This message was edited on
July 10, 2009 at
05:28:29 PM by Gary Costa
Tarlton, Sanders & Furr First Round Key Qualifiers
By Gary Costa
Watsonville, CA (July 10, 2009) – The first of four Johnny Key Classic Qualifying races was contested for the GLR Investments 360 Sprint Cars on June 26. After a ferocious Round No. 6 battle was complete, Easton's Tommy Tarlton, Prundale's Justin Sanders and Pleasanton's Brad Furr became the first three drivers to earn a berth into the 49th running of the prestigious Johnny Key Classic.
"The last race was great. It just goes to show you how much the race means to the drivers," Ocean Speedway promoter, John Prentice commented. "The Johnny Key means a lot to the racers and me. I'm aware that this race carries a lot of history, and I'm proud to have it held at Ocean Speedway."
Late San Jose Speedway promoter, Bob Barkhimer brought the Johnny Key Classic to life after Key lost his life during an "AAA" sanctioned race in Ohio.
"This is always an exciting time. The drivers run extra hard to make it into the event," he said. "Like I said, it's an absolute honor to host an event for someone such as Johnny Key."
A total of 14 cars are eligible to pre-qualify for the 49th running of the Johnny Key Classic. The final three rounds for pre-qualifying will be held July 17, July 31 and Aug. 14.
"With only 11 spots remaining, and only three qualifying races left, you just know that these guys are going to race each other tooth and nail to get locked in for the event."
Campbell's Brent Kaeding stood tall in victory lane in the '08 version of the Key, by charging from his fourth starting spot.
The Johnny Key Classic will be contested on Saturday, August 29th.
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2009 Johnny Key Classic Format
August 29, 2009
The qualifying and race format will be as follows.
Qualifying
Starting June 26, 2009 and continuing thru August 14, 2009 Drivers will pre-qualify for the Johnny Key Classic. This will be accomplished by taking finishing positions 1, 2, and 3[DRIVERS] in the A-main and "locking" them into a starting spot for the Johnny Key Classic race. After the first night of pre-qualifying the top three (3) DRIVERS in the A-main NOT already pre-qualified will be taken and so on until the final night of pre-qualifying. After August 14, 2009 the top two (2) DRIVERS in GLR Investments 360 Series points that have NOT secured a starting spot in the Key race will be included in the Key race line up.
Race night format
All Drivers will hot lap and take two (2) timed qualifying laps. There will be two (2) six (6) lap dashes consisting of the fourteen (14) Drivers that have pre qualified, seven cars in each dash. The 14 Pre Qualified Drivers will draw a pill for qualifying position and will take two (2) qualify laps, and the starting order of the Dashes will be; Dash # 1, Fastest Qualifier, 3rd, 5th, 7th etc. Dash # 2 will be 2nd Fast Qualifier, 4th, 6th, 8th etc. The finishing order of the first dash will determine the starting spots for inside row. The finishing order of the second dash will determine the outside row starting spots. The B-main cars will lineup as stated below. The fastest ten (10) qualifiers not in the Key will line-up "straight up" with the fastest car on the pole for the B-main, (if 33 or more cars will run a C-Main). The B-main will be 20 laps. The top eight (8) cars in the B-main will transfer to the A-Main, and will line up according to their finishing spot behind Drivers already pre-qualified in the Key race.
Johnny Key Race Laps
The Key race will consist of a total of fifty (50) laps. There will be two (2) twenty-five (25) lap segments. At the conclusion of the first segment the cars will be stopped on the front straight in front of the grandstands. There will be a 12-15 minute intermission in which cars can refuel, change tires, and make whatever adjustments the crews can do on the front straight before teams are signaled to leave the track and cars are pushed off. Cars will be lined up to resume the race in the order in which they finished the first segment.
To participating teams
Please work with us to make this a great event. We know everyone has their own opinion of how things should be done. Unfortunately we can never make everyone happy. So please keep that in mind. Minor adjustment may be made to this as deemed necessary by the track.
For more information, please visit www.OceanSpeedway.com or www.OceanSprints.com
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