From Steven Blakesley
WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA (May 17, 2012) – Perhaps one of the strongest fields in recent memory will be assembled for Friday night’s round four of the 2012 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, with some of California’s best Sprint Car talents gracing the quarter-mile dirt oval at Ocean Speedway Watsonville.
Most notably returning is Campbell’s Bud Kaeding. Kaeding won the season opener and finished second in round two behind his father Brent. He picked up a pair of second place finishes in USAC competition last weekend in Tulare and leads the StevenBlakesley.com Power Rankings for the state as well.
St. Helena’s Rico Abreu, driving the Abreu Vineyards #89, is on a hot streak as of late. Abreu picked up his first career 410 feature at Chico in April and last Saturday won the King of the West feature at Tulare Thunderbowl. Abreu was the 2011 Ocean Sprints Rookie of the Year and returns to Ocean for the first time in 2012.
Also making his maiden 2012 drive at Ocean on Friday is Tommy Tarlton from Easton, CA. Tarlton has teamed up with young star Carson Macedo for a two car effort for the Tarlton & Son team. Tarlton is most notably the 2010 series champion and 2011 series runner-up along with winning the 2010 Johnny Key Classic.
Stockton’s Brad Furr leads the series points by just three markers over 2011 champion Ronnie Day of Salinas and only five points ahead of third place Shane Golobic of Fremont. Day leapfrogged to second in the points after sweeping last Friday’s action aboard the #22 Keith Day Trucking mount.
Furr, in the Price Rite Restaurant Equipment #2, and Golobic in Steve Osborne’s #9J are still looking for their first victories in 2012. Furr has finished fifth, fourth, and second in the three features this year, while Golobic has come home fourth, third, and third.
Rounding out the top-five in the points is “Cowboy” Craig Smith and impressive rookie sensation Jason Chisum. The balance of the top-ten is Gilroy’s Kurt Nelson, Bud Kaeding, Auburn’s Cole Wood, Salinas’ Carter Train, and San Jose’s Nick Green. Salinas’ Jeremy Chisum, San Jose’s Ryan Rusconi, and Morgan Hill drivers Nick Ringo, Jr. and Nicholas Ringo are also likely to appear in Friday’s races.
Friday’s races for the Ocean Sprints will also include racing for the Four Bangers, American Stocks, Micro 600s, and IMCA Modifieds. Adult tickets are just $17 with seniors 65+ $15 and kids ages 6-12 are $13. The family pass for two adults and two children is value priced at just $55. Qualifying will get underway at 6 p.m. with fan gates opening at 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Ocean Sprint Cars presented by Taco Bravo 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, Get Som Sports, Ray Scheidt’s Electric, Hoosier Tires West, and Kaeding Performance for their support of the 2012 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo.