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Brent Kaeding Wins During a Rare Appearance at Chico on Friday Night
By: Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 6-22-07)…It’s been one of those years for Campbell, CA driver Brent Kaeding. This year Kaeding has won eight King of California events along with a handful of races at Watsonville. Tonight he continued his winning ways and scored a decisive victory during point race number 11 at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico on Friday night. Along the way to his win Kaeding won $2,000 on Jessee Heating and Air Night. Kaeding thanked Johnny Gray and the whole Jessee Heating and Air Team in victory lane for sponsoring the night. It was an amazing turn out for the winged sprint cars considering the previous week most California teams were racing in Washington at the Dirt Cup. A total of 34 sprint cars timed in for the race. It was the second highest winged sprint car count of the year for a Friday night race.
Trevor Green started on the pole for the 25-lap main event and was the early leader. Stephen Allard fell into the second spot while Kaeding raced into the third spot. Zack Mason was the first driver to bring out the caution just as the first lap was completed. During the first lap the talk of the grandstands was Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove. At that point he had already passed five cars. It was an interesting night for DeCaires that probably needs a while other story by itself. Yet, to sum up, DeCaires was on the front row of the B main event. During the start of the race the officials determined that he had false started resulting in him being sent to the rear of the field, 14th spot. He raced his was up to fifth at the checkered and one spot out of the transfer. But Brett Miller, who, like DeCaires needs a book to describe his night, finished fourth and then scratched from the feature with reported motor troubles. We will have to read Gary Thomas’ reports from this team during his weekly knowledgeable press release for the Care Free Pools team. This allowed DeCaires the chance to start the main event and what a show he gave us. Throughout the race DeCaires was spectacular passing cars the way he did on a tough dusty racing surface. DeCaires started in the final spot, twentieth position, and ultimately finished in the third spot. DeCaires also bring a strong fan base with his NMI Construction #24. The grandstand had an electric vibe throughout the races watching DeCaires.
On lap seven Robbie Whitchurch spun in turn two. The ensuing restart Kaeding was working the top of the racetrack in turn one. He passed Stephen Allard going through the turns and set his sites on Green. On the next lap he used the same move to pass Green for the lead. Allard then found what Kaeding was using and on lap fifteen passed Green for second spot. Behind them Sean Becker was using the top and passing Andy Gregg for the fourth spot. However, once you made the pass you needed to dive back to the bottom in three and four to secure the spot. Becker tried this but cut his JEI chassis #35m a little too early and spun the car entering turn three. To avoid an accident Gregg and Jonathan Allard went high and lost spots to DeCaires, who was in the right place at the right time. On lap 22 the final caution waived when Jonathan Allard spun around in turn two. DeCaires passed Green on the next lap to secure his third place finish. Up front Kaeding had the field covered. It was a privilege to watch the 12-time King of California showcase his driving talents. I’ll take Kaeding at Chico against any of the top drivers in the Country any night of the week. Rumors flying around the pit area tonight included a return by Tim Kaeding next week at Chico driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking #10. Stephen Allard finished second. Green finished in the fourth spot while Andy Greg rounded out the top five. Becker finished sixth. Willie Croft, driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking #10 tonight, finished seventh. Croft started the night off by turning the fastest lap in qualifying at a 12.013. Jason Botsford finished in the eighth spot while Matt Shelton ran ninth. Robert Stice finished in the tenth spot and earned the Pedro the Lawn Boy award worth a whopping $106 dollars because the kid had mowed more lawns this week.
On Jessee Heating and Air Night it was fitting that Johnny Gray dominated the 12-lap B main event. Shelton finished second and Botsford was third. Miller finished fourth but as reported early scratched from the A main event. This allowed DeCaires the chance to start in the feature.
Heat races were lengthy this evening. Five flips and seven cautions throughout the four heat races were unusual to witness when most of the season the heat races are caution free. Trevor Green won the first heat race. Zack Mason beat Sean Becker to the checkered flag in heat two. Brent Kaeding had a half straight lead when he crossed the checkered flag in heat three. Doug Lippincott returned from semi retirement to win the fourth heat race.
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Results
Fast Time: Willie Croft – 12.013
Heat 1; Trevor Green, Jason Botsford, Croft, Andy Forsberg, Zack West
Heat 2: Zack Mason, Sean Becker, Robbie Whitchurch, Jonathan Allard, Greg DeCaires
Heat 3: Brent Kaeding, Korey Lovell, Andy Gregg, Robert Stice, Johnny Gray
Heat 4: Doug Lippincott, Stephen Allard, Mason Moore, Colby Weisz, Dan Ochs
B Main: Johnny Gray, Matt Shelton, Mark Workentine, Brett Miller, DeCaires, Danny Bullock, Zack West, Jeremy Phillips, Dan Simpson, Peter Breshears, Jeff Griffen, Mike Mossi, Ochs, Chris Masters
A Main: Kaeding, S. Allard, DeCaires, Green, Gregg, Becker, Croft, Botsford, Shelton, Stice, Lovell, Forsberg, J. Allard, Lippincott, Gray
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