PHOENIX, AZ, October 25 --
The Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) tour came out of hibernation Thursday
at Manzanita Speedway for the first time since June. Northern California
transplant Bud Kaeding led all 20 laps to win the opening night of the NAPA Auto
Parts / Budweiser Western World
Championships.
The win had a some historical significance since Kaeding's father, Brent, has
two career Sprint Car Racing Association victories to his credit, making them
the first father and son to have won an SCRA main event. After sliding
into victory lane, Kaeding removed his helmet and was immediately on the cell
phone with his legendary dad.
"He was yelling and screaming when I talked to him. He couldn't
believe that we won," Kaeding said with a youthful smile. "I
think it was 1989 when he ran the Western World without a wing and hit a light
pole. It scared the hell out of him and now he won't run a non-winged car
out here. I tried to get him to come out and run our second car, but he
said that this wasn't the place for him. He'll be out there at Perris next
week and I know he'll be gunning for us."
Spending the majority of his time campaigning the BK Racing / Kohler Faucets -
Lone City.com No. 29K Maxim in the Midwest, Kaeding's first SCRA / NWWC is far
from being consider an upset since it marked his fifth straight win on dirt.
"The last four weeks have been unbelievable for our whole team,"
Kaeding said. " After qualifying tonight, I didn't think our chances
were too good. We ran 13th quick, and when five guys missed getting out of
their heat, I was
just one of the lucky guys that got to start on the front row for the main
event. I don't know if we could have gotten it if would have started in
the back, but we started up front and was able to win another one."
Arizona veteran Marty Wilcox, who was making his first non-winged start in seven
years, joined Kaeding on the front row and led the field to the green flag on
the start. Kaeding pushed Wilcox up the race track in turn four and
slid up ahead him exiting the corner. Coming across the line to complete
the opening lap, Kaeding was followed by Wilcox, Jordan Hermansader, Jerry
Coons, Jr. and the Harlan Willis / WorldGate Networks No. 45 TCR driven by new
crowned SCRA Champion Cory Kruseman.
Driving for his dad, Coons put the Napa Auto Parts No. 12A Stealth into the
third position on lap two. Coons passed Wilcox for second place four laps
later, but found himself nearly a full straight-away behind Kaeding.
Kaeding reached his first back-marker on lap 11 and had very little difficulty
making his way through slower traffic. Lance Gremett gave Kaeding his only
anxious moment of the race when he suddenly slowed in front of him on lap 12
bring out the only caution period of the race.
While Coons and Kruseman battled for the runner-up spot, Kaeding went on to win
by a half a straight-away. Coons held on for second and Kruseman finished
third. Kirby finished fourth in the M&B Racing / Statewide Towing No.
5 Stinger thanks to some nice moves in the final five laps. The Joe
Morales / O'Reilly Chevrolet No. 94 Buckey driven by Charles Davis, Jr.
completed the top-five. Troy Rutherford, Danny Sheridan and Wilcox earned
the final three direct transfers to Saturday's 40 lap championship finale.
###
SCRA RACE #37 / NWWC #7 - MANZANITA SPEEDWAY, PHOENIX, AZ
10/25/01
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Bob Ream, Jr., BRAT Racing #8, 19.111
2. Charles Davis, Jr., Morales #94, 19.125
3. Troy Rutherford, Gardner #4, 19.170
4. Jerry Coons, Jr., Coons, Sr. #12A, 19.274
5. Mike English, Carsten #91A, 19.310
6. Rickie Gaunt, M&B Racing #5X, 19.505
7. Derek Davidson, Gorman #18 19.539,
8. Cory Kruseman, Willis #45, 19.549
9. Jordon Hermansader, Pratt #12, 19.601
10. Lance Gremett, Gremett #85, 19.668
11. John Scott, Scott #83, 19.681
12. Bill Rose, Hillberg #82, 19.720
13. Bud Kaeding, BK Racing #29X, 19.850
14. Marty Wilcox, Wilcox #3A, 19.913
15. Mike Kirby, M&B Racing #5, 19.916
16. Tyler Walker, Witherill #61X, 20.151
17. Danny Sheridan, Sertich #92, 20.158
18. Ricky Johnson, Johnson #51A, 20.182
19. Randi Miller, White #2D, 20.492
20. Ronnie Clark, Winter #33, 20.554
21. Steve Cushman, Cushman, #30A, 20.921
22. Mark Nation, Nation #3N, 21.481
23. Paul Beregszaszy, Bereg Racing #5A, No Time
HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Ream, 2. Kaeding, 3. Coons, 4. Walker, 5. Nation, 6. Miller, 7. Gremett 8.
Davidson
SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Wilcox, 2. Sheridan, 3. Kruseman, 4. Scott, 5. Davis, 6. Clark, 7. English
KSE PRODUCTS / SIMPSON RACING HEAT 3
1. Kirby, 2. Johnson, 3. Rutherford, 4. Hermansader, 5. Gaunt, 6. Cushman, 7.
Rose
JB ENTERPRISE B MAIN
1. Davis, 2. Rose, 3. Gaunt, 4. Miller, 5. Gremett, 6. Nation, 7. Cushman, 8.
Clark
A-MAIN (20 Laps)
1. Kaeding, 2. Coons, 3. Kruseman, 4. Kirby, 5. Davis, 6. Rutherford, 7.
Sheridan, 8. Wilcox, 9. Gaunt, 10. Ream, 11. Walker, 12. Davidson, 13. Miller,
14. Johnson, 15. Nation, 16. Clark, 17. Cushman, 18. Hermansader, 19. Gremett,
20. Rose, 21. Scott
Laps Led: Kaeding 1-20
