campbell, CA - (August 28, 2009) – With over 350 main event wins and counting in his storied career, defending Johnny Key Classic winner, Brent Kaeding will be looking for his third Johnny Key Classic win this Saturday night at Ocean Speedway, in the powerful BK Racing, Al's Roofing Supply, High Five Pizza No. 69 Maxim. The 13-time King of California champion has won the prestigious event twice with wins coming in 1980 and 2008. The cagey veteran also leads the GLR Investments Series points with a four point margin over Tommy Tarlton. Kaeding is also a two-time Ocean Speedway Sprint Car champion, as he clinched titles in '07 & '08 in the former Wright One Construction Series.

The Kaeding name has been synonymous with winning ever since family patriarch, Howard Kaeding, first climbed behind the wheel of a racecar. "The Campbell Comet", as he was so affectionately known, won the Johnny Key Classic four times, with his wins coming in '68, '73, '79 & '87. Grandson Bud Kaeding won the event in his rookie season as a driver in '96.

"This is a prestigious race, and I think that it's great that the race is continuing. I grew-up watching the Key, and of course eventually competing in it, and winning it," Kaeding said, who won his first Sprint Car race in '79 at Santa Maria Speedway. "My dad (Howard) has won the Key four-times, and Bud (Kaeding) has won it too, so the race has a lot of sentimental value to me."

Kaeding picked-up Round No. 1 in the GLR Series on April 3 in his BK Racing Maxim. Kaeding subbed for son Bud Kaeding while Bud was away racing in the Midwest, and piloted the co-owned Mike Sala/Brian Matherly Kaeding Performance No. 19 beginning in Round No. 5 of the series for a handful of races, and proceeded to bring home strong finishes. He then returned to his familiar mount in Round No. 9, and went on to finish second in a wild race with Tarlton. Kaeding may not have hit the winners circle since his opening night win, but he has driven the wheels off of the No. 19 and his well-known No. 69 Maxim.

"We've had some really good runs this season," he said. "We've had strong finishes, but we just haven't been able to break into the winners circle again…yet."

Kaeding, who was inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in '08, recently completed another season of Golden State Challenge Series action finishing third in the final point standings. Kaeding showed that he isn't ready to hang-up his helmet just yet, as he gave the younger drivers such as Tyler Walker and Jonathan Allard fits along the way over the course of the season. Kaeding's GSC season started out strong by winning the GSC opener at Placerville Speedway on March 28, Kaeding then went on and scored victories at Cottage Grove Speedway on June 15, the Tulare Thunderbowl on June 27, and Antioch Speedway on July 18.

"We've had an okay year. Of course we would've liked to have won more, but my guys have worked hard all-year, and I can't thank them enough," he said. "We still have a lot of races to go out here (California), and I'll be looking to win some of them."

While being the point leader, the races with second place point man, Tommy Tarlton have been epic. But you can never count out the driving prowess of BK. During the last GLR Investments main event on August 14, it looked as if Tarlton was going to run away with the main event, but BK dug deep, and proceeded to drag race Tarlton to the checkered flag for a wild finish that kept the fans screaming for more.

"That was a good race. We lead it for a while, and then got bottled-up in lapped traffic, and Tommy got around us," Kaeding explained. "He didn't give an inch and either did I. It was good close racing, and it was a badass race! I know the fans sure enjoyed it."

Be sure to visit Kaeding Performance on the web at www.kaedings.com or call Brian or BF at 1-800-Kaedings. Kaeding Performance is located at 813 Cristich lane in Campbell, CA.