WATSONVILLE — The first night of the Kaeding Classic ended with a victory for Shane Golobic as he won the Taco Bravo versus Civil War Sprint Car Series 30-lap main event Friday night at Ocean Speedway.
It was the first big race of a doubleheader weekend that paid tribute to San Jose Speedway Hall of Famer Howard Kaeding.
Golobic, who is a two-time Ocean Speedway Sprint Car champion, had the pole for the main event after he won the Trophy Dash.
Golobic benefited from a late-race mishap of the leader, Chase Johnson. Then after Trent Canales flipped his car, Golobic led a complete restart ahead of Bud Kaeding.
Kyle Offill spun going into Turn 2 and drew a lap-six yellow flag. Kaeding began to challenge Golobic when the race resumed.
Kaeding kept pace of the lead during lap 10 with a low pass going into Turn 1 but Golobic made a similar slide job pass to regain the top spot a lap later.
On lap 12, Johnson made an inside pass going into Turn 3 to take second place from Kaeding.
Johnson moved in on Golobic and made an inside pass on the front stretch on lap 19 to gain the lead.
Johnson seemed headed for his second win of the year at Ocean Speedway but on lap 28 he made contact with a slower car going into Turn 4 and rolled to draw a red flag.
Offill moved back to second place but he spun to avoid contact, which put Golobic back into the lead and he remained the same way for two circuits for the victory.
Ocean Speedway point leader Kaeding finished second, followed by Colby Copeland, Koen Shaw, Cole Macedo, DJ Netto, Kurt Nelson, James Ringo, Justin Sanders and Tony Gualda.
A strong field of 36 competitors were on hand for the big event and Mitchell Faccinto set the quickest lap of 11.399 seconds, which beat Shaw’s effort of 11.427.
The drivers ran four eight-lap heat races and wins went to Johnson, Ringo, Offill and Geoff Ensign.
There were also two B Mains to fill the remainder of the field and Gualda won the first 12-lap race ahead of Dominic Scelzi and Landon Hurst.
Joey Ancona won the second B Main just ahead of Colby Johnson and Grant Duinkerken. Golobic’s six-lap Trophy Dash win came ahead of Ensign.
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IMCA Sport Modified
Todd Gomez edged Kevin Johson to win his first 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified main event of the season.
Gomez been competing at Antioch Speedway this season but has been taking trips to other tracks in recent weeks to expand his horizons.
Marysville regular Andrew Peckham led the first eight laps before Gomez made the move into the lead on the ninth lap.
As Gomez led the rest of the way, Peckham surrendered second place to Bakersfield racer Kevin Johnson on lap 14.
Johnson made a late charge but Gomez managed to win a close finish at the checkered flag.
State point leader Guy Ahlwardt finished third, followed by Peckham, Jarrod Mounce, Justin McPherson, Kenny Schrader, Stephen Alee, Haley Gomez and Kelly Campanile.
Peckham won the first of three eight-lap heat races with the other wins going to Mounce and Doff Cooksey.
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Ocean Midgets
Keoni Texeira won the 15-lap Ocean Midgets main event. He won the eight-lap heat race and led all 15 laps to victory.
Randi Pankratz held on to second place until he was overtaken by Tyler Slay on lap nine. Slay finished second, followed by Pankratz, Greg Edenholm, Adam Lemke, Gage Rucker, Kellen Mitchell and point leader David Prickett.
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Hobby Stock
Reigning champion Matt Kile won the 15-lap Hobby Stock main event, which he led from the starting spot of his pole position start.
Nick Triolo stayed in second place for much of the race, while DJ Keldsen settled into third on lap five.
Keldsen was able to put the moves on Triolo on lap 12 to take over second place.
Kile took the checkered flag by about half a straightaway, while Keldsen managed to beat Triolo back to the line in a close battle for second.
Bobby Huckaby Sr. finished fourth, followed by Bobby Huckaby Jr., Jerry Skelton, Ryan Muller and Wally Kennedy. Kevin Counterman and Cody Bryan weren’t able to start in the main event.
Kile and Kennedy won their respective eight-lap heat races.
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