By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – April 22, 2014…After opening the season last week the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo will continue its stretch of five straight weekend’s of action to kick-off the year during round two this Friday night April 25 at the Ocean Speedway.
The night of racing will be part of a double header weekend for Prentice Motorsports Group, with the Civil War Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster competing on Saturday. If a driver can win on Friday with the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo and then turn around to win on Saturday with the Civil War Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster in Petaluma, they will walk away with the “Double Down Blackjack Bonus” presented by Tachi Palace worth $2121.
The bonus money is on top of the normal winners share each night, therefore if a driver sweeps the weekend they would earn $5621 for the two nights of racing. The idea behind the bonus is also to honor the Tarlton family and show as much support as possible during this time. We continue to send our thoughts & prayers to Melissa Tarlton and the whole family.
Opening night winner Brent Kaeding will be gunning to make it back-to-back this Friday night aboard the famed Al’s Roofing Supply No. 69 machine. The National Sprint Car Hall of Famer made an early pass for the lead and never looked back to scoop up yet another Ocean Speedway victory. The two-time Ocean Sprints champion also went on to finish fourth on Saturday with the King of the West 410’s in Placerville. Chico’s Jonathan Allard led early on in the feature last Friday and eventually brought home a runner up finish in the Tri-C Manufacturing No. 3c mount. The three-time KWS champ sits two-markers back of Kaeding for the lead going into Friday.
Veteran Jerry Bonnema had one of the strongest nights of his Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo career last Friday, by earning a third place finish in the main event. The driver of the Corralitos Electric Service No. 58 also qualified third quick to begin the evening and ranks third in the standings. Defending Ocean Sprints champ Brad Furr is currently tied with Lemoore’s Carson Macedo for fourth after night one.
Furr set the Ray Scheidts Electric fast time and accepted the Nobel Construction Back Row Challenge last week, eventually making his way up to 11th by the checkered aboard the Price Rite Restaurant Equipment No. 2 Sprinter. Macedo made his season debut last week and scored a solid fourth in the feature at the helm of the Elite Landscape Construction No. 21x mount.
Former Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo champ Shane Golobic of Fremont finished fifth in the season-opener and stands sixth in the standings, with Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto seventh, last week’s High Five Pizza Hard Charger Award winner Nick Green in eighth, Salinas’ Jeremy Chisum in ninth and brother Jason Chisum, along with Watsonville’s Justin Sanders tied for 10th. Green last week carved his way from 18th to seventh to earn the High Five Pizza Hard Charger Award.
More drivers expected Friday night will include Gilroy’s Kurt Nelson, Hanford’s DJ Netto & Collin Markle, Fresno’s Koen & Kyler Shaw, Laton’s Heath Duinkerken, Visalia’s Steven Tiner, San Jose’s Wayne Katen, San Francisco’s Nick Rescino Jr., Tulare’s Dylan Black, Hollister’s Tomas Bray Scully and others.
The front gate at the Ocean Speedway will open at 4:30pm this Friday night with hot laps at 5:15pm, qualifying around 6pm and racing to follow. All seating will be general admission with adult tickets costing $17, seniors 65 & older $16, children 6-12 $15 and kids five and under free. A family pack featuring two adults and two kids is available for $55. The Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California with the physical address being 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Ocean Speedway & the Ocean Sprints would like to thank Taco Bravo, High Five Pizza, Nobel Construction, Ray Scheidt’s Electric, Beer Optics, B Scadden Designs, Hoosier Tires West and Kaeding Performance for their support.
For more information on the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo log onto http://www.oceansprints.com/ and for more on the Ocean Speedway check out http://www.oceanspeedway.com/