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Larson’s Stellar Gold Cup Run Ends Short Of Finish Line

Chico, CA. September 10 and 12, 2009. With a top ten finish in his first World of Outlaws Gold Cup Race of Champions A-main event within sight Kyle Larson’s fortunes took a turn for the worse with less than a quarter lap to go. While chasing down one more position the 17 year old from Elk Grove, California hooked a rut in turn three, sending his mount sliding over the edge of turn four and into the wall relegating him to a 15th place finish in the prestigious 56th annual event held at the Silver Dollar Speedway.

With his preliminary night point total, which combined points earned from seventh fast qualifying, a fourth in his heat, and a 10th place finish in Thursday’s 30 lap main that placed him 18th in total points over the first two nights of the three day affair, Larson began the race on the outside of row nine.

On the opening lap of the star studded event Larson jumped past 15th starting three-time defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz and Roger Crockett. With third starting Tim Kaeding crashing out on lap two and Larson passing Brad Furr on lap four, the Vertullo Racing/Stadelhofer Construction 83v had advanced four positions to 14th.

With a turn four incident involving an overturned Bobby McMahon and Peter Murphy Larson found himself 12th after five laps were completed. On the restart Larson passed Craig Dollansky for 11th and set out for Brent Kaeding. However, tight traffic shuffled Larson back to 14th with Furr retaking the position and bringing Sean Becker and Dollansky along with him.

As Jason Sides led over Joey Saldana from the outset Larson remained 14th until overtaking Becker on lap 15. On lap 18 Larson finally reached Kaeding to creep back to 12th. When Furr spun off the edge of turn two on the next lap Larson inherited 11th once again.

Two laps later Larson made his presence known as he moved into the top ten by passing Shane Stewart. In another pair of laps Larson battled past Tommy Tarlton to take ninth. When seventh running Lucas Wolfe spun on the backstretch after contact with Sammy Swindell on lap 28 Larson had jumped to eighth.

For Larson, the complexion of the race changed at that point as Swindell rolled around under the yellow period with a deflating right rear tire. When the green flag reappeared Swindell was unable to accelerate and Larