Californian in right place when Saldana, Darrah collide while racing for the lead
HAUBSTADT, Ind. — April 20, 2013 — Tim Kaeding watched as Joey Saldana and Cody Darrah leaned on each other for 24 laps in a battle for the lead Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway before the two collided, ending their nights and putting Kaeding in prime position for his third World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season.
After Saldana and Darrah swapped the lead four times in the first half of the race, Kaeding took command on lap 25, fought off David Gravel in heavy traffic down the stretch, and earned the second victory in his five career starts at the high-banked, quarter-mile oval. Gravel wound up second with Paul McMahan, Dale Blaney and Kerry Madsen rounding out the top five in the 40-lap A-main.
“We put ourselves in contention right at the get-go,” said Kaeding, of San Jose, Calif. “We had a great racecar all night. We just tippy-toed around there for the first half of the race, watching Joey and Cody. They got racing a little bit too hard and crashed and we kind of fell into it and definitely got the win. I’m going to take it and be happy about it.”
Once in front, Kaeding put his car on the top of the banking while Gravel tried the bottom. The final 15 laps were run caution-free.
“We kind of knew this place was going to get up on the curb,” Kaeding said. “That’s something we get back home a lot. David Gravel showed his nose there a little bit at the end. Props to him, subbing for Bill Rose he’s done an awesome job for him. I hope somebody puts him on the road. He’d be a good commodity for this sport.”
Gravel was more interested in winning a second career Outlaw victory, and nearly pulled off the feat but Kaeding wouldn’t be denied.
“Lapped cars were starting to be a factor there late in the race,” said Gravel, of Watertown, Conn. “I just went where he wasn’t. We were close, just a little short.”
After struggling in the past two events, McMahan rebounded at Tri-State. He posted his third quick-time of the season then raced in the top five throughout the A-main to wind up third, which helped to propel him to second in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship standings behind leader Daryn Pittman.
“Any time you’re on the podium it’s a good night,” said McMahan, a California native who lives near Nashville, Tenn. “We had a pretty good car, quick time and had a good run in the dash. It just wasn’t very good on restarts at the end. David got by me on a restart. I was kind of stuck behind Joey there but I don’t think I could have held David back. A top three for the CJB Motorsports car is a good night, we’ve been having a little bit of bad luck the last couple of races so to come back here with a brand new motor that Paul Kistler just delivered to us and run on the podium is a good night.”
Points-leader Pittman sustained a flat left rear tire in a multi-car incident four laps into the A-main. He charged back to finish ninth, earning his 14 th top-10 finish in 16 races this season.
Next up for the Outlaws is a return to the Salina (Okla.) Highbanks on Friday, April 26.
TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
NOTES – Paul McMahan set quick time in qualifying for the third time this season. ... Daryn Pittman, Tim Kaeding, Cody Darrah and Steve Kinser won heat races. ... The dash draw was a 4 for the second time this season. ... Joey Saldana won the dash for the second time in 2013. ... This was the 32nd feature event in series history at Tri-State Speedway.
WINNERS – Daryn Pittman – 3 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 13, Tucson International Raceway on March 9 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15); Tim Kaeding – 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 7); Donny Schatz – 2 (Kings Speedway on April 12 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16); Shane Golobic – 1 (Antioch Speedway on April 5); Kyle Larson – 1 (Stockton 99 Dirt Track on March 22); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17); Paul McMahan – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23); Terry McCarl – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16), Sammy Swindell – 1 (Merced Speedway on March 29), and Steve Kinser – 1 (El Paso Speedway Park on April 16).
TIME TRIALS – Paul McMahan was the fastest qualifier around the quarter-mile oval with a time of 11.756 second to earn five championship points. Also earning points were David Gravel (4 points), Cody Darrah (3), Joey Saldana (2) and Chad Kemenah (1).
WE’RE ONLINE – Make sure to check out WoOsprint.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): David Gravel; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Tim Kaeding; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Greg Wilson;STP ($50 cash): David Gravel; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($50 cash and $200 certificate): Paul McMahan; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; UNOH ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; American Racing Custom Wheels ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky;Comp Cams ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah;Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Tim Kaeding; Superflow ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; JE Pistons (set of rings): Jason Sides; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Jason Sides; JE Pistons (set of rings): Joey Saldana; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Sammy Swindell; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Sam Hafertepe Jr; Armor All (case of product): Tim Kaeding; KSE Racing Products ($100 certificate): Donny Schatz.
- Admin Account on Apr 22, 2013
- Article Date: 4/21/2013