(08/26/17) Petaluma, CA … Bud Kaeding won a high speed game of cat and mouse with Bobby McMahan and went on to score Saturday’s King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series 30-lap headliner at Petaluma Speedway.
Kaeding, piloting the potent Williams Motorsports Alviso Rock Maxim, started on the outside of the front row and shadowed polesitter McMahan’s every move for 19 laps. The two had lots of company leading a freight train that also included DJ Netto, Cory Eliason, and Jason Statler. In fact, the top five battled inches apart for most of the contest.
After making several runs at the leader, Kaeding finally stuck his nose under McMahan in the third corner on the 21st circuit and exited the fourth turn with the point. Once out front, Kaeding took no prisoners and went on to notch his 18th career KWS-NARC victory.
With his second KWS-NARC victory of the season, and first since April 22nd, Kaeding regained the point lead over Gio Scelzi by a slim 749-744 margin. Eliason is one point back with 743. There are three-races remaining on the schedule.
“Bobby wasn’t giving me much room and I knew the pass had to be clean,” said Kaeding. “I finally got him to move up a little and I had a great car to get the job done. I can’t say enough about my team and everything they have done this season.”
Eliason passed Netto on the 13th lap and went on to secure the runner-up spot in the Antaya Motorsports Fuel Curve Maxim. Netto filled out the podium in the Tri-C Machine/Netto Ag sponsored sprint car. Fast qualifier Chase Johnson drove Thomas Family Maxim to a fourth place finish.
McMahan, who survived three caution flag restarts while leading, held on secure a season best fifth place finish in his American Tool & Manufacturing ride.
The rest of the top 10 included Jason Statler, Jake Haulot, Sean Watts, Klint Simpson and Scelzi; the previous point leader. His car broke a tie rod end while lining up for the main event. After repairs, he had to start at the rear of the field.
Heat races were picked off by Simpson, Statler, and Watts. Sean Becker was uninjured when he flipped in a multi-car crash in the Hoosier Tires Dash.
RACE RESULTS:
KWS-NARC Fujitsu Feature Event (30 laps): Bud Kaeding, Cory Eliason, DJ Netto, Chase Johnson, Bobby McMahan, Jason Statler, Jake Haulot, Sean Watts, Klint Simpson, Gio Scelzi, Jarrett Soares, Colby Wiesz, Nathan Rolfe, John Clark, Richard Brace Jr., Jason Paniagua, Eli Deshaies, Stephen Ingraham, Sean Becker
Lap Leaders: McMahan 1-19, Kaeding 20-30
Fast Qualifier (3/8 mile clay oval – 21 cars): Chase Johnson – 12.185 seconds
Heat 1 (10 laps): Clint Simpson, Chase Johnson, Bobby McMahan, Gio Scelzi, Jarrett Soares, Jason Paniagua, Eli Deshaies
Heat 2 (10 laps): Jason Statler, DJ Netto, Cory Eliason, Jake Haulot, Nathan Rolfe, Jenna Frazier
Heat 3 (10 laps): Sean Watts, Sean Becker, Bud Kaeding, Colby Wiesz, John Clark, Richard Brace Jr.
Hoosier Tires Dash (6 laps): Bobby McMahan, Bud Kaeding, DJ Netto, Cory Eliason, Chase Johnson, Jason Statler, Sean Watts, Klint Simpson, Sean Becker