STOCKTON, Calif. — Tim Kaeding won the California Speedweeks finale and the four-race series championship Saturday night at the Stockton Dirt Track.
Kaeding won the 30-lap NARC-King of the West Series main event aboard Rod Tiner’s No. 83sa car, besting Shane Golobic and D.J. Netto.
Kaeding took home the $10,000 top prize in addition to another $2,000 championship award. He won two of the four nights of racing, having also scored a win at the Silver Dollar Speedway on Thursday night.
“I want to thank Rod Tiner (car owner) for giving me an opportunity of a life time,” said Kaeding in his victory lane interview.
Kyle Larson who returned to his sprint car roots, driving all four nights for noted crew chief Paul Silva, picked up the fourth spot while pole sitter Dominic Scelzi rounded out the top five.
Scelzi by virtue of winning the Pole Scuffle, started up front in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. Scelzi would lead until the first caution period slowdown for a Sean Watts spin in the second turn. Kaeding would pass Scelzi in the first turn to take the front spot on lap 10.
A caution on lap 13 for Cole Macedo who spun off the second turn banking would slow the race again. Chase Johnson would go to the work area in the pits and return for the restart. However, Johnson would cause the next caution when he stopped off the track in turn 2 before a lap could be completed.
With Kaeding leading followed by Scelzi, a fast moving Golobic would move into the third spot. With 10 laps to go, it was apparent that one of those three cars would win the race. Golobic would get close to Scelzi and pass him on lap 23. His blue No. 17w NOZ Energy Drink car would move within three car lengths of leader Kaeding and the pressure was on.
The red flag would stop the race on lap 26 when Kaeding bumped the lapped car of Jace VanderWeed, sending him over on his side, ending his night. During the stoppage, there was a small fire on Tim Estenson’s car that was quickly put out.
With only four laps left and an open track, Kaeding had no problem holding off Gobolic. But it was Netto who would advance after a strong battle with Larson.
The finish:
Tim Kaeding, Shane Golobic, D.J. Netto, Kyle Larson, Dominic Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Mitchell Faccinto, Bud Kaeding, Willie Croft, Ryan Bernal, Colby Copeland, Geoff Ensign, Sean Watts, Nathan Rolfe, Tim Estenson, Michael Sellers, Jace VanderWeed, Cole Macedo, Chase Johnson, Jason Statler, Kenny Allen, Jonathan Allard, Jenna Frazier