By Lance Jennings
TULARE, CA – MARCH 22, 2011… Last Saturday night, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding led all 30-laps to score his third career victory with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series. The feature win at Tulare’s Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway moved him to sixth overall in series history and extended his point lead heading into Hanford’s March 31st make-up date.
With twenty cars in the Tulare pit area, observers noted that weather conditions and cars returning to Southern California lowered the expected car count. As heavy rains were predicted for the majority of the day, the brunt of the storm missed the race track and a light rain ended before wheel packing. Sharing the card with the famed World of Outlaw Sprints, series officials used a pill pick and passing points format for the program.
Starting on the outside of the front row alongside Hollister’s Ryan Bernal, Kaeding got the jump over the nineteen car field. Bernal gave chase after the 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion, but soon had to contend with the sixth starting Greg Alexander of Gardena. Alexander made early moves to the front and secured second from Bernal. While the young drivers battled for position, Kaeding stretched out his lead.
As the laps clicked off, Bernal regained second from Alexander as Kaeding maintained command. At the back of the field, veteran drivers “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton and Auburn’s Andy Forsberg were charging their way forward. Action was briefly halted on lap twelve, when a yellow flag was brought out for Hanford’s Jonathan Logan. Logan, the former SCRA 360 Champion, suffered a collapsed front end and was scored nineteenth.
On the restart, Kaeding set the pace followed by Bernal, Alexander, Kerman’s Davey Pombo, Craig Stidham of Fresno, and Visalia’s Richard VanderWeerd. Many drivers chose to run the outside groove of the Tulare clay oval and pushed the cushion of the north turns next to the fence. Eighth place running Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes flipped his machine, bringing another stop to the race. Howell walked away uninjured and finished eighteenth on the night.
Bernal and Alexander challenged Kaeding for the top spot, however Bud showed veteran experience and maintained the lead. As the laps counted down, Kaeding’s Buster & Ziggy Enterprises teammate Danny Faria Jr. had claimed third from Alexander after starting seventeenth. Faria was on the move and the local driver had fans cheering as he chased after the leaders. Riding the high line, the treacherous cushion hooked Faria’s machine and he flipped on lap twenty-four. Faria was not hurt in the crash and was scored seventeenth.
Kaeding was in control with Bernal in second. Third place Alexander had a flat left front tire and had to contend with Davey Pombo. Forsberg was making his presence felt from the fifteenth starting position and looked to finish strong. As Pombo battled with Alexander for third, Bernal threatened Kaeding for the lead. Alexander shook loose from Pombo, but Forsberg soon claimed fourth.
As the checkered flags waved, Kaeding took the win followed by Ryan Bernal. Alexander and Forsberg crossed the line for third in a photo finish, chased by Pombo, San Martin’s Wes Gutierrez, and defending champion Craig Stidham of Fresno taking seventh.
Driving Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Maxim, Bud Kaeding won his first series feature since the Jim Evett Memorial at Hanford on July 17th. The third generation driver also claimed his second heat race win of the year by taking the Saldana Racing Products / Keizer Wheels 8-lap event. The point leader now holds a seven point advantage heading into Hanford’s March 31st event.
Ryan Bernal fought hard for the lead, but had to settle for second on the night. Piloting Danny Olmstead’s #11X Steve Watt Enterprises / S&S Automotive Maxim, Bernal scored third in his heat race. The multi-time Wingless Spec Sprint Car Champion is currently third in the point standings.
Greg Alexander claimed third place in a photo finish at the line. Driving Chuck Tyler’s #72 Trench Shoring / Barnes Systems Maxim, Alexander was second to Kaeding in his heat race. Splitting time with the USAC/CRA Sprints, Greg is second in the championship point chase.
Andy Forsberg earned the Keizer Wheels “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors on the night with a fourth place finish after starting fifteenth. Piloting the #92 Autism Awareness / A&A Stepping Stone XXX entry, Forsberg was eighth in his heat race. The multi-time California Civil War Sprint Car Champion is sixth in the point standings.
Davey Pombo was fifth in the night’s 30-lap feature. Driving Joey Eames’ #3E TCR backed by Eames Trucking and Cool Hand Luke’s Saloon, Pombo finished second in his heat race to Wes Gutierrez. The pair raced side by side for the majority of the event that entertained the fans. Last season’s Southwest Contractors 360 Clash Champion is fourth in the standings, fourteen points behind the leader.
