PLACERVILLE, Carmichael — With what looked to be a sold out crowd of fans, the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series, took on the quarter mile, high banked dirt oval at Placerville Speedway with Brent Kaeding of Campbell, CA, cranking up his speed, taking and inside charge to take the lead in this thirty lap feature, with just eleven laps to go. Kaeding carried on his momentum to score the big victory.
"This was a long time coming. It's been more than a year since I've won. In fact, it even sounded like it was a popular win among the fans. "— Brent Kaeding
Kaeding, better known as "BK" is no stranger to victory circle and is said to be the winning-est Sprint Car Driver in California, but in spite of that, tonight was a big win for this Champion.
"This was a long time coming. It's been more than a year since I've won. In fact, it even sounded like it was a popular win among the fans. The fan's don't usually cheer for me when I win. These kids coming up really have it on." said "BK", who was inundated with congratulations for his great race.
Second place went to Kyle Hirst who also came over to congratulate, "BK", during this interview.
Hirst driving the Dennis Roth Motorsports #83, had clocked in a 10.421 second lap in qualifying for quick time of the night. Hirst raced from a fifth place start into the lead around the sixth lap, holding all at bay until "BK" powered into the lead, with his inside move.
"We had a great car, but he ("BK") caught me on the bottom. He ("BK") did a great job. I want to thank Dennis Roth and all of our sponsors." said Hirst. Hirst had a strong run and it looked to be his race to win but he was right there, with a smile to congratulate Kaeding.
Rounding out the podium finish, was Andy Gregg of Placerville, who also had a good run to score at the line in third.
"I qualified fourth fast. We didn't do very well in our Heat Race or in the Dash. (Gregg finished fifth in his Heat Race and sixth in the Dash). We sure made up for it in this feature. I want to thank all of our sponsors." said a happy Gregg.
So many great drivers turned out to compete in this King of the West Series and watching all this talent you knew it wouldn't be over until the checkered flag flew. Jonathan Allard of Chico, driving the Williams owned #0, earned a front row start and led off this event. In only the second lap, the first caution flag flew when Jimmy Sills, racing the Simpson 4s Sprint spun out in the fourth turn. Pat Harvey ended up stopped just above Sills. The green flew out once more only to end up into a red flag when Shane Golobic, racing in second, Paul McMahan, Jason Statler, Andy Forsberg, Sean Becker and Justin Johnson, all collected in a melee in between turns two and three. Becker and Johnson were towed off the track on the hook. The balance of the cars out returned to tag the rear of the field.
The restart had Hirst flying by Allard to take over the lead. Allard maintained in second.
On the eighth lap the caution was out again, this time it was for Peter Murphy who spun out in the fourth turn. About one more lap scored when the caution was out again, this time Evan Suggs and Craig Stidham spun out, followed by Allard spinning out just three laps later.
The racing in this event was fast and close, so there's no telling if there was possible contact made as the drivers raced their line. If there was, it was definitely accidental, but could have caused some of the caution flags.
When the field returned to action, Hirst led out with "BK" in second followed by Golobic and Gregg. Forsberg, Willie Croft and Justin Sanders were dicing it up for fifth.
At the checkered, finishing behind, Kaeding, Hirst and Gregg, were Golobic, Croft, Sanders, Forsberg, Chad Compton, Sills (Sills, though he started in sixteenth, was at the rear of the field on the second lap and came back to finish in the top ten), Richard Brace Jr., Murphy. Jason Statler, Cody Lamar, Allard, Suggs, Mark Barroso, Stedham, McMahan, Becker, Johnson, and Harvey.
DASH and HEAT RACE FINISHES are as follows:
All finishes shown, as unofficial.
DASH: Allard, Golobic, Suggs, Sanders, Hirst, Gregg, Statler, McMahan.
HEAT #1: Golobic, Croft, Hirst, Becker, Gregg, Stidham, Jeff Griffin, Jim Richardson, Clayton Snow.
Heat #2: Allard, Murphy, Kaeding, Sanders, Sills, Lamar, Compton, Doug Gandy, Barroso.
Heat #3: McMahan, Forsberg, Suggs, Statler, Johnson, Brace, Jr., Harvey, Danielle Simpson, Bud Walberg.
