From Steven Blakesley
Rookie of the Year contender Nick Foster, Jr. of San Jose had the pole position but Steven Tiner led lap one after a crossover move in turn three. The red flag came out after the conclusion of lap one when Gilroy’s Kurt Nelson flipped and Fresno’s Koen Shaw suffered heavy damage after a hard bicycle. San Francisco’s Nick Rescino, Jr. was also eliminated from the race after tagging the wall.
All three drivers were uninjured but Nelson was able to make it out with repairs after loosing nine laps to the field. The race went back to green with Kaeding moving past Foster to take second on lap five using the outside of Foster.
Kaeding dove inside Tiner in turn three to take the lead on lap eight and 2012 Ocean Sprints champion Shane Golobic of Fremont made his way past Foster for third on lap ten.
Salinas’ Carter Train spun while being lapped in turn three, causing damage to Golobic’s car. Ray Scheidt’s Electric Fast Time qualifier Carson Macedo had nowhere to go and made hard contact with Train, ending both drivers nights. Golobic was able to continue on from the third position.
Points leader Brad Furr of Stockton failed to record a qualifying lap or run in his heat race due to engine problems, and charged from 19th starting position up into fourth on lap 15.
Kaeding enjoyed a comfortable half track advantage for much of the second half of the event while Golobic and Tiner worked it out for the second position. Tiner got sideways in turn one on the cushion on lap 22, allowing Golobic to slip past.
Golobic could not touch Kaeding and Kaeding sailed away to the big victory. Golobic finished second with Tiner fending off Furr for third. Foster rounded out the top-five in a strong performance for the two-time BCRA champion.
“You know baby steps I guess. We weren’t bad tonight,” Tine said. “Trying to learn the track and the other racers here. It takes a little while. We love coming down here the weathers great the fans are great. I think everybody should have just gone home because nobody had anything for Bud. He was bad fast and those guys did a great job.”
Shaw was awarded the Beer Optics $100 Hard Luck Award while the DDNi Hard Charger for $100 was claimed by Furr. Heat race wins went to Kaeding and Tiner.
The Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo take a week off this Friday for the USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Cars to hit the dirt. The series is led by five-time consecutive champion Mike Spencer and Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner.
For more information on the Ocean Sprints 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, Nobel Construction, Get Som Sports, Ray Scheidt’s Electric, Hoosier Tires West, Kaeding Performance, and Beer Optics for their support.
June 7, 2013 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo – Watsonville, California
RAY SCHEIDT’S ELECTRIC QUALIFYING: 21x Carson Macedo 11.975
HEAT 1: 29 Bud Kaeding
HEAT 2: 94 Steven Tiner
30 LAP FEATURE: 1) 29 Bud Kaeding, 2) 22 Shane Golobic, 3) 94 Steven Tiner, 4) 2 Brad Furr, 5) 199 Nick Foster, Jr., 6) 58 Jerry Bonnema, 7) 25z Jason Chisum, 8) 8 Jeremy Chisum, 9) 7h Jake Haullot, 10) 3t Nicholas Ringo, 11) 72w Kurt Nelson, 12) 21x Carson Macedo, 13) 23f KEn Fredenburg, 14) 2x Carter Train, 15) 33 Nathan Washam, 16) 88k Koen Shaw, 19) 11 Nick Rescino, 20) 10 Anthony Simone NT
LAP LEADERS: 94 Steven Tiner 1-7, 29 Bud Kaeding 8-30
Wingless Sprints
1. Adam Christian
2. Mark Chaves, Jr.
3. Terre Rothweiler
4. Bryan Grier
5. Jimmy Christian
6. Peter Carlotto
7. Richard Mitchell
8. Brent Maggi
9. Glenn Bryan