8/24/2019
Silver Dollar Speedway
Tim Kaeding and Todd Cooper Winners of Thursday Night Thunder
Tim Kaeding and Todd Cooper Celebrate Thursday Night Thunder Wins
(8/22/19) By Jim Allen, Chico, CA ... Tim Kaeding found himself in the right place at the right time and capitalized to score round two of the King of the West by NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series "Fastest Four Days in Motorsports" at Silver Dollar Speedway. He pocketed $5000 for his efforts!
Kaeding, started the 30-lapper in the fourth spot aboard Rod Tiner's Shark Racing Engines Helix sprint car and watched the race unfold in front of him. He motored past fast qualifier Andy Forsberg on the second circuit for the runner-up spot and then had a front row seat when race leader Shane Golobic's motor blew on lap six. At the same time that was happening, the race came to a screeching halt when Stephen Ingraham took a nasty barrel roll down the backchute. He suffered a knee injury but limped away from his destroyed race car under his own power.
Kaeding inherited the lead for the restart, but had to fend off a tailgating Kyle Larson and the freight train that included Forsberg, Mitchell Faccinto, Bud Kaeding and Colby Copeland. Larson began to challenge the leader as the pair zigged and zagged through slower traffic. However, Larson charge ended when he jumped the cushion and spun on lap 17, bringing out the caution.
The two-time King of the West champion continued where he left off and survived two more caution periods on his way to his 67th career series victory. Kaeding put an exclamation point on his win with a massive crowd pleasing wheelie at the checkered.
The battle for the runner-up position was a classic open wheel battle that saw the next three drivers swap positions on a corner by corner basis. Pole Shuffle winner Mitchell Faccinto ultimately won that battle in the TSG Recycling Disposal KPC. Forsberg settled for the show position aboard his own A & A Stepping Stone sprint car. Fourteenth starter Bud Kaeding drove the Alviso Rock Maxim to a fourth place finish. That earned him the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger award. Colby Copeland scored fifth piloting the Antaya Motorsports Maxim.
"This one feels real good," said a happy Kaeding in victory lane. "I don't know how many of these wins I have left in my career so I'm enjoying every one! I can't say enough about Rod Tiner and this team who gave me a great race car. This one was a lot of fun!"
The second five to take the checkered was 11th starter Nathan Rolfe, series point leader DJ Netto, ninth row starter and semi-winner Dominic Scelzi, Larson, and Rico Abreu.
Willie Croft also got upside down early in the feature. He was unhurt.
Heat races were claimed by Golobic, Bud Kaeding, Jonathan Allard, and Michael Ing.
Todd Cooper led all 20-laps to win the exciting IMCA Sport Mod main event. Cooper even had to deal with the front hood hindering his vision most of the race because it had lodged up in his view. As always Andrew Peckham was on the move. He drove up into the second spot on lap 10. He did pressure Cooper but was never able to pass him for the lead. Tyler Rodgers ran second in the first part of the main event but wasn’t able to get past lap 12 and was done for the night. Sixth place starting Phillip Shelby finished third. Guy Ahlwardt moved from 10th to a fourth-place finish. Matt Micheli rounded out the top five. Kevin Johnson was on the move all night. Started 15th and finished sixth.
Todd Cooper also won heat one. This gave him the clean sweep. Scott Savell won the second heat. Guy Ahlwardt won the third and final eight-lap heat race.
A total of 19 IMCA Sport Mods competed during the special showing of the Thursday Night Thunder.
Full results at https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1713293
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