|
Photo's courtesy http://www.lnjphoto.com/
Tim Kaeding holds off Randy Hannagan to win second straight GLR 360 Series main event at Ocean Speedway/Tommy Tarlton claims championship
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – October 16, 2009…Using the final two races of the GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series season as a tune-up for the prestigious Trophy Cup San Jose's Tim Kaeding has certainly shown that he's ready to challenge for a third career win at the event next week after claiming his second consecutive victory at the Ocean Speedway on Friday night.
For Kaeding it marked his seventh overall triumph of 2009 and his second with the GLR Investments Series in just two starts this season aboard the Roth Motorsports, DTR Transport, HR Cattle No. 83jr sprint car. "I have to thank this team for giving me a great car again tonight and thankfully I was able to make the right moves in traffic because I knew Randy Hannagan would be right there with me," said the 2002 King of California. "I want to congratulate Tommy Tarlton for winning the championship here tonight and have to thank everyone for getting this track ready tonight after all the rain this week."
The 30-lap GLR Investments Sprint Car Series season finale started out with Brad Furr of Pleasanton jumping into the lead in the first of corners however, going into the middle of turns three and four his Ray Scheidts Electric No. 2 mount got upset and bicycled violently, which dropped him all the way back to fifth by the time he crossed the start-finish-line. This elevated San Jose's Randy Hannagan into the top-spot, with fellow San Jose driver Tim Kaeding following along in second. In typical "TK" fashion the 31-year-old driver immediately went to the high-side of the hooked-up quarter-mile bullring and began ripping around the top of the speedway with authority as he tried to track down the "Hurricane" for the lead.
Getting a great run on lap three Kaeding would motor around Hannagan off the exit of turn two and slice his way to the front of the field. A caution on lap 10 then slowed things down, but when the green flag came back out it didn't take long for traffic to come into play and it allowed Hannagan to close back in on Kaeding, as the two national travelers put on a show for the fans picking their way through the slower cars. With Kaeding dealing with lappers ahead of him Hannagan charged to the bottom of the speedway in his Terry Hannagan Racing, Pocket Shot No. 1x and got side-by-side with the No. 83jr machine down the back stretch.
"TK" would get his "elbows-up" though and split a pair of lapped cars off the fourth corner to give him some breathing room, but at the same time the final caution of the night would fly for a spun car on lap 18. With 12-laps remaining Kaeding hit the loud peddle in turn four coming back for green and got a great restart over the rest of the field, but when traffic came back into play on lap 23 it mirrored the previous green flag run as Hannagan closed back in and shadowed the rear of the Dennis and Teresa Roth owned No. 83jr. Kaeding though drove flawless during the closing laps and picked the right spots in traffic to drive away over the final few circuits and cross under the checkered for his second victory in two weeks at the Ocean Speedway.
Making his first GLR Investments Series start of the season Hannagan ended the night in the runner-up position, as he also used the evening as a tune-up for next weekends Trophy Cup in Tulare. "We had a pretty good car in the main event, but Tim just did a great job in traffic," said the 1998 King of California. "I'm feeling pretty confident going into the Trophy Cup though so we're looking forward to it next week."
Crossing the stripe in third and scoring his fifth podium finish of the GLR Investments Series season was Campbell's Bud Kaeding, who was aboard the Sala/Matherly Racing, M&M Powder Coaters No. 19 sprinter. "I want to thank all you fans for coming out tonight and although we wanted to get a win it's nice to be up here in the top-three again," said the two-time USAC Silver Crown Series champion and current point leader. "It's been a fun season at this place and has definitely become one of the best track's around here over the last couple years."
Finishing fourth in the feature and locking down the third position in the final GLR Investments Series standings was Scotts Valley's Evan Suggs, who also began the night by re-setting the Ocean Speedway 360 sprint car track record with a blazing fast clocking of 11.617 at the helm of his Suggs Racing, Lucas Oil Products No. 33e. It marked his fifth fast-time effort of the GLR Series season, which led all drivers in that category.
The man of the night however, was Easton's Tommy Tarlton, who finished the main event in fifth, but more importantly wrapped-up the 2009 GLR Investments Series title at the Ocean Speedway. "I wish we could have had a a little better run in the feature, but the main thing going into the night was winning the championship and we got that done so we all couldn't be happier," said the driver of the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Tarlton & Son Inc. No. 21. "I have a really great team behind me and I have to thank them for the hard work they've done. Paul Baines and all the members of this team have done an amazing job and I think it's shown in our results this year."
Over the course of the season Tarlton led all drivers in the GLR Series with four main event wins, including his first career Johnny Key Classic victory on August 29. "I've just been focusing on having fun this year and being as relaxed as possible," he commented. "My family has been coming to the races and we've been camping out and everything so it's been pretty cool. We really love coming to this racetrack and it's been a great series to be a part of. Guys like Brent and Bud Kaeding, Evan Suggs, Brad Furr, Ronnie Day, Jason Statler and every single driver who runs out here is what makes this deal so good. It's been really competitive every week and hopefully it'll stay that way next year."
Rounding out the top-10 in the final GLR Investments 360 Series main event of the season were Furr, Campbell's Brent Kaeding, Salinas' Ronnie Day, Prunedale's Justin Sanders and Morgan Hills Ricky Wright. Full results for the night can be found at http://www.oceanspeedway.com
For more info on the GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series log onto http://www.oceansprints.com
----------------------
Easton's Tommy Tarlton officially locked-up the 2009 GLR Investments 360 Series championship on Friday night at the Ocean Speedway. During the season Tarlton drove his Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Tarlton & Son Inc, Sharp Insurance No. 21 sprinter to four victories at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds quarter-mile.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
