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FIRST JOHNNY KEY CLASSIC SLOT GOES
TO TIM KAEDING IN THRILLER
WATSONVILLE,
CALIFORNIA (June 25, 2011) – Tim Kaeding stormed past fan-favorite Justin Sanders in lapped
traffic to win the Friday’s Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo feature,
locking himself in as the first qualifier for the Johnny Key Classic later this
year.
Kaeding is known
for his motto of “live and die by the high side” and his run to the front lived
up to that mantra. Kaeding was
relentless on the cushion as the leaders worked their way through lapped
traffic.
On lap 24,
Sanders was hung up on the bottom by a lapped car in turn three giving Kaeding
the opening to take the lead on the outside.
St.
Helena’s
Rico Abreu moved forward into third and began to challenge Sanders.
Orval Zane
Burke spun on lap 26 to set up a four lap shootout to the finish between
Kaeding, Sanders, and Abreu but Kaeding was too strong on the restart as he
drove away for the victory.
A scramble
for third place over the last four laps saw points leader Ronnie Day pass both Abreu
and Tommy Tarlton to move from fifth to third in the final laps. The third place finish continues Day’s
consistent season of all top-four finishes.
Tarlton led the first 10 laps of the race before loosing the lead to
Sanders in lapped traffic.
Kaeding won
the Ray Scheidt’s Electric Fast Time award worth $75 after touring the
quarter-mile speedway in 11.883 seconds.
The $100 DDNi Hard Charger award went to Jerry Bonnema who advanced nine
spots from 17th on the grid to finish eighth. Heat race wins on the night went to
Chowchilla’s Eric Humphries, Tommy Laliberte, and Abreu.
Kaeding is
the first of six qualifiers for the 51st running of the Johnny Key
Classic on Saturday August 27. The
winners (or highest finishing car not yet locked in) of the next four Ocean
Sprints races will be locked in along with the two highest drivers in the
points going into the classic. The six
cars will compete in a trophy dash to set their starting order. Money was raised throughout the grandstands
on Friday night for the trophy dash.
Laps are
currently for sale for the 50 lap Johnny Key Classic with interested parties
urged to contact [email protected]
The Ocean
Sprints presented by Taco Bravo will return to action on Friday June 8 with the
California Sprint Car Civil War going against the Ocean regulars.
For more
information on the Ocean Sprint Cars presented by Taco Bravo log onto http://www.oceansprints.com
and for more on the Ocean Speedway visit http://www.oceanspeedway.com
www.stevenblakesley.com
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