WATSONVILLE >> Justin Sanders of Aromas scored his fifth NARC King of the West 410 sprint car victory of the year, taking the $5,000 prize on opening night of the 15th annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway on Friday night.

The home track victory for Sanders was a prolonged grind through multiple incidents and required him to fend off Tim Kaeding for the triumph.

Bud Kaeding won the dash to claim the pole position of the 30-lap feature, racing in honor of his late, legendary grandfather, who died in February. In the race he helps organize, Kaeding won the holeshot over Sanders at the start of the feature. Oregon’s Tyler Thompson spun on the backstretch, bringing multiple other cars to a stop for a caution on lap one.

On the restart, Jake Andreotti of Castro Valley flipped in turn three for the next stoppage while the race remained on lap one.Sanders attempted to slide Kaeding in turn three on the restart to no avail. Bud Kaeding, Sanders, and Tim Kaeding leapt ahead of the pack while Shane Golobic and DJ Netto battled for fourth.

Kaeding biked on the turn one cushion in lapped traffic on lap eight, surrendering the lead and drawing a caution. He was able to rejoin the race from the rear.

That thrust Sanders into the lead for the restart but it was short-lived as Tim Kaeding slid him into turn one. Sanders answered back in turn three to retake the spot immediately. Jesse Schlotfeldt of Arlington, Washington, pounded the front stretch fence for a red flag on lap nine.

An inadvertent yellow flag on the restart led to Billy Aton of Benicia flipping on the backstretch for the next stoppage.

Ryan Bernal of Hollister flipped hard in turn one for the event’s fourth red flag on lap 14. Golobic then flipped from fourth in a similarly liveried NOS Energy Drink-sponsored machine on lap 15.

Tim Kaeding kept Sanders within arms-length with 10 laps to go. The leaders approached lapped traffic but action was slowed for Rio Oso’s Landon Brooks spinning out of fifth in the challenging turn one.

Tim Kaeding clawed toward Sanders again in the final stages of the event in lapped traffic with two laps to go. Kaeding showed his nose inside Sanders in turn two, then again in turn four driving to the white flag but Sanders defended the bottom.

Sanders held court to win the $5,000 prize followed by Tim Kaeding. Dylan Bloomfield won a shootout with 2019 champion DJ Netto for third with Kaleb Montgomery of Templeton rounding out the top five.

Bloomfield led the second group of qualifying and won the overall time trials over the 30 NARC 410 sprint cars in attendance.

IMCA Sport Mods

DJ Keldsen led all 20 laps for a wire-to-wire performance for his first IMCA Sport Modifieds win, which was later nullified in post-race inspection.

A multi-car skirmish on the opening lap required Rob Gallaher and Steven Allee to pit and eventually ended the race for Emali VanHoff as well. Points leader Danny Wagner of Bay Point slowed with an issue that sent him to the pits on lap three as well.

Keldsen built up a 5.49 second lead that was erased on lap 17 when Gallaher spun in turn two.

Keldsen led the final three laps for his breakthrough win but it wouldn’t count. Prunedale’s Max Baggett was credited with victory, followed by a resurgent drive by Danny Wagner in second. Jim DiGiovanni of Morgan Hill, Allee, and Lindeman were the top-five finishers.

Hobby Stocks

Watsonville’s Adriane Frost took first in the 20-lap feature to become the seventh different winner of the 2025 Hobby Stocks season. San Jose’s Matt Kile passed her on the outside line on the start to take the lead. Defending champion Joe Gallaher rode the backstretch wall and slowed for a caution on lap five.

On the restart, points leader Ryan Hart started his march through the pack from 12th. Hart drove up to third by lap nine. Frost challenged Kile for the lead and took control using the inside on lap 11 in turn three. Cory Souza spun in turn one for a caution with nine to go.

Frost led the final nine laps while Hart stormed to second place at the finish followed by Bobby Gallaher, Kile, and Lilly Mead.

Police-in-Pursuit

Heat race winner John Hohmann of Scotts Valley Police Department won the main event as well in Police-in-Pursuit action. Hunter Gaither and Ben Standen collided for the lead, allowing Hohmann to swoop around the outside and go third to first. Gaither came home second despite a flat left front tire followed by Kevin Elliott, Mel Dunn, and Standen.