By Gary Thomas
San Jose’s Tim Kaeding is scheduled to pull double duty this Saturday at the Stockton Dirt Track aboard Rod Tiner’s always potent No. 83SA machine. The two-time King of the West Series champ brought home a runner up finish to Kyle Larson during the inaugural event at the track last season and also won the 360 portion of the Tribute to GP in November.
Kaeding raced to a King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series victory on June 7 of this season at Marysville Raceway Park, that night driving for Paul Silva. It marked the 64th win of his career with the tour, which ranks second all-time to his father Brent Kaeding.
TK also claimed the Tribute to Gary Patterson with the series in 2008, while the event was held at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. As a car owner, Rodney Tiner captured the event in 1997 with his brother Randy Tiner at the helm of his familiar 83.
There is also currently $5500 on the line for the dashes that will be held on Saturday with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series & Civil War Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster. Thanks to Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats, Reeves Sand & Gravel, Panella Racing Engines, Don from Modesto Steel & Nascimento Motorsports for their support.
Will Call opens & Ticket Sales begin at 2pm on Saturday at the Stockton Dirt Track, with the front gate opening at 4pm. There will also be a car show and live band during the day from noon to 4pm behind the grandstands, so make plans to arrive early and enjoy the festivities with us.
To pre-buy your tickets for Saturday contact (916) 370-9417 and to view a seating chart log onto http://stocktondirttrack.com/ to find the seats you want.
Premium reserved grandstand seats cost $30 for all ages, with general admission lower bleacher seats being $20 for ages 13 and up. Kids 6-12 in the lower bleacher seats cost $10 and 5 & under FREE. Box seats in sets of six will be sold for $180 and sets of eight for $240. There will also be a $3 convenience fee for each presale ticket purchased.
Known as the “Dancing Phantom from Stockton,” the “Preacher,” the “Hostile Hippie” or just simply “GP,” Gary Patterson was one of the most colorful characters of his time and captured a number of major wins in his career, including the Gold Cup Race of Champions, the Super Dirt Cup in Washington and the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ascot Park among others.
Patterson lost his life in a Sprint Car crash at Calistoga Speedway on Memorial Day weekend 1983 and an event in his memory has been held every year since. “GP” moved to Stockton, California in 1957 and actually began his career at the Stockton 99 Speedway. This season will be the second time we’ve paid Tribute to Gary Patterson at the Stockton Dirt Track.
The physical address for the Stockton Dirt Track is 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For information on the speedway visit http://www.stocktondirttrack.