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Brent Kaeding becomes first repeat winner of 2007
By Gary Thomas
Antioch, CA - April 8, 2007... Campbell’s Brent Kaeding became the first repeat winner of the 2007 season on Saturday night at the Antioch Speedway in Antioch, CA. It continued the recent string of success for the 12-time King of California at the track, which includes a sweep of the two GSC events at the 1/4 mile in 2004.
Kaeding started third on the grid and got a great run on the third attempted double file start of the 30 lap feature to shoot to second, behind leader and pole sitter Ronnie Day of Salinas. Day was looking for his first win with the Golden State Challenge Series since 2005, but Kaeding had different thoughts. Around lap seven, Kaeding sliced underneath Day to take the lead that he would never relinquish. BK had to deal with traffic, but ran solidly right on the bottom of the speedway that had become dusty, dry and virtually one lane. The tricky track conditions had some of the competitors running in the infield to try and find all the traction they could. Kaeding never faltered and drove on to record his 72nd career GSC win in the Al’s Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance, Selco Heating & Air No. 69. Kaeding also won a 360 sprint car event Friday night in Watsonville, so that makes it three wins in a row for BK dating back to his win last Saturday in Tulare.
Oroville’s Sean Becker continued to be on fire and drove from the fourth row to finish runner-up in Antioch. The driver of the Fisher/Main Motorsports, Cherry St. Mini Storage, Rolling Hills Realty No. 35m made some beautiful inside moves to record his fourth consecutive podium finish in Golden State Challenge competition. Becker was coming off a night in Chico where engine issues put him out of the race while leading. The 2005 King of California continues to lead the GSC point standings and has had an ultra impressive start to the ‘07 season.
Fairmont, Indiana’s Brandon Wimmer came from deep in the field after going to the back and finished in third place. On the second attempted start of the feature, Wimmer and Vacaville’s Joey Magaruh made contact which flattened Wimmer’s right rear tire. His crew got the tire changed and Wimmer proceeded to charge back through the field in the Redi-Green, ARB Inc, Pam Kumar Real Estate No. 1k. Wimmer was one of the lone drivers able to make the outside of the speedway work and he blasted around several competitors late in the race when they got jammed up on the inside of the track.
Day faded to fourth late in the race in the Ridgeline Framing, Elite Racing, Primerica Financial No. 1. It was still a good rebound though for the 2000 King of California following a 12th place finish in Tulare last Saturday. Rounding out the top five was defending King of California Jonathan Allard of Chico. Allard started from the outside of the front row and fell back, but it was his first top five with GSC since opening weekend.
Completing the top 10 was the Tom Rolfe Trucking No.10 of Jason Statler, the GP Development No. 6 of Brad Sweet, the Skinner Motorsports No. 73 of Jim Skinner, the Wright One Construction No. 35 of Bud Kaeding and the Holy Smokes BBQ No. 29 of Willie Croft.
Leading all 12 laps and winning the B-main for the second week in a row was Skinner. The dash was captured by Day and the three ten lap heats were won by Jason Botsford, Jonathan Allard and veteran Pat Harvey. Fast time was set by Wimmer at an 11.855.
Full results are available at http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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