This message was edited on
June 22, 2009 at
03:59:40 PM by Gary Costa
The Cool Coast Heats Up With Hot GLR Investments Points Battle
By Gary Costa
Watsonville, CA – June 22, 2009….The exciting 13 race GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series shifts into high-gear for Round No. 6 action this Friday at John Prentice's well groomed ¼-mile speedway. The event will also be the first of four qualifying races for the 49th Annual Johnny Key Classic that will be contested on August 29th.
The last race held at the speedway June 5th, became one for the ages as Morgan Hill's Ricky Wright, Jr. captured a truly inspiring and entertaining 30-lap Winged Sprint Car feature event in Round No. 5. The race was packed full of drama and jaw dropping action in the electrifying event.
"That was a great race and the fans were so involved in it. To have GLR Investments come aboard as the Sprint Car title sponsor has just been fantastic," Ocean Speedway promoter, John Prentice said. "I just want to put on a great show for all of the fans, drivers, car owners, and all of our track sponsors. It does bring a big smile to my face when I see them happy. My goal is for everybody to have a great time when they visit Ocean Speedway."
Wright, Jr became the fifth different winner in five events contested with Campbell's Brent Kaeding winning the opening round; Grass Valley's Jason Statler taking Round No. 2, Prundale's Justin Sanders garnered Round No. 3; Easton's Tommy Tarlton was victorious in Round No. 4.
In addition to having five different race winners in five events, amazingly, there have also been five different drivers that have posted fast time: Ricky Wright, Jr, Evan Suggs, Brent Kaeding, Bud Kaeding and Craig Smith.
Going into Round No. 5, Evan Suggs would be the point's leader in the Suggs Racing No. 33E. The crafty Suggs qualified third, then got up on the wheel in his heat race and won the event going away from his fourth starting spot. Suggs was moving up nicely in the 30-lap feature throwing himself into heated action with the front runners when he and another car came together putting Suggs' 33E upside-down. He would rejoin the field eventually finishing 12th.
Brent Kaeding who was subbing for son Bud in the co-owned Mike Sala/Brian Matherly Kaeding Performance No. 19 is currently tied with Suggs for the point's lead. After a dismal qualifying time, the Hall of Famer started 11th on the grid and showed all in attendance why he is a 13-time King of California champion. He began his charge through the field, chasing Wright, Jr. to the checkered flag. BK is coming off of a fourth place finish at the Dirt Cup in Skagit, Washington and again be at the helm of the potent No. 19.
16-year-old phenom Justin Sanders sits in third in the Sanders Motorsports No. 17. The Round No. 3 winner sits a mere 9 points out from the leaders. The capable Sanders finished sixth in his last GLR Investments venture. The young shoe has been impressive in all events thus far, and lies heavily on the gas each and every time that he hits the Ocean Speedway clay.
Veteran Brad Furr is climbing up the ladder in the point standing's in the Furr Motorsports No. 2. Furr knows what it takes to get it done on the racetrack as has put World of Outlaw's feature event winner trophies on his mantle. Furr is only 19 away from the leaders and has his eyes set on Sanders who is only nine points ahead of him. Furr finished fourth after a tremendous charge to the front in his last GLR Investments race.
Tommy Tarlton sits fifth in the point standings coming into the event. He is only one point away from Furr and 20 points out from the leaders. The Round No. 4 winner has had some tough luck, but remains solid in the standings. Tarlton finished seventh in the last event in the Tarlton & Son, Inc. No. 21.
Ronnie Day moved into the sixth position and is in striking distance of everyone. He put on a driving clinic in the Werbach Motorsports No. 20 in the last event, chasing BK to the checkers eventually finishing third. Day is 29 points out from the leaders. The 2000 King of California champion knows how to points race and what it takes to bring home a championship.
A host of other drivers seeking the Round No. 6 win include Santa Cruz's Kevin Pylant, San Martin's Craig Smith, Campbell's Burt Foland, Jr., Salinas' Keith Day, San Jose's Matt Sargent, San Martin's Wes Gutierrez, Fresno's Mike Stallings, Morgan Hill's Ricky Wright, Jr., Visalia's Cory Eliason, Gilroy's Kurt Nelson, Fremont's Jason Newton, Fresno's Anthony Simone and more.
Ocean Speedway would like to welcome back Bruce Velo from Campbell Motorsports Productions. Bruce took a brief hiatus from racing and will be recording all of the activities this Friday.
Top-10 in GLR Investments Sprint Car Points
1. Evan Suggs 256
2. Brent Kaeding 256
3. Justin Sanders 247
4. Brad Furr 237
5. Tommy Tarlton 236
6. Ronnie Day 227
7. Craig Smith 221
8. Ricky Wright, Jr. 219
9. Keith Day 197
10. Kurt Nelson 191
Pit gate opens at 1:00 with the front gate opening at 4:00. Racing starts at 6. Adults are $15, kids 6-12 $9, all kids under 5 free. Family $40 (2 Adults and 2 Children), Senior $12 with I.D. (65 yrs+). For more information please log onto www.oceanspeedway.com or call the speedway at (831) 476-9466
The speedway is located at 2601 East Lake Ave in Watsonville, CA
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