“Wide Open” Wes Gutierrez won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1 after battling hard with Davey Pombo. Piloting the #007 WG Motorsports machine sponsored by ButlerBuilt and Competition Suspension Inc., Gutierrez was sixth in the main event. The hard charging driver is fifth in the point chase.
By virtue of his fourth place finish in his heat race after starting tenth, Dennis Howell was the program’s high point driver entering the feature. Driving the #62 San Pedro Auto Body / Howell-Meyer Racing Maxim, Howell flipped in the main event and was scored eighteenth. The USAC Western Midget Series graduate is eighteenth in the point standings.
The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, BR Motorsports, ButlerBuilt, Competition Suspension Inc., Cory Kruseman’s Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Port City Racing, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series will return to action with the World of Outlaw Sprints on Thursday, March 31st, at Hanford’s Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway. The USAC 360s will hold their semi-main and feature on that night. Additional cars are welcomed to race on the rare Thursday night program and will have to tag the back of the semi-main.
Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds in Hanford, California. Camping is available on the fairgrounds and overnight camping will be allowed in the pits for free. For more event information, visit www.giantchevroletspeedway.com or call (559) 584-RACE (7223).
For more information on the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on facebook.
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USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
March 19, 2011 – Tulare, California – Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (8 laps)
1. Wes Gutierrez (#007 WG), 2. Davey Pombo (#3E Eames), 3. Craig Stidham (#3 Stidham), 4. Richard VanderWeerd (#10 VanderWeerd), 5. Jace VanderWeerd (#88 VanderWeerd), 6. Justyne Hamblin (#8 JH), 7. Rusty Carlisle (#51 Carlisle), 8. Andy Forsberg (#92 Forsberg), 9. Danny Faria Jr. (#2 Bowman). NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / KEIZER WHEELS HEAT RACE 2: (8 laps)
1. Bud Kaeding (#29 Bowman), 2. Greg Alexander (#72 Tyler), 3. Ryan Bernal (#11x Olmstead), 4. Dennis Howell (#62 Howell), 5. Jonathan Logan (#32 Logan), 6. Garrett Ishii (#71G Ishii), 7. Marty Hawkins (#3m Hawkins), 8. Kevin Barnes (#36B Barnes), 9. Matt Day (#97 Day), 10. T.J. Smith (#14 LeGras). NT
ALSO AT THE TRACK: Nico Russo (#3N Russo)
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Bud Kaeding (2nd), 2. Ryan Bernal (1st), 3. Greg Alexander (6th), 4. Andy Forsberg (15th), 5. Davey Pombo (5th), 6. Wes Gutierrez (3rd), 7. Craig Stidham (8th), 8. Jace VanderWeerd (11th), 9. Richard VanderWeerd (9th), 10. Marty Hawkins (13th), 11. Garrett Ishii (12th), 12. T.J. Smith (19th), 13. Justyne Hamblin (10th), 14. Rusty Carlile (14th), 15. Kevin Barnes (16th), 16. Matt Day (18th), 17. Danny Faria Jr. (17th), 18. Dennis Howell (4th), 19. Jonathan Logan (7th). NT
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**Dennis Howell flipped on lap 13 of the feature.
**Danny Faria Jr. flipped on lap 24 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Bud Kaeding.
KEIZER WHEELS HARD CHARGER: Andy Forsberg (15th to 4th)
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: (3/19)
1. Bud Kaeding 76; 2. Greg Alexander 69; 3. Ryan Bernal 63; 4. Davey Pombo 62; 5. Wes Gutierrez 58; 6. Andy Forsberg 57; 7. Craig Stidham 55; 8. Richard VanderWeerd 49; 9. Jace VanderWeerd 43; 10. Garrett Ishii 39; 11. T.J. Smith 36; 12. Marty Hawkins 33; 13. Rusty Carlile 32; 14. Justyne Hamblin 30; 15. Johnathon Logan 25; –. Danny Faria Jr. 25; 17. Kevin Barnes 23; 18. Dennis Howell 22; 19. Matt Day 21;
20. Jon Stanbrough 8.
NEXT WEST COAST 360 SPRINT RACE:
March 31 – Hanford, CA – Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway