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Kaeding Dodges Brownsburg Bullet
Friday, 09 February 2007
BARBERVILLE, FL (2-8-07) The pits at Volusia Speedway Park were packed
once again for night #3 of the 36th Annual DIRTcar Nationals presented by
Mopar Speedshops. 57 cars signed in to compete for the $7000 O’Reilly All Star
Circuit of Champions prize money, but 3 scratched before qualifying and 54
drivers would make up the field for the evening.
It was Tim Kaeding who would net the big money as he drove the high line to
chase down Joey Saldana to put on a show for the large crowd that came out to
enjoy the festivities. Fred Rahmer and Brad Sweet lined up on the front row and
Rahmer jumped out to the lead and pulled away from the rest of the field only to
have that lead nixed by a caution on lap 3 for Danny Lasoski who slowed on the
backstretch.
On the restart Rahmer led over Sweet, Joey Saldana, and Tim Kaeding. Saldana
got around Sweet and challenged Rahmer for the lead as they battled side by
side for several laps until Saldana took the lead on lap 9. Saldana looked like he
would run away with the race like he had done two nights earlier, but Kaeding
had other plans. Kaeding hounded Rahmer for 2nd place until he finally took
over the spot on lap 21 but he would not settle for a second place finish.
Saldana entered heavy lapped traffic and had trouble negotiating the back
markers as Kaeding gained on him and pulled along side him with just 5 laps to
go in the 30 lap affair. Kaeding then took the lead on lap 26 as Saldana tried to
dive back under him as they nearly got together in turn two. The caution would fly
once again on lap 27 for Brian Paulus who slowed to a stop in turn 4.
On the restart Kaeding led over Saldana, Rahmer, and Steve Kinser. Kaeding
again jumped out to the lead with Saldana in tow as Kinser hunted down Rahmer
for 3rd. Kaeding and Saldana thrilled the crowd as Kaeding crossed the line just
a fraction of a second ahead of Saldana as Kinser lost a left rear tire coming out
of turn 4 and nearly turned over. He did not cross the finish line.
“Every time you go out and win, it’s like the first time you won a race,” said
Kaeding. “You just have to take it and run with it, because you don’t know when
the next one will come. It was unbelievable. I think we dropped a cylinder with
about five to go,” Kaeding continued. “We just prayed it would stay together for
the last four or five laps there and it did. I just have to thank my crew, and
everybody that is helping out, especially Steve Kinser Racing. They have given
me the opportunity of a lifetime. That is why Steve hired me, to go out and win for
him. I’m just going to do what I can all year long and have fun.”
Saldana did not seem satisfied with his runner up finish. “Lapped cars were not
going very well for me,” said Saldana. “That helped Tim close in on us. I just wasn’
t getting through lapped traffic well enough. We’ll just come back tomorrow and
see what we can do.”
Rahmer was able to hold on to third as hard charging Jac Haudenschild finished
4th and Terry McCarl rounded out the Top 5.
The Crown Battery Heat Race #1 was won by Chad Kemenah who had the
Premier Motorsports #70 hooked up on the fast ½ mile. Paul McMahan won the
B&B Oval track Products Heat Race #2. Randy Hannagan won the Engler
Machine heat Race #3. The Taylor Wings Heat Race #3 was won by Greg
Hodnett.
The Outerwears Pre-Filters C-main started out with All Star Rookie of the Year
contender Tiffany Wyzard getting into the turn one fence after contact with Craig
Mintz who is also competing for Rookie honors with the series. TJ Winegardner
led the event but something broke with 4 laps to go dropping him out of the race
and allowing Danny Smith to snag the final transfer spot behind Ed Neumeister,
Robbie Vaughn, and Brian Ellenberger.
The University of Northwest Ohio B-main went green to checker with 12 laps of
fast and furious action. Cody Darrah held off several challenges by Jac
Haudenshild who started on the second row and charged to the front on the high
side just inches from the wall showing the fans how he earned the nickname “The
Wild Child”. Tony Bruce Jr. crossed the line third as Lucas Wolfe held off Zach
Chappel for the final transfer position.
For more information on the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions visit www.
allstarsprints.com .
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