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Two Races Remain To Decide 2009 GLR Investments Champion
By Gary Costa
Watsonville, CA – October 5, 2009….With 11 exciting checkered flags dropped on the 13 race season, only two races remain in the GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series season. Easton's Tommy Tarlton will carry a slim seven point lead into Friday's event over Campbell's Brent Kaeding, who have been at each others throats all season long battling it out on John Prentice's ¼-mile speedway. The final two races will be back-to-back with this Friday's event sure to be a barnburner, and the season finale that will conclude racing on October 16 and will also crown the 2009 GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series Champion.
"You couldn't write a better script than this. What a fantastic season we've had this year," Ocean Speedway promoter, John Prentice said. "The racing has been fantastic this year, and these last two races are going to be incredible. The battle in the top-10 in the points is far from settled – anything can happen."
After having a rough start to the season, Tarlton has wrestled the point lead away from Kaeding and drove the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Tarlton & Son, Inc. No 21 from 20th to fifth during the recent GLR vs. Civil War event on September 25. Tarlton could be the first driver other than Kaeding to emerge as champion in the two years that Ocean Speedway has begun their Sprint Car Series.
Kaeding sits second in the point standings and is one driver that you can never take your eyes off of. The crafty veteran has his sights set on Tarlton and he will be coming after him with a vengeance in the BK Racing, Al's Roofing Supply, High Five Pizza No. 69. Kaeding is a tenacious competitor who will be hot after Tarlton. Kaeding is fresh off of a second place finish in last weeks 360 Fall Nationals feature event at Silver Dollar Speedway.
Scott's Valley hot shoe, Evan Suggs, put on a masterful driving job and shook off some of the bad luck that has plagued the quiet masher for a handful of races. Suggs drove to a solid second place finish in the GLR vs. Civil War race in the potent Suggs Racing, Lucas Oil Products No. 33E. Suggs will be heavy on the gas looking to close the point gap on Kaeding as he currently sits only 18 points back.
Pleasanton's Brad Furr has fought long and hard this season, never giving up despite a rash of bad luck that has plagued the former World of Outlaws traveler all season long in the Ray Scheidts Electric, Brad Furr Racing No. 2. Furr was looking at the bottom of the point list, then began stringing together strong finishes which have now propelled his efforts up to fourth in the standings. Furr scored a top 10 finish in the final Ocean Speedway GLR vs. Civil War show by finishing ninth.
Rounding out the top-5 in the point standings and a driver that will keep Furr on his toes is Salinas veteran, Ronnie Day. Day has his eyes glued on Furr as he sits a mere two points from him. Day turned in a solid run in the Tim Werbach-owned mount when the two series' collided on September 25, by finishing third in the event. Day is another driver who has been moving up the point ladder by standing on the gas and unleashing wicked speed in the No. 20.
Rounding out the top-10 in GLR Investments Series points are Prunedale's Justin Sanders in the North County Plastering No. 17, Morgan Hills' Ricky Wright, Jr. in the Wright One Construction No. 35, Salinas' Keith Day aboard the Keith Day Trucking No. 22, Gilroy's Kurt Nelson in the Taco Bravo Racing, Babe's & Lightning Muffler No. 72W, and San Jose's Jason Newton in the Newton Motorsports No. 31. The point battle for eighth, ninth, and tenth is filled with excitement and drama as only two points separates the three drivers.
Other drivers expected include San Jose's Bud Kaeding, Grass Valley's Jason Statler, San Martin's Wes Gutierrez, Fremont's Brent Bjork, Fresno's Anthony Simone, Visalia's Cory Eliason, San Martin's Craig Smith, Cupertino's Steve Osborne, and more.
Top-10 in GLR Investments Sprint Car Points
1. Tommy Tarlton 568
2. Brent Kaeding 561
3. Evan Suggs 543
4. Brad Furr 513
5. Ronnie Day 511
6. Justin Sanders 504
7. Ricky Wright, Jr. 476
8. Keith Day 402
9. Kurt Nelson 401
10. Jason Newton 400
2009 GLR Investments Season Recap
April 3 – 1. Brent Kaeding 2. Jason Statler 3. Bud Kaeding
April 17 – 1. Jason Statler 2. Bud Kaeding 3. Brent Kaeding
May 8 – 1. Justin Sanders 2. Evan Suggs 3. Bud Kaeding
May 15 – 1. Tommy Tarlton 2. Evan Suggs 3. Craig Smith
June 5 – 1. Ricky Wright, Jr. 2. Brent Kaeding 3. Ronnie Day
June 26 – 1. Tommy Tarlton 2. Justin Sanders 3. Brad Furr
July 17 – 1. Kyle Larson 2. Tommy Tarlton 3. Brent Kaeding
July 31 – 1. Jason Statler 2. Brent Kaeding 3. Tommy Tarlton
August 14 – 1. Tommy Tarlton 2. Brent Kaeding 3. Ronnie Day
August 29 - 1. Tommy Tarlton 2. Bud Kaeding 3. Kyle Larson
September 25 – 1. Mike Henry 2. Evan Suggs 3. Ronnie Day
October 9 - ?
October 16 - ?
Evan Suggs leads the series in fast time honors. The young shoe has been faster than anyone else in the pit area three times this season.
Pit gate opens at 1:00 with the front gate opening at 4:00. Racing starts at 6. Adults are $15, kids 6-12 $9, all kids under 5 free. Family $40 (2 Adults and 2 Children), Senior $12 with I.D. (65 yrs+). For more information please log onto www.oceanspeedway.com or call the speedway at (831) 476-9466
The speedway is located at 2601 East Lake Ave in Watsonville, CA
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