|
Bud Kaeding runs 2nd
and 4th 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 20th 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
----------------------
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.
|
