By Gary Thomas
Petaluma, CA – May 6, 2014…The King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series is geared up for round number four on the season this Saturday at the Petaluma Speedway, where defending KWS champ Kyle Hirst goes into the night holding a 33-point advantage over his nearest competitor in the standings.
The Petaluma Speedway had been a staple on the Northern Auto Racing Club/ Golden State 410 Series schedule over the years, but a multiple-season hiatus from the track occurred from the late 1990’s to 2004.
In 2005 the Golden State 410 Series returned to Petaluma and ran each season through 2010, until another hiatus was seen, before the King of the West 410’s returned last year. In total there have been 12 Winged 410 Sprint Car events held at Petaluma Speedway since 2005.
After winning the King of the West championship last season, Hirst has come out of the box extremely solid once again, earning a pair of runner up finishes and a fifth in the three events held so far this year aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83jr. He’s also in search this season to become the first back to back titlist since Brent Kaeding in the mid-1990’s and a win on Saturday would be great way to help build his lead even further.
Continuing his first campaign aboard the Williams Motorsports No. 0 Sprinter, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding goes into Petaluma Speedway sitting second in the KWS standings. The three-time USAC Silver Crown champ picked up a King of the West 410 win at Petaluma in 2008 and will be gunning to do so once again on Saturday. Kaeding earned a podium finish at the opener in Tulare.
Ranking third in the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series standings and just four-markers back of Bud is his father Brent Kaeding. The 13-time series champion & National Sprint Car Hall of Famer finished eighth at last week’s Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and will be shooting for victory at Petaluma on Saturday in the famed Al’s Roofing Supply No. 69.
Last year’s King of the West winner at Petaluma Speedway, Willie Croft of Sacramento, goes into the track on Saturday holding onto the fourth spot in the standings. The driver known as “Double Down” is fresh off a strong third place finish at last week’s Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and has shown lots of speed so far in this early season at the helm of the Holey Smokes BBQ No. 29 mount.
Rounding out the top-five in the King of the West 410 points is Fremont’s Shane Golobic, who is following the tour full-time this season in the Joe VonSchriltz No. 121 machine. Golobic in his career has three Civil War Series wins at the Petaluma Speedway, in addition to a 101-lap Soares Classic Midget victory and a Wingless 360 triumph at the 3/8 mile clay oval.
Multiple-time Petaluma Speedway winner Sean Becker ranks sixth in the KWS standings coming into Saturday. The “Shark” has won two King of the West 410 events at the track to go along with five Civil War Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster victories in Petaluma. Completing the top-10 in the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series points going into round four are Fresno’s Craig Stidham, past KWS Petaluma Speedway winner Jason Statler of Grass Valley, Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi and five-time Petaluma KWS winner Jonathan Allard of Chico. Allard has been the most successful driver with the series at the track over the last 10-years.
Other drivers expected to tackle the Petaluma Speedway on Saturday will include Elk Grove’s Bobby & Sean McMahan, Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs, Hanford’s DJ Netto, Roseville’s Colby Copeland, Princeton’s Mason Moore, Penngrove’s Chase Joshnson, Gilroy’s Jarrett Soares, Auburn’s Richard Brace Jr, Fair Oak’s Chad Compton, Grass Valley’s Pat Harvey and more.
The front gate at the Petaluma Speedway will open at 4pm on Saturday May 10 with racing anticipated to get underway around 7pm. Adult tickets cost $20, with it being $15 for seniors/juniors. The pit gate will open at noon for competitors. The 3/8 mile clay oval has been a welcomed stop over the years for teams with the Golden State/ King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series. The tacky and hooked-up speedway has often produced exciting competition, as lapped traffic can create some of the most hectic racing towards the front of the field of any track on tour.
The Petaluma Speedway is located in the southern part of the wine country at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds just off Highway 101 in Petaluma, California. Fans are recommended to bring a jacket and warm clothes if you have never been to the Petaluma Speedway, as temperatures usually do chill off once the sun goes down. More info on the track can be found at http://www.petaluma-speedway.
The all-time 410 track record at Petaluma Speedway is held by 2009 Golden State/ KWS titlist Tyler Walker, who set the mark on August 1 of his championship year. “T-Dub” toured the 3/8 mile oval for the track record in 11.990 seconds aboard the Scott Chastain owned NMI Industrial Contractors No. 24 machine.
Info on the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series can be found at http://www.kwssprints.com
Be sure to like the KWS Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/
Upcoming events after Petaluma May 10
Saturday May 17: Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
Friday June 6: Silver Dollar Speedway (David Tarter Memorial)
Saturday June 7: Marysville Raceway Park
Saturday June 14: Kings Speedway (Pombo/Sargent Classic)