HOWARD KAEDING CLASSIC NEXT UP FOR KING OF THE WEST-NARC SPRINT CARS
July 15, 2019
Jim Allen
(July 16, 2019) Jim Allen, Sacramento, CA … The King of the West-NARC 410 winged sprint cars will converge on Ocean Speedway, this Saturday, July 20th for the popular Ninth Annual Howard Kaeding Classic presented by Al’s Roofing. It marks the ninth round of the Fujitsu Racing Series 60th Anniversary campaign and will pay $5000 to the winner of the 30-lap headliner. Overall, there will be more than $30,000 up for grabs.
The event pays tribute to 86-year old racing legend Howard Kaeding, the patriarch of the well-known Campbell, California-based Kaeding family. The elder-statesman is a winner of more than 350 main events over his illustrious Hall of Fame career. That winning tradition and DNA was successfully carried on by 13-time King of the West & Northern Auto Racing Club champion Brent Kaeding, and his sons Bud and Tim.
The HK Classic also serves as a fundraiser for the NARC Benevolent Fund, a non-profit that helps injured racers and their families in times of need. After Friday night’s Civil War event (night one of the Howard Kaeding Classic), there will be an after-race party at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. A $20 donation to the fund allows entry and free food and drink.
On Saturday, Howard Kaeding will host race fans and teams at his annual BBQ luncheon. A $20 donation per person is requested at the event which kicks off at 1:0o pm, with all proceeds benefiting the fund. The lunch is being catered by Catering by Five.
“Our one goal at the HK Classic is to make sure that race fans have a fantastic time all weekend,” said 2017 King of the West-NARC champion Bud Kaeding, who spearheads many of the promotional aspects of his grandfathers event. “We want fans not only to come to watch their favorite drivers in action, but to also hang out with them and raise some money for a good cause.”
The competition at the quarter-mile dirt oval is expected to be fast and furious. The King of the West-NARC series has already produced six different winners so far this season. Adding his name to the list was Penngrove’s Chase Johnson, who claimed Saturday’s event at Petaluma Speedway. Other winners include Dominic Scelzi of Fresno (KCRP & Watsonville), Aromas Justin Sanders (Chico and Placerville), Atwater’s Sean Watts (Stockton), Colby Copeland of Roseville (Petaluma) and Rico Abreu of Rutherford (Tulare).
The championship points chase is also creating a buzz with Hollister’s Ryan Bernal locked in a pressure-packed battle with DJ Netto of Hanford. Bernal, the third different points leader this season, leads Netto by just a single marker (897-896). Scelzi is also within striking distance as is Roseville’s Willie Croft.
Other’s expected to compete include Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign; Nathan Rolfe of Atwater; Chico’s Kenny Allen, Mitchell Faccinto of Hanford; Sacramento’s Jenna Frazier; Tracy’s Kyle Offill; Jason Statler of Grass Valley; Benicia’s Bill Aton and many others.
There will also be a special four-lap $1900 Williams Roofing dash for cash featuring points chasers on the tour. The winner will pocket $1000 for less than a minutes worth of work. That dash currently includes Allen, Ensign, and Watts. A pill draw will determine the other participant.
The King of the West-NARC racing program includes qualifying, four 10-lap heat races, the six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon dash, a 12-lap last chance qualifier and the 30-lap main event.
Ocean Speedway is located at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds in Watsonville, CA. Front gates open at 4:30 p.m. Qualifying gets underway at 6:00 p.m.
Also on the racing program is IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stock and South Bay Dwarf Cars.. Pit gates open at 2:00 p.m.