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Bud Kaeding making run on dirt tracks
By PATRICK KINMARTIN-Sports Writer
Article Launched: 05/12/2007 12:31:02 AM PDT
His father has more wins than any driver so far this season, continuing to add to an all-time high career total.
His older brother has dazzled in just two appearances, taking a feature title in the second after battling to get a top-five finish in the first.
Yet it is Bud Kaeding himself who is making the Golden State Challenge-King of California Series year to date a somewhat special one for Northern California 410 winged sprint car racing's royal family.
Usually engulfed in United States Automobile Club Silver Crown competition throughout the Midwest at this stage in spring, Kaeding has used an unlucky turn of events in his camp to revisit his racing roots as a more active participant on the King of California circuit.
He is slated to make his eighth start of the season when the statewide tour makes its return to Silver Dollar Speedway tonight for the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. That will surpass the seven series starts Kaeding had combined for over the past three years as a part-timer.
"If I had the money, I'd still be out in the Midwest right now racing three to five nights a week, and that's tough to give up," the 27-year-old Campbell native said. "But when you're not tied to racing for 15 weeks like the team has been the last few years and the opportunity presents itself to race wherever, you go wherever you have to.
"It's been fun to be back in this setting, racing on dirt every night against all your old friends and the family more."
Kaeding, currently 11th in the King of California standings and still in search of his first win of the season, has been behind the wheel of the Rick Wright-owned No. 35. Tonight, Wright will be using the vehicle in another competition to continue grooming his son as a sprint driver — which is exactly why the Bay Area-based owner didn't hesitate earlier this year to scoop up the surprisingly available Kaeding, who has served as a mentor type during his West Coast visits.
It sets up Kaeding for what should be an interesting ride in the 69 owned and made dominant again on Golden State tracks this year by his legendary father, Brent. Brent Kaeding, the circuit's winningest career driver who already has three feature victories not even halfway into the season, will scoot over to try his hand in the 69k.
Tim Kaeding, Bud's 28-year-old brother, was arguably the top driver when the series opened up at Silver Dollar with the Mini Gold Cup in March. He overcame power steering problems the first night to get a third-place feature finish and was the A main winner for the Saturday show. Also a regular on the World of Outlaws tour, he isn't scheduled to return tonight, but he has been instrumental in bringing his little brother back up to par with 410 wing sprints.
Bud Kaeding is appreciating the welcome reception he has received on the California scene this season. In search of greater prize money, a more technical setting to race in and the opportunity to travel more, he abandoned it seven years ago and immediately took the USAC stage by storm.
"He was just like any youngster who had dreams of doing bigger and better things with racing," Brent Kaeding said. "He was trying to further his career in motor sports."
USAC, the wildly popular circuit in middle America that features 410 wingless open wheel racing on dirt and pavement surfaces, saw Bud Kaeding become the Western States Rookie of the Year and points champion in 1999. He moved up to take USAC National Rookie of the Year honors in 2000, cementing him as a standout who has enjoyed a successful career ever since that was illuminated by a Silver Crown season championship last year.
Things didn't go quite as rosy in the offseason. Kaeding, who manages his own team but needs funds from major sponsorships to compete in USAC full time, lost a major financial resource when a mortgage company backing him had to withdraw its support.
"The mortgage business isn't exactly thriving at the moment and so that hit us pretty hard consequently," he said. "That's just the way it goes sometimes. We're looking to get back on our feet, looking for someone who can help us get back into the swing of things."
For the time being, Kaeding is picking and choosing which USAC events to take on — he took fourth Thursday night in an undercard race for this weekend's NASCAR festivities at Darlington Speedway in South Carolina — and is eyeing a full return later this summer as soon as another major sponsor can help. Until then, he will relish what is quickly amounting to one long home visit.
"Through at least June, I'll race California and I have no problem with that," Kaeding said. "I have my foot in a couple different doors."
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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