(7/17/18, Jim Allen) … The high-powered winged sprint cars of the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series will be battling wheel-to-wheel for more than $30,000 in prize money and product awards on Saturday, July 21st at the highly-anticipated Eighth Annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway.
The event is the second night of a huge two-day show at Ocean Speedway and is presented by Al’s Roofing Supply and Hydrochem PSC. The 360 sprint cars of the Civil War Series will be racing on the opening night (Friday, July 20th).
The weekend of racing, which pays $5000 to the winner of Saturday’s big 30-lap main event, honors 85-year old racing legend Howard Kaeding of Campbell. Kaeding is the patriarch of the famous Kaeding racing family and a winner of more than 350 races in a career that spanned more than four decades.
“It’s an honor to help organize this event every year to honor my grandfather,” said Bud Kaeding, who is the defending King of the West-NARC champion. “None of us in our family would be in this business if it wasn’t for him and without racing, I’m not sure what we would be doing right now.”
“Even if I wasn’t related, Howard deserves to be acknowledged as a true racing legend that he is,” continued Kaeding, “because some of his accomplishments border on just downright crazy. It’s safe to say that most of them will never be repeated in open wheel racing ever again.”
Kaeding is referring to the fact that Howard once captured 23 main events in a row, all starting from the back row of the line-up, in a day when racing formats were completely different. In addition, he won 121 main events at the now-defunct San Jose Speedway, multiple championships and enough racing lore to last an eternity.
“The best thing about this show is that all of the 410 drivers really step up their game in an attempt to win it,” Kaeding said. “Everyone is looking to get their name inscribed on the perpetual trophy to lock down their place in racing history. They all know that the Howard Kaeding Classic is current history honoring past history.”
Other activities surrounding the event include a beer and pizza party after Friday night’s races. On Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., there will be the Howard Kaeding Classic Luncheon at the fairgrounds. Food and beverages will be provided by Catering by Five and a $20 donation to the NARC Benevolent Fund is requested. Open wheel racing fans will get a chance to hang out with Howard Kaeding and most of the drivers competing this weekend. Camping is also available.
Leading a stellar field into Watsonville will be Kyle Hirst of Paradise, the current King of the West-NARC championship point leader. Hirst captured the King of the West Howard Kaeding titles in 2015 and 2016 and is five-time winner this season. In addition to Bud Kaeding, and brother Tim Kaeding, 13-time King of the West and Northern Auto Racing Club champion Brent Kaeding will be competing.
Also making the trip is Shane Golobic of Elk Grove, last Saturday’s feature winner at Petaluma. Other competitors include Chase Johnson of Penngrove; Atwater drivers Nathan Rolfe and Sean Watts; Colby Copeland from Roseville; Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto and DJ Netto; Bobby McMahan from Elk Grove; Discovery Bay’s Jarrett Soares; Minden, NV driver Tanner Thorson; rookie of the year candidates Dustin Golobic of Fremont and Sacramento’s Jenna Frazier; and many more!
An international flair will be provided by Australian drivers Matt & Marcus Dumesny.
The sprint car racing program will include four 10-lap heat races, a six-lap trophy dash, a 12-lap Last Chance Race and the 30-lap Fujitsu headliner.
Ocean Speedway is located at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. Pit Gates open at 1:00 p.m. Front gates open at 3:30 p.m. Qualifying gets underway at 5:00 p.m. Also on the racing program is IMCA Modified’s, and IMCA SportMod’s.
Previous Winners of the Howard Kaeding Classic
2011
Night One: Tommy Tarlton – King of the West
Night Two: Evan Suggs – King of the West
2012
Night One: Brent Kaeding – USAC
Night Two: Jonathan Allard – King of the West
2013
Night One: Bud Kaeding – USAC
Night Two: Jonathan Allard – King of the West
2014
Night One: Brad Furr – Civil War
Night Two: Bud Kaeding – King of the West
2015
Night One: Justin Sanders – Civil War
Night Two: Kyle Hirst – King of the West
2016
Night One: Kyle Hirst – Civil War
Night Two: Kyle Hirst – King of the West
2017
Night One: Kyle Hirst – Civil War
Night Two: Buddy Kofoid – King of the West-NARC
2018 KWS-NARC FUJITSU SERIES POINT STANDINGS
(After 11 events in 16-race Series – 07/17/18)
- Kyle Hirst, Paradise (5) 1023
- Shane Golobic, Fremont (3) 986
- Bud Kaeding, Campbell (1) 956
- Chase Johnson, Penngrove 922
- Colby Copeland, Roseville 888
- Dustin Golobic, Fremont ® 869
- Willie Croft, Roseville (1) 861
- Nathan Rolfe, Atwater 789
- Jenna Frazier, Sacramento ® 777
- DJ Netto, Hanford 731
- Jarrett Soares, Discovery Bay 651
- Jason Statler, Grass Valley 635
- Bobby McMahan, Elk Grove 605
- Sean Watts, Atwater 599
- Tanner Thorson, Minden NV 592
- Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford 498
- Mathew Moles, Fresno 460
- Richard Brace Jr., Auburn 439
- Matt Dumesny, Sydney, Australia 384
- Mark Barraso, Merced 354
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Hydrochem PSC. Associate and contingency award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Butler Built, FK Rod Ends, Flowmaster, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, The Cushion, Ultra Light Brakes, Weld Racing Wheels, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Williams Roofing, Winters Performance Products and Croft Racing.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 30th – Placerville Speedway, Placerville, CA – Fujitsu Summer Nationals
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
TheCushion.com – Video on Demand – this event will be available on PPV