By Dick Jordan
Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. will lead the 2012 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series to Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. April 7 seeking his third win in three West Coast outings this season.
BK won a “special event” non-points race at Las Vegas, Nev. March 8 and claimed last Saturday night’s official series opener at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway in the Buster & Ziggy Enterprises/Kaeding Performance Bullet/Reitz.
Kaeding led the final three laps at Bakersfield. He trailed until lap 28 when Brody Roa, who led the first 17 laps, got caught in a multi-car tangle. Roa officially ended up 17th after a spirited drive. Matt Mitchell, Ryan Bernal, Markus Niemela and Josh Ford rounded out the “top-five” at the checkered flag. USAC AMSOIL National Sprint star Tracy Hines posted the fastest qualifying time in the 27-car field. Mitchell actually amassed enough points to share the current point lead with Kaeding,
Kaeding owns three Hanford Sprint trophies, two from last May at the 3/8-mile dirt oval and one from 2010. Third-ranking Ryan Bernal scored a pair of Hanford victories during his rookie season last year.
2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Bud Kaeding-68, 2-Matt Mitchell-68, 3-Ryan Bernal-62, 4-Markus Niemela-59, 5-Josh Ford-55, 6-Peter Murphy-52, 7-Danny Faria Jr.-50, 8-Kevin Barnes-49, 9-Don Gansen-41, 10-Chris Gansen-37.