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Thunderbowl Raceway hosts GSC sprints for final time in ‘07
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA - June 26, 2007... The question most people will ask when the Golden State Challenge Series invades Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway this Saturday night June 30 will be, "Can anybody stop Brent Kaeding?" Not only is the 12-time King of California sitting atop the GSC points, he has also been dominant at the Thunderbowl this year winning all three of the series’ stops at the track so far this season. The man simply known as BK will headline a field of nearly 25-30 410 winged sprint cars as the Golden State Challenge Series makes its final start of the season at the 1/3 mile clay oval located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds.
BK is also on the verge of history as his eight wins with the Golden State Challenge Series this year ties the most ever won in a single season with the series. He will be looking for win #9 on Saturday and will also be looking to keep his Thunderbowl GSC win streak going. Dating back to last season, the driver of the Al’s Roofing Supply No. 69 has won the last five events the series has held at the Thunderbowl. He’ll face some stiff competition, however, and it won’t come easy for the man from Campbell.
The biggest challenger to BK on Saturday will quite possibly be San Jose’s Tim Kaeding, who will be making his third Thunderbowl Raceway start of the season. TK began the season driving for Steve Kinser Racing and picked up a big win with the World of Outlaws at the Thunderbowl in February, but lack of funds forced the car to be parked. The 28 year-old charger also had a brief stint in the Volcano Joe’s Coffee No. 2, subbing for Brooke Tatnell, but has now returned to California and will be behind the wheel of the Tom Rolfe Trucking No. 10. TK has had an immense amount of success in his career at the Thunderbowl and in addition to his WOO win this season, he captured the Trophy Cup last year at the track and also won the National Sprint Tour stop in October.
Another heavy weight on Saturday will be Fairmont, Indiana’s Brandon Wimmer. The talented 21 year-old teamed up with Dennis Roth to run the Dirt Cup a couple weeks back and he promptly went out and won the race. Wimmer has won five races on the west coast this season and has shown that he’s one most fearless drivers in the country with his on the hammer driving style.
The driver that currently ranks second in the Golden State Challenge Series points is Oroville’s Sean Becker and he’ll be looking for his first ever Thunderbowl win on Saturday. Becker goes into this weekend 19 points behind B. Kaeding for the lead and is coming off a strong second place finish with the series last Saturday night in Quincy aboard the Fisher-Main Motorsports No. 35m.
Defending King of California Jonathan Allard of Chico sits third in the GSC point standings. Allard has the second most wins in the series with three, and leads the club with four fast time efforts in the Williams Motorsports 0. Fourth in the points and coming off his first win of the season is Sacramento’s Willie Croft who drives the Holey Smokes BBQ No. 29. Last Saturday in Quincy saw Croft lead all 30 laps en route to his second career GSC win. Rounding out the top five in the series standings is the Care Free Pools No. 1x of 17 year-old Brett Miller from Chico, who is the leading contender for Rookie of the Year.
San Jose’s Jason Statler sits sixth in points and will be making his return this weekend after missing the last couple races. "The Big Guy" will be sitting aboard the familiar 00 machine that he’s driven in season’s past. Salinas driver Ronnie Day is also expected to make his return after missing the last couple races. Day is still looking for his first win of the season. Other drivers in the top 10 of the Golden State Challenge Series points set to be in Tulare this weekend include Gilroy’s Jon Maiwald, Tracy’s Jason Botsford and Fresno’s Mark Workentine.
Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs will be making his first start with the Golden State Challenge Series since winning his very first winged sprint car main event at the Dirt Cup in Washington during prelim night competition.
Australian Trevor Green will be looking to get rid of the engine problems that have plagued his team recently. The two-time and defending track champion at the Parramatta City Raceway in Sydney, Aus has been seemingly fighting mechanical issues ever since he arrived in the Golden State. Green did score third place at the Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford on June 11, which has been his best finish in nine series starts.
The Central, CA contingent looking to steal the glory will include: Visalia’s Ricci Faria, Tipton’s Mike & Danny Faria Jr, Fresno’s Craig Stidham & Tommy Tarlton and Carruther’s Garret Ishii.
A large field of dirt modifieds are expected on Saturday as this will be their final chance to run the Thunderbowl prior to the huge $20,000 to win U.S. Western Modified Nationals on September 27, 28 & 29. The Western States Modifieds will also be crowning their first ever champion on Saturday, and that driver will receive a free entry to the Nationals. All the info on the Western States Modifieds can be found at http://www.westernracer.com
The front gate at the Thunderbowl Raceway will open at 5 pm this Saturday with Reserved Grandstand tickets costing $18 and General Admission bleacher tickets costing $15. To purchase tickets call 559-688-0909. First race is scheduled for approximately 7pm. For a seating chart, directions, a list of hotels and more, log onto http://www.tularethunderbowl.com
For the full Golden State Challenge Series point standings visit http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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Ok all you BK fans...it's time to bust out the brooms! 
Hey Gary,it was nice to meet you and moms at D.C. Not to mention YZ , netters,AndrewK and the rest of the crew.
Anyway....Brooms people! 
http://www.myspace.com/bkfan69
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