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. Photo by John Meirhofer of http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
- Gary Thomas on May 04, 2010
- Article Date: 5/4/2010