Civil War race results. sprint car racing, speedway, California, June 13, 2003.

Tim Kaeding Wins Civil War Event From 20th CHICO 6-13-03- By Bill Sullivan. ...This past Thursday evening Tim Kaeding was telling friends at a local watering hole that the palm of his hand had an irritating itch. How is this condition significant to racing ? Because every time the San Jose native has suffered this peculiar ailment he ironically posts a victory the following day and every driver in entitled to their own superstitions.

Such was the case Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico where Kaeding wowed yet another crowd with an outstanding performance to win the fifth round of the Hoosier Racing Tires California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series. Aboard his Terry Cowan owned ABC Ready Mix #7, the former Silver Dollar Speedway champion and defending King of California drove from the 20th position to take the lead in a wild fashion from his father Brent on the final lap of the 30-lap feature.

After working his way through the field, averaging a position gained per lap, 24-year-old Kaeding overtook the bridesmaid position on lap 19 and began pursuit of his father Brent for the lead entering the final 10 laps of the event. Distancing themselves from the field, the father-son duo brought the north state crowd to their feet as they dueled for the lead position on the Silver Dollar quarter mile in the waning laps of the event.

It wasn't until the final circuit of the event that the battle reached its climax when Tim overtook Brent on the backstretch and contact occurred at the close of the pass between Tim's rear wheel and Brent's front, resulting in damage to the front end of the elder Kaeding's ride to draw the yellow flag prior to the checkered flag. Following the collision, Brent was visibly upset from the incident as he drove his damaged #69 counter clockwise on the track in Tim's direction before stalling due to the excess damage to his front suspension.

"Rubbing is racing," was Tim's comment before an ecstatic crowd in victory lane. "I do apologize to my dad but that was just one of those racing deals. We''ll get over it and we'll all come back and race another day."

Friday's victory is just one on the growing list for Kaeding in 2003. Enroute to those victories, the driver that is perhaps California's hottest ticket in a sprint car as of late has brought the race fans to a standing ovation each and every time. Just last Saturday Kaeding drove from deep in the field to post his fifth Golden State Challenge Series win at Placerville Speedway. Friday's victory becomes his second win of the year in the Civil War campaign and many will not forget his first win in this series on May 14th at Placerville where a last lap pass put him in victory lane. Additionally, Kaeding started the season off with a win at Kings Speedway in Hanford in the company of the prestigious World of Outlaws sprint car tour. '

Commonly being referred to at the T.K. Express, Tim Kaeding is undoubtedly a runaway train as the season approaches the halfway point and doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon. His success in limited Civil War appearances will likely grant him a starting position in the Civil War Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational on September 3 at Silver Dollar Speedway, an event Kaeding aims to compete in on the track he still calls home.

Early in Friday's event the green flag saw Chuck Gurney Jr. of Livermore jump from his second place starting position into the lead as he was chased by Jason Statler of Los Gatos in the early circuits. On the fifth lap Statler drifted off the third turn and fell back to the eighth position which allowed Robert Stice of Grass Valley to overtake the bridesmaid position.

It was on the 13th lap when Brent Kaeding, who started 11th advanced into the lead ahead of Gurney. Gurney was fighting handling woes from the loss of his front wing since the eighth lap and faded as far back as eighth in the field in the waning laps. At the checkered flag Kaeding was followed by 1998 series champion Roger Crockett of Eugene, OR who drove from the 16th position.

Two time track champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn spun on the eighth lap and despite restarting from the rear of field finished in the third position. Allard started 18th and finished fifth officially ahead of Statler. Additional highlights of Friday's feature event had former champion David Robinson Jr. of Auburn running in fifth place approaching the checkered flag until Stephen Allard of Chico made an inside pass resulting in contact that sent Robinson hard into the front stretch wall to finish seventh.

Grass Valley driver Mark Hall crossed the finish line in the fourth position. However following the event, Hall's car was declared to be under the weight minimum of 1375 pounds resulting in disqualification from the event. Hall would have entered round six tomorrow as the new point leader of the series following his performance combined with mechanical woes suffered by series leader Rick Williams at the start of the B-feature.

Jeff Halleib was the winner of the C-feature Friday night. Heat race victories were claimed by Brad Sweet, Steve Fehrman, Steven Allard and Brent Kaeding. Jim Richardson was the fast qualifier for the evening with a 13:435 second lap.

Action continues for the Hoosier Tires Civil War Race Series this weekend as Twin Cities Speedway in Marysville will host the sixth round of competition Saturday night, June 14. Qualifying will begin at 6:30 followed by racing at 7:30. Adult tickets are $14, Juniors and Seniors are $10, Children are $5 and under six is free. For further information on this event and directions to the track check out www.twincitiesspeedway.net or the official website of the traveling Civil War series at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.

Fast qualifier: Jim Richardsen 13:435

Heat one: Brad Sweet; Roger Crockett; Andy Forsberg; Greg DeCaires; Billy Wallace; Jim Richardsen; Jeff Halleib; Justin Johnson; Kyle Schild: Rick Williams; Mike McClish.

Heat two: Steve Fehrman; Jason Statler; Eddie Lewis; Chuck Gurney Jr.; Mike Henry; Mike Benson; Korey Lovell; Mark Tabor Sr.; Mark Tabor Jr.; Scott Russell; Dave Angus; Troy DeGaton.

Heat three: Steven Allard; Colby Weisz; Tim Kaeding; Destiny Hays; Mark Hall; Jimmy Trulli; Chris Wilson; Robert Stice; Ricky Wondergem; Bryan Evans; Josh Blakely; Donny VanDyke.

Heat four: Brent Kaeding; Steven Tiner; Shane Matthews; David Robinson Jr.; Jeff Parady; Sean Beacker; Duane Scott; John Gray; Jim VanLare; Mike Monahan; Steve Watts; Pat Harvey.

C-main: Jeff Hallieb; Mike Monahan; Ricky Wondergem; Troy DeGaton; Justin Johnson; Mike McClish; Mark Tabor Jr.; Scott Russell; Tony Silveria; Bryan Evans; Jade Parker; Dave Angus.

B-main: Richardsen; Stice; Henry; Hall; Benson; Paraday; Trulli; Wondergem; Monahan; Schild; Wallace; Halleib; Lovell; Scott; Tabor Sr.; Gray; Wilson; VanLare.

A-main; T. Kaeding; Crockett; Forsberg; Allard; Statler; Robinson; Fehrman; Gurney Jr.; DeCaires; Hays; Matthews; Stice; B. Kaeding; Lewis; Sweet; Richardsen; Weisz; Henry; Tiner; Hall.

Results courtesy of Greg Stephens MotorSport Video

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