From Steven Blakesley
Watsonville, CA — (June 22, 2013) — 2013 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo points leader Brad Furr successfully fended off DDNi Hard Charger Bud Kaeding to win his third feature of the season on Friday night. Furr led all 30 laps but it was not an uneventful feature by any means at John Prentice’s Ocean Speedway Watsonville.
Kaeding, who was also the Ray Scheidt’s Electric fast-time qualifier, accepted the Nobel Construction Back Row Challenge to start at the rear of the starting field.
Furr led the cars to green with San Jose’s Ryan Rusconi on the outside pole. Mechanical problems forced Rusconi to the infield on lap five and Furr hit lapped traffic one lap later.
By that point, Kaeding had already charged to fifth position. A wild incident on lap 10 saw Anthony Simone tag the turn four tire while being lapped by 2012 Ocean Sprints champion Shane Golobic. Golobic jumped on the binders and was passed by Nicholas Ringo, while Kaeding snuck past Gilroy’s Kurt Nelson in the melee as well.
The caution came out the following lap when Burt Foland, Jr. spun in turn two and under yellow Golobic scrambled to the pits with a left rear flat tire.
Racing resumed with Golobic still in the work area but he would be saved by Foland spinning again in turn two, and Golobic pushed off to rejoin the field still on the lead lap.
Furr had a strong restart to pull away from Ringo, who made it tough for Kaeding for several laps. Kaeding finally overhauled Ringo for second on lap 17 but had a major deficit to make up on Furr.
The leaders found themselves mired in lapped traffic again when the caution flag flew on lap 21 for Nick Ringo, Jr. stopped on the backstretch. Kaeding found himself with the lapped car of Jeremy Chisum in between his #29 and Furr’s #2 ride, but he quickly moved around Chisum on the restart to set his sights on Furr.
Nelson, Golobic, and Nicholas Ringo wrestled from third through fifth through the closing stages of the race, until Ringo spun from fifth on lap 24.
The closing laps of the race saw Kaeding make several attempts on a slidejob on Furr, including a big power move into turn one on the white flag lap that fell short. Furr crossed the stripe first to the approval of the fans with Kaeding second, Nelson third, Golobic and Corralitos’ Jerry Bonnema the top-five.
“The crew does the hard work and I have the easy job,” Furr said in victory lane. “I actually was kind of happy to see the yellows so I could get out of traffic and get open track in front of me.”
Heat race wins on the night went to Golobic and Furr. Kaeding’s $100 Ray Scheidt’s Electric Fast Time was an 11.670 second lap around the speedway. His charge from the rear to second earned him the DDNi Hard Charger Award worth $100 as well.
Next Friday night, the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo will stage their first of four Johnny Key Classic qualifying races. The feature winner will earn a guaranteed starting position into the $10,000 to win event to be held August 24th.
For more information on the Ocean Sprints log onto http://www.oceansprints.com and for more on the Ocean Speedway visit http://www.oceanspeedway.com
Ocean Speedway would like to thank Taco Bravo, Digital Delivery Networks, Nobel Construction, Get Som Sports, Ray Scheidt’s Electric, Hoosier Tires West, and Kaeding Performance for their support.
June 21, 2013 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo – Watsonville, California
RAY SCHEIDT’S ELECTRIC QUALIFYING: 29 Bud Kaeding 11.670
HEAT 1: 22 Shane Golobic
HEAT 2: 2 Brad Furr
30 LAP FEATURE: 1) 2 Brad Furr, 2) 29 Bud Kaeding, 3) 72w Kurt Nelson, 4) 22 Shane Golobic, 5) 58 Jerry Bonnema, 6) 199 Nick Foster, Jr., 7) 11 Nick Rescino, 8) 8 Jeremy Chisum, 9) 23f Ken Fredenburg, 10) 3t Nicholas Ringo, 11) 96 Nick Ringo, Jr., 12) 4f Burt Foland, Jr., 13) 10 Anthony Simone, 14) 20x Ryan Rusconi
LAP LEADERS: 2 Brad Furr 1-30