PETERSEN MEDIA
Returning to the Tulare Thunderbowl for the first time since competing with the World of Outlaws in March, Tim Kaeding overcame an early flat tire, and rebounded from last to score a second place finish during a wild night in Tulare, CA.
With 28 cars on hand, Kaeding was one of the final cars out for time-trials, and timed his Roth Enterprises/HR Livestock Transportation/3H Cattle entry in with quick time.
Amidst a dust storm in his heat race with high winds, and low visibility, the San Jose, CA driver was very cautious, and recorded a third place finish, good enough to put him directly into the feature event and into the Dash based on his qualifying time.
Pulling the one pill for the Dash, the inside line was not the place to be, and he slipped back to the second spot, as he chased after Evan Suggs.
A late restart saw Kaeding eventually drop back to fourth, where he would finish, putting him on the outside second row for the 30-lap feature event.
The start of the feature event was chaos to say the least. When the green flag waived, TK jumped into the second spot, but a 10-car pile up ensued behind him waiving off the start, and sorting out the field.
The second attempt at the start, saw TK get squeezed up into the wall, causing tire damage, and ultimately saw the yellow waive for him as he spun off turn two with a flat.
Changing tires, TK lined up in the 19th spot for the feature event, and put a show on for the fans as he raced his way to the front as he has done so many times over his career.
In just six laps, Kaeding had worked up six spots, as he ran in the 13th spot as the caution flew.
The next restart saw him take up a ton of ground, as he was able to work his way up to the sixth spot over the next five laps, but an untimely yellow flew on the 10th lap, and he was in eighth after reverting back a lap.
Battling with Brent Kaeding and Jason Statler over the next 10-markers, Kaeding had worked his way up to the fifth spot by the time the yellow waived on lap-20, and all eyes seemed to be on him, as his restarts had been so strong all night long.
The ensuing restart saw TK climb to the third spot as he chased after Bud Kaeding and Jason Meyers but progress was halted on the 23rd lap as the red flag waived.
Another yellow on lap 24 now put the Kaeding brothers on the front row for what would be a final six-lap shootout, and with Bud being on the top-side, he got the advantage and kept Kaeding in the second spot, where he would go on to finish.
“I have to thank the entire Dennis and Teresa Roth team for working hard through a chaotic night,” he said. “We had a little issue on the start that put us to the back, but seeing all that went down over 30-laps, we are happy with second, and happy to be fortunate enough to roll our trailer in the trailer in one piece.”
Tim and his Roth Motorsports team would like to thank Roth Enterprises, HR Livestock Transportation, 3H Cattle, Mobil1, FK Rod Ends, Weld Wheels, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Kent Performance, Kaeding Performance, and Astro Titanium for their support in 2013.
2013 ROTH MOTORSPORTS BY THE NUMBERS: Starts-60, Wins-11, Top 5’s-31, Top 10’s-40.
ON TAP: TK and the Roth Enterprises team will be at the Placerville Speedway on Wednesday night racing with the Civil War Series, before heading to the Silver Dollar Speedway this Friday and Saturday night for the Fall Nationals.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Roth Motorsports by checking out their new website, www.rothmotorsports83.com. You can also follow Tim on Twitter by following @tkaedingracing.