WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA (May 7, 2011) – The Kaeding family continued their dominance at Ocean Speedway on Friday night with 2010 USAC Silver Crown champion Bud Kaeding winning the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo feature. Kaeding used the same circumstances as brother Tim did in winning the April 15 event, using lapped traffic to grab the victory over Ronnie Day.
Kaeding, who will begin his title defense in the Silver Crown cars later this month, has spent the early portion of the season competing in the non-wing ranks throughout California.
Rookie Rico Abreu of St. Helena started on the pole for the 30 lap feature, but on the opening lap fast-qualifier Justin Sanders of Prunedale had a wild flip in turn two to force a complete restart.
Sanders claimed fast-time earlier in the night with a near track record at 11.589 seconds, but the Ray Scheidts Electric Fast Time qualifier was done for the night.
Salinas’ Ronnie Day and Shane Golobic of Fremont stormed past Abreu on the restart with Day holding a large lead through a lap three caution.
The caution initially flew for San Jose’s Nick Green spinning in turn three, but also saw incoming points leader Tommy Tarlton of Easton come to a stop in the infield with front end damage.
Green was able to refire but Tarlton had to be towed to the pits. His 19th place finish dropped him out of the points lead in the series.
Tommy Laliberate and heat race winner Ryan Rusconi both went to the work area under yellow and restarted at the rear.
The caution came out again on lap 10 for Orval Zane Burke, Jr. stopping in turn two in front end damage.
On the restart, Kaeding moved past Abreu for third and went after Golobic. After another brief caution, Kaeding and Golobic engaged in torrid battle for second with Day only a few car lengths ahead.
Kaeding took over second for good on lap 18 and reeled in Day. Working through lapped traffic out of turn four, Kaeding swept past Day to take the lead on lap 23.
The caution came out again on lap 24 and Golobic passed Day on the ensuing restart. The closing stages of the race saw Golobic make a valiant effort to close on Kaeding, moving within one car length into turn four before the rear end broke.
Kaeding took the checkered flag ahead of Day, Abreu, Laliberate, and Jerry Bonnema. Golobic stalled in turn four and was scored eighth. Although Laliberate’s charge through the field was impressive, the DNNi Hard Charger award went to Nick Ringo, Jr. who drove from 16th to seventh in the feature.
With the second place finish, Day takes over the points lead from Tarlton by seven points with Abreu, Sanders, and Green rounding out the top-five.
In heat race action earlier in the evening, Rusconi, Golobic, and Day claimed victories. Gift certificates were awarded throughout the night by Kaeding Performance on behalf of KSE Steering, Weld Wheels, Brown & Miller, Saldana Racing Products, Butlerbuilt Seats, Hunt Magnetos, and Racing Optics.
Full results are available at www.oceansprints.com or at www.mylaps.com
The Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo will return next Friday night with racing to get underway at 6 p.m. and fan gates opening at 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, log onto to www.oceansprints.com and for more on the Ocean Speedway visit www.oceanspeedway.com
Article Credit: Steven Blakesley / Blakesley Sports Media