WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA (October 13, 2011) – Salinas sprint car veteran Ronnie Day has had a season full of milestones in 2011 including his first career Ocean Speedway victory on June 3rd and finishing in the top-four in the first seven features of 2011. But Day will look to add one more milestone to the Keith Day Trucking team’s mantle as Day tries to close out the 2011 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo championship on Friday night.
Day leads Tommy Tarlton by 30 points going into Friday night’s finale and could possibly clinch the title by the time the feature rolls off with a maximum of 30 points possible in the main event.
Tarlton will have to gain every point possible through qualifying and heat racing to have a shot at Day. Tartlon was the talk of the series through the summer with back-to-back wins on July 29th and August 19th but will need to recapture that magic in the #21 Tarlton & Son mount if he wants the championship.
A host of other drivers are planning to tackle the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds quarter-mile in search of one last Ocean Speedway victory. Bud Kaeding dominated last Friday night before narrowly loosing to Fremont’s Shane Golobic in the final two laps. Kaeding is returning to Ocean reloaded thanks to moving over to the Werbach Motorsports #20 for the final.
Golobic, in the Joe Vonschriltz #121, will try to become the only four-time winner in the series in 2011 after winning the last two races. Golobic also has a chance to crack the top-five in series points with Laliberte loosing his seat with Werbach Motorsports and his status for Friday night unknown.
The other points battle is between a pair of young drivers, as Prunedale’s Justin Sanders is within 14 points of popular rookie driver Rico Abreu of St. Helena. Sanders has established himself as a driver with great qualifying acumen but neither has seen victory lane this season.
Rounding out the top-ten in points are Kurt Nelson, “Cowboy” Craig Smith, Jerry Bonnema, and Ryan Rusconi. 16 year-old Orval Burke, Jr. is 28 points behind Rusconi in 11th overall.
Friday’s activities will also crown a champion for the Wingless Sprints. Micro Sprints and Four Bangers are also scheduled to be in action.
Adult tickets are just $17 with seniors 65+ $15 and kids ages 6-12 are $12. The family pass for two adults and two children is value priced at just $50. Qualifying will get underway at 6 p.m. with fan gates opening at 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Ocean Sprint Cars presented by Taco Bravo log onto http://www.oceansprints.com and for more on the Ocean Speedway visit http://www.oceanspeedway.com
- Steven Blakesley on Oct 13, 2011
- Article Date: 10/13/2011 by Steven Blakesley / Blakesley Sports Media