By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – July 6, 2015…After a couple weeks of being idle the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo will return to action in a big way this Friday night to help kick-off the fifth annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway. The special showcase also features the traveling Civil War Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster, making for a huge night of Winged 360 Sprint Car racing at the quarter-mile.
Howard Kaeding was a multiple-time California state super-modified champion, a four-time Johnny Key Classic winner and once captured a record 17-straight races at the San Jose Speedway. The driver known as the “Campbell Comet” claimed over 300 main event victories in his career and even raced into his 60’s, before retiring in the 1990’s. The HK Classic has been a great weekend of re-living memories from the past and will certainly be so once again in 2015.
Camping for the weekend will be allowed on the grass area near & behind the grandstands at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Hook ups cost $40 with dry camping $20. Money will be collected by the fairgrounds.
Tickets for Friday night’s Civil War 360 Series vs Ocean Sprints event will be $20 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, children five & under free. The front gate will open at 4pm with hot laps at 5:45pm, qualifying around 6pm and racing to follow. The pit gate will open at 2pm. Tickets for Saturday’s King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series & Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprints event will be $25 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, children five & under free. Everything on Saturday starts an hour earlier. Front gate opens at 3pm on Saturday, with pit booth opening around noon.
Over the years at Ocean Speedway the Ocean Sprints vs Civil War Series events have been must see outings, with large and deep fields on hand each time. Watsonville’s own Justin Sanders sits atop the standings with both groups and leads the pack into the big night on Friday. So far this year he has claimed four wins with the Ocean Sprints, but is still in search of his first with Civil War. Competing at his home track may be just what the doctor ordered for that to happen. Overall this year Sanders has captured eight main event victories.
Stockton’s Brad Furr is the defending Friday night winner of the HK Classic and goes into this week ranking second in the Ocean Sprints standings. Furr has claimed one victory thus far in 2015. Fremont’s Shane Golobic has missed one event so far this season, but still sits third in points and has been one of the hottest drivers as of late. The reigning Ocean Sprints & Civil War Series champion has two wins in Watsonville this year and one with Civil War. Salinas brother’s Jeremy & Jason Chisum round out the top-five going into Friday night.
More Ocean Sprints drivers expected to be on hand will include Easton’s Tommy Tarlton, Fremont’s Dustin Golobic, Gilroy’s Kurt Nelson, Fresno’s Koen Shaw, Morgan Hills Nicholas & Nick Ringo Jr, Corralitos’ Jerry Bonnema, Tracy’s Austin Liggett, Hayward’s Danny Malfatti, Gilroy’s Ken Frendburg, Fremont’s Anthony Espinosa, Fresno’s Anthony Simone and others.
A full field of Civil War & King of the West Series regulars are expected to tackle the Ocean Speedway as well on Friday, including Pombo/Sargent Classic winner DJ Netto of Hanford, Campbell’s Bud & Brent Kaeding, Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, Chico’s Jonathan Allard & Kyle Hirst, Sebastopol’s Bradley Terrell, Lemoore’s Carson Macedo, Grass Valley’s Jason Statler, British Columbia’s Robbie Price, Fresno’s Craig Stidham, Roseville’s Colby Copeland, Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs, Hollister’s Ryan Bernal, Coarsegold’s Scott Parker and more.
The week begins on Wednesday night July 8, with the 2nd annual HK Classic Car Show & BBQ at High Five Pizza located at the Silver Creek Sports Plex in San Jose. Various drivers, hot rods and race cars will be on hand at the get-together that runs from 5pm-9pm. Tickets for the weekend will be on sale at the car show for fans to avoid lines come race day.
There will be a delicious BBQ dinner from 6pm-8pm for donation, with proceeds going to the Silver Creek Sports Plex Foundation, which aims to ensure that every child, regardless of financial ability, is able to participate in local amateur athletic training and competition. Please come out and enjoy a fun night with some great food, all put on for a good cause. High Five at the Plex is located at 800 Embedded Way in San Jose, CA 95138.
Following Friday nights races High Five Pizza will be putting on a post-race party at the track with appetizers, drinks and a lot of fun to be had. On Saturday afternoon the annual HK Classic Luncheon takes place, which kicks-off the final night’s action. Both events are held to support the Northern Auto Racing Club Benevolent Fund. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. The Post Race Party & Luncheon will both be held in the Big White Tent off turn four.
The HK Classic luncheon hosted by Catering by 5 on Saturday at the track will feature an excellent lunch for a $20 donation to the NARC Benevolent Fund. Howard, Brent & Bud Kaeding, along with other drivers will all be available for photos and autographs at the luncheon. Easy access is available to enter from both the pit area and the campgrounds. All race teams & fans are encouraged to come enjoy a great lunch prepared by Myles & the crew at Catering by 5.
The NARC Benevolent Fund uses 100% of the funds raised to support the families of injured drivers, crew members and officials running Sprint Car Series’ in California. Various beneficiaries of the fund over the last 10-years include Dennis Moore Jr., Billy Sellers, Danny Faria Jr., the family of Alan Urias, Randy Hannagan, Tom Milne, Brad Bumgarner, the family of David Tarter and Peter Murphy.
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, Ray Scheidts Electric, Beer Optics, Hoosier Tires West, Flowmaster and Kaeding Performance for their support. For more information on the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo log onto www.racepmg.com