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Bud Kaeding runs 2^nd and 4^th during Doug Fort Memorial weekend at Santa Maria Speedway

By Gary Thomas

Santa Maria, CA – May 4, 2010…As often times the case in auto racing anything is possible and that certainly came true this past weekend for Campbell's Bud Kaeding, who looked to be on way to picking-up his third victory in three-weeks on Friday night, only to get together with a lap car and flip down the front stretch on the final lap, missing out on the win by just inches in one of the craziest finishes seen in recent memory.

Going into the double-header at the Santa Maria Speedway Kaeding had much momentum after claiming victories with the Ocean Sprint Car Series and the Golden State Challenge Series the previous two weeks.

Friday's kick-off of the Doug Fort Memorial weekend marked the second round of action for the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo and Kaeding went into it as the current series point leader, following his win at the opener on April 16. The three-time and defending USAC Silver Crown champion opened the night at Santa Maria by qualifying fifth fastest in the 26-car field and then scored a second place finish in his heat race to transfer the Sala/Matherly Racing, M&M Powder Coaters, Kaeding Performance No. 19 Maxim into the main event.

At the waving of the green flag in the feature Kaeding shot into second and then after a handful of laps made a beautiful slide-job in the first and second corners to grab second from Evan Suggs. He proceeded to give chase after leader Tommy Tarlton and would run a few car lengths behind the black No. 21 sprint car for a good majority of the race through traffic, before making his move with just a couple laps remaining. As the leaders came off turn four to complete lap 28 Kaeding sliced to the bottom of the speedway and got enough traction to make the pass of Tarlton and claim the top-spot.

Kaeding held the advantage with the white flag waving, but Tarlton would make a wild attempt at taking it back in turn three on the final lap, as the Easton driver charged to the high-side. Tarlton though looked to get a bit too high and it appeared to be Kaeding's race to win. As the Campbell driver had less than a straightaway to go till victory, he tried to get under a lapped car, but contact was made and it sent him flipping down the front stretch. This allowed Tarlton the chance to nip him at the line for the improbable win, but initially officials ruled that Kaeding hadn't quite gotten to the line. After video review however, it was deemed that he did in fact have his front wheels at the flag stand, therefore he was given second place in the final rundown.

Following the dramatic conclusion Kaeding came back on Saturday with the Golden State Challenge Series on hand for the finale of the Doug Fort Memorial and made his second start of the season behind the wheel of the Roth Motorsports, DTR Transport, HR Cattle No. 83jr machine. The 30-year-old opened the event by qualifying sixth fastest and then concluded the evening by scoring a fourth place finish after starting from the fourth row in the main event, on what was a very heavy and tough surface.

Kaeding will now head for two night's of racing this weekend beginning with Friday's Ocean Sprint Car Series presented by Taco Bravo event at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. He will bring the Sala/Matherly Racing, Alviso Rock No. 19 sprinter into the night holding a four-point lead at the top of the Ocean Sprints standings after winning the opening round and scoring second this past Friday. Then on Saturday Kaeding will travel to the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico for the 20^th running of the prestigious Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.

The Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial pays tribute to fallen race car driver Dave Bradway Jr., who lost his life in a sprint car crash at Skagit Speedway's Dirt Cup in 1987. The event has become the biggest night of racing for the Golden State Challenge Series and packs extra money and goodies up for grabs all evening long. Handy Promotions and Silver Dollar Speedway is also offering free camping to fans and teams for the weekend. For detailed info on the big event this coming week stay tuned to http://www.goldenstatechallengeseries.com and http://www.silverdollarspeedway.com

For more information on three-time and defending USAC Silver Crown Series champ Bud Kaeding log onto http://www.budkaedingracing.com

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After one of the craziest finishes seen in a long time this past Friday Campbell's Bud Kaeding and the Sala/Matherly Racing team will go into this week's Ocean Sprint Car Series presented by Taco Bravo event in Watsonville sitting on top of the point standings. On Saturday Kaeding will then head for the 20th Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway. Photo by John Meirhofer of http://www.johnsracingphotos.com

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

As much as I hate to argue, I was at Santa Maria this weekend as well and there is no way that Bud crossed the finish line - from looking at it from directly behind the finish line after the race, he looked to be about 1-2 feet short. Still it was an amazing race - one of the craziest finishes I've ever seen. I've been going to races for 25 years and when I see something that I've never seen before, that says something.

I wrote something about the races today for the site. God I love sprint car racing...

National Sprint Car & Midget Examiner
http://tinyurl.com/r4opgk

Questionable either way...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A6JEnHpJLY

I agree it was a wild finish. Video however is not conclusive at all but then again how conclusive is a persons view of things in the scorers booth? I say he earned 2nd no matter what. It was a good battle between him and Tarlton. I just hope the track prep crew gets on the grader early in the week next race. As a lifelong loyal Santa Maria regular I felt embarrased by the track prep delays both nights.... oh well it was still a hell of a fun weekend.

"Winged or non-winged its all about 
the sprint cars for me!"
http://mattmusselldesigns.daportfolio.com

From the SCRAFAN.COM forum, submitted by petrol298

From the Oceansprints.com site; homepage article

Ocean Sprints ruling on finish at Santa Maria Speedway

By Gary Thomas

Watsonville, CA – May 4, 2010…After a wild and hectic finish this past Friday night at the Santa Maria Speedway the Ocean Sprint Car Series has ruled that Campbell's Bud Kaeding will be placed 14^th in the official rundown, as was the original ruling.

Kaeding was leading the race coming off the final corner, but got together with a lapped car and flipped down the front stretch. Officials at Santa Maria Speedway ruled that Kaeding did not cross the flag stand.

After a back and forth review of the outcome Ocean Sprints promoter John Prentice has determined that Kaeding will in fact be moved back to 14^th in the final finish, due to Santa Maria Speedway rules stating, "Video tapes and SMS video replays will in no way influence or change the decisions by track officials."

"The officials made the call that Bud Kaeding did not cross the finish line and the scorers and flagman also said the same thing, so that is what the final ruling will be," said Prentice.

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

Did they throw a red light there or just wave the checkered flag?

If it was a red, everyone appears to have ignored it ....

www.globalspeedwaytours.com.au 

the checkerd was in the air and waving. to then try to throw a red, with cars on top of each other, trying to beat each other to the finish line (where ever the heck it was) just might create more trouble. now mike has a point about the start finish line not always being at the flag stand. i noticed that at santa maria, the lights for qualifying were set up a couple of feet past the flag stand, but i really don't know if that is considered the official start/finish line.

trucker69, since i don't know, just where is the finish line at santa maria?

to indy and beyond!!

Copy that good buddy, but...the series director then determined that by that track's own rules, they cannot use video to change a call. That's what the article on their site says. So the overturn...was also overturned. Were you there or did you just watch youtube thing?