By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (February 11, 2011) – San Jose’s Tim Kaeding proved too hot to handle in Wednesday night’s Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National debut in the state of California, as TK knocked off the series regulars at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway.
“This is my playground and if anybody’s gonna beat me, they better get up on the fence and do it,” Kaeding commented afterward.
Now, the question is, will the California contingent go two-for-two with another win in Saturday night’s tilt at Hanford’s Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway? Or, will one of the Lucas Oil ASCS title contenders step up to the challenge and even the California score?
“We were way too tight, all the guys from the Midwest were too tight,” 2010 Lucas Oil Sprint Car points runner-up Brady Bacon explained after salvaging a tenth-place finish at Tulare.
With Kaeding in victory lane and ASCS Northwest champ Roger Crockett a close runner-up finisher, 2009 series champion Shane Stewart was the top finishing series title contender in third with a badly-bent left rear wheel after contact with a spinning Steven Tiner prior to the midway point.
“We had a really good car, we were just lucky to finish after that,” Stewart explained. “That’s what it’s all about, you have to finish these races to have a championship.”
Stewart and Bacon were two of just four Lucas Oil Sprint Car title contenders among the top ten along with sixth-place Gary Wright and ninth-runner Johnny Herrera. Elk Grove, California’s Kyle Larson was fourth aboard the JJR/Finley Farms No. 41 to keep Jason Johnson’s entry among the lead pack on the owner point charts until he returns from Australia.
Kaeding was one of four California shoes among the top ten in Wednesday’s Thunderbowl feature along with Larson, fifth-place runner Tommy Tarlton and seventh-place Bud Kaeding.
The other two top-ten finishers in Wednesday’s feature hailed from the Northwest, with 15-year-old Trey Starks rallying from 17th to eighth to join Crockett among the top ten.
Back on the National trail, Seth Bergman missed out on a top-ten showing by just one position.
Several Lucas Oil contenders struggled with engine issues in the opener including Jeff Swindell, Justin Carver and Zach Chappell.
Saturday night’s Lucas Oil Sprint Car action at Hanford’s Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway fires off at 6:30 p.m.
After Saturday’s event, the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series moves on to Tucson’s USA Raceway next weekend, February 18-19, for the Fifth Annual Copper on Dirt.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters
When & Where:
Saturday night, February 12 @ 6:30 p.m. – Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway
Track Information:
Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway (Hanford, CA) – 3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval located south of SR 198 on 10th Avenue to the Fairgrounds. Track phone: 559-584-7223.
Lucas Oil ASCS Kings Speedway History:
The February 12 card at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway will mark the first Lucas Oil ASCS National events to ever be contested at Kings and just the second in California after Wednesday night’s Tulare event.
Current 2011 Points:
Top 15 Driver Points: 1. Tim Kaeding (San Jose, CA) 150, 2. Roger Crockett (Medford, OR) 142, 3. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 135, 4. Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA) 130, 5. Tommy Tarlton (Fresno, CA) 125, 6. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 122, 7. Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA) 119, 8. Trey Starks (Puyallup, WA) 116, 9. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 113, 10. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 110, 11. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 108, 12. Steven Tiner (Elverta, CA) 106, 13. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 104, 14. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 102, 15. Kyle Hirst (Loomis, CA) 100.
Top 15 Owner Points: 1. Roth Motorsports 83 – 150, 2. Crockett 11 – 142, 3. Paul Silva 57 – 135, 4. Jason Johnson Racing 41 – 130, 5. Tarlton Motorsports 21T – 125, 6. Cooper/Sperry 51 – 122, 7. Brian Brown Racing 21 – 119, 8. Starks 55 – 116, 9. Herrera/Main 45x – 113, 10. Tel-Star Communications 99 – 110, 11. Petersen Motorsports 23 – 108, 12. Tiner 94 – 106, 13. Morgan 2 – 104, 14. Bruce Racing 18 – 102, 15. Smitty Boys Racing 14s – 100.
2011 Feature Winners:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Tim Kaeding 1.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
February 18 – USA Raceway (Tucson, AZ); Fifth Annual Copper on Dirt
February 19 – USA Raceway (Tucson, AZ); Fifth Annual Copper on Dirt
March 25 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX); 38th Annual Spring Nationals
March 26 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX); 38th Annual Spring Nationals
April 15 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
April 16 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
Lucas Oil ASCS on the Web:
Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.
Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.
Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network and MavTV.
The full schedule of events to be aired on VERSUS and broadcast dates will be released soon.
The events from Thunderbowl Raceway, Kings Speedway and USA Raceway will be aired as follows;
Thunderbowl Raceway (Feb. 9) – 4/16/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Kings Speedway (Feb. 12) – 4/23/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
USA Raceway (Feb. 18) – 5/1/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
USA Raceway (Feb. 19) – 5/14/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for 39 nights of racing action at 18 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country’s top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.
The 2011 season marks the 20th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.