Kaeding Victorious Under Bright Lights of Vegas
A last-minute decision to head to ‘Sin City’ pays off for reigning King of California
LAS VEGAS — March 8, 2012 — The way Tim Kaeding celebrated, it was as if he hit the jackpot.
In a way, he did. The Californian outlasted a furious battle with Jason Sides and an onslaught of cautions to claim the $10,000 World of Outlaws victory at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on a windy Thursday night.
It was his seventh career World of Outlaws feature win and his first since April 24, 2009, at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. And Kaeding celebrated in style.
With fists pumping and several shouts, Kaeding drew a loud cheer from the packed crowd when he hopped out of his car on the fronstretch, hugged almost anyone in sight and climbed on the back of the high-powered race car with his arms held high.
“We weren’t even expecting to come here,” the reigning King of California said. “About a week and a half ago we made the decision to come.
“It’s a hard-fought battle when you can start up front and stay up front with the Outlaws. They’re definitely fast on the half miles. Tonight we just got lucky. We just went out, had a lot of fun and enjoyed ourselves.”
Kaeding qualified sixth quickest and finished second in his heat race to earn a spot in the dash. The invert for the dash was “six”, giving Kaeding the pole. He led all six laps to earn the pole for the feature, which he then commanded for all but two of the 30 laps.
The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Statistical Report; Las Vegas, Nev.; March 8, 2012
A Main (30 Laps) – 1. 83JR-Tim Kaeding [1] [$10,000]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides [10] [$5,500]; 3. 11-Steve Kinser [14] [$3,200]; 4. 63-Chad Kemenah [5] [$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [21] [$2,500]; 6. 1-Sammy Swindell [7] [$2,300]; 7. 14-Jason Meyers [4] [$2,200]; 8. 14S-Tony Stewart [12] [$2,100]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz [16] [$2,050]; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8] [$2,000]; 11. 41-Jason Johnson [19] [$1,500]; 12. 9-Joey Saldana [3] [$1,200]; 13. 29-Kerry Madsen [9] [$1,100]; 14. 7-Craig Dollansky [6] [$1,050]; 15. 33V-Henry Vandam [22] [$1,000]; 16. 26-Sam Hafertepe Jr [11] [$900]; 17. 55-Trey Starks [17] [$800]; 18. 24-Terry McCarl [18] [$800]; 19. 89-Rico Abreu [23] [$800]; 20. 6-Bill Rose [15] [$800]; 21. 4-Cody Darrah [13] [$800]; 22. 19-Tyler Wolf [24] [$800]; 23. 44W-Austen Wheatley [20] [$800]; 24. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [2] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Tim Kaeding 1-6, 9-30; Chad Kemenah 7-8. Hard Charger Award: 21-Brian Brown [+16].
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Saldana Celebrates in Perris
He picks up first win of season at NAPA Know How SoCal Showdown
PERRIS, Calif. — March 10, 2012 — After celebrating with his hands in the air as he propped himself on the back of his sprint car, Joey Saldana pulled off his helmet to reveal messy hair, a dirty face and a look of exhaustion.
“I think I’m more mentally worn out,” he said with a smile. “Physically I feel great.”
Saldana led all 30 laps by riding the cushion around the top of Perris Auto Speedway to claim the NAPA Know How SoCal Showdown, which was the first World of Outlaws race at the fast half-mile oval since 2007.
“You don’t get these opportunities very often and getting your first one out of the way early in the season is a big asset to the whole season,” said Saldana, who became the fifth different winner in five World of Outlaws main events this season.
NAPA Know How SoCal Showdown Statistical Report; Perris Auto Speedway; Perris, Calif.; March 10, 2012
A Main – (40 Laps) – 1. 9-Joey Saldana [1] [$10,000]; 2. 14-Jason Meyers [2] [$5,500]; 3. 11-Steve Kinser [7] [$3,200]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5] [$2,800]; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen [3] [$2,500]; 6. 83JR-Tim Kaeding [8] [$2,300]; 7. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [4] [$2,200]; 8. 1-Sammy Swindell [19] [$2,100]; 9. 63-Chad Kemenah [6] [$2,050]; 10. 26-Sam Hafertepe Jr [18] [$2,000]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [22] [$1,500]; 12. 21-Brian Brown [10] [$1,200]; 13. 4-Cody Darrah [9] [$1,100]; 14. O-Jonathan Allard [16] [$1,050]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz [17] [$1,000]; 16. 89-Rico Abreu [15] [$900]; 17. 33E-Evan Suggs [13] [$800]; 18. 24-Terry McCarl [24] [$800]; 19. 55-Trey Starks [21] [$800]; 20. 83SR-Jac Haudenschild [20] [$800]; 21. 44W-Austen Wheatley [23] [$800]; 22. 7-Craig Dollansky [14] [$800]; 23. 25-Bobby McMahan [11] [$800]; 24. 6-Bill Rose [12] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Joey Saldana 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 1-Sammy Swindell [+11].