By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – April 11, 2012…Reigning “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” winner Tim Kaeding will lead the Cancen Oil King of the West Series presented by Goodyear into the always action-packed Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway this Saturday night April 14.
Chris Faria was an up and coming driver who was the youngest of five children to Danny Sr. & Arlet Faria. He grew up on their farm in Tipton and was known as the prankster of the family. Chris unfortunately lost his life at the age of 21 during a farming accident and his memory has been kept alive with a memorial race at the Thunderbowl Raceway ever since.
Brian was the oldest of the five Faria children and was taken from us in January of 2006 when a fallen tree hit his truck while driving on a highway. Brian enjoyed helping out with the track preparation at the Thunderbowl Raceway, as he drove the water truck and the grader among other things.
When it comes to favorites at the Thunderbowl few would argue against Tim Kaeding. The San Jose, California competitor captured the lone event that has been held at the track so far this season, which just happened to be when he beat the traveling World of Outlaws.
Kaeding comes into Saturday’s event holding a two-point lead at the top of the Cancen Oil KWS Series presented by Goodyear standings and will look to make it back to back to begin the year. “TK” will also be gunning hard to visit victory lane with Tulare being a home track for his Fresno based Roth Motorsports team.
Two-time state 410 champion Jonathan Allard sits right on Kaeding’s heels after a runner up finish during the season opener last week. The Chico driver was in contention for the lead of the race during both KWS events at the Thunderbowl last season, but each time ended in dnf’s. Allard won the Faria Memorial in 2003.
Always worth the price of admission at the Thunderbowl, former Faria Memorial winner Kyle Larson will be looking for another win at the track on Saturday. The 19-year-old Elk Grove native will be aboard the Silva Motorsports No. 57 once again after putting on a show last weekend in Antioch, charging to a fourth place finish from the rear.
Second-year sprint car driver Rico Abreu will go into the Tulare Thunderbowl with momentum on his side, following a career best KWS finish of third last week. The St. Helena youngster impressed many at the Antioch Speedway on Saturday, by carving his way from 13th starting for his first 410 podium.
Rounding out the top-five in KWS points coming into Tulare is Elk Grove veteran Bobby McMahan, who had a solid outing at last week’s opener. The former Silver Dollar Speedway track champ will be looking to improve upon a couple of finishes outside the top-15 in Tulare last year.
Drivers completing the top-10 in the Cancen Oil KWS standings and set for action at the Tulare Thunderbowl include Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Campbell’s Brent Kaeding, Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs, Clovis’ Peter Murphy and Grass Valley’s Jason Statler.
Other drivers expected on hand at the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” will include Easton’s Tommy Tarlton, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, Placerville’s Andy Gregg, Fresno’s Craig Stidham, Sacramento’s Willie Croft, Redding’s Tyler Wolf, Loomis’ Kyle Hirst, Elk Grove’s Sean McMahan, Fair Oak’s Chad Compton, Chico’s Kenny Allen, Rio Linda’s Cody Lamar, Visalia’s Cory Eliason, Tipton’s Mike Faria, Oakhurst’s Doug Gandy, Laton’s Geoffrey Strole, Rio Vista’s Danielle Simpson and more.
The front gate will open at 5pm this Saturday night with qualifying scheduled for 6:30 and racing at 7. Reserved grandstand tickets will cost $20 with general admission bleacher seats costing just $17. For more info on tickets and to view a seating chart please log onto http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com or call (559) 688-0909.
The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare.
Upcoming events:
The Cancen Oil King of the West Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear will travel north next weekend for an event at Paul & Kathy Hawes’ Marysville Raceway Park on Saturday April 21. The quarter-mile bullring last season saw Willie Croft score a popular win during the lone KWS appearance.
On Saturday April 28 KWS will head for the Placerville Speedway to make the much anticipated 410 sprint car return at the high-banked red clay bullring. The El Dorado County Fairgrounds quarter-mile last saw 410 winged sprint cars in 2010.
Then on Saturday May 5 the Cancen Oil King of the West Series gets set for the annual “Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial” at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway.
As always lap money is up for grabs to interested parties or individuals. If anyone would like to purchase a lap for the Bradway Memorial please contact Dave and Dianne Durica at Durica1414@sbcglobal.net or 916-988-5958.
All the money goes back to the racers and helps make this event unique and special like it has been for so many years. The laps cost $100 and are split between the top 3 in the A-main and LCQ each lap. The leader gets $50, 2nd place $30 and 3rd place $20.
For more information on these fast approaching shows and to view the entire schedule of events for KWS go to http://www.kwssprints.com
Don’t forget to “like” the Cancen Oil King of the West Series on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints and follow us on Twitter @kwssprintracing for the most timely and up to date information on the series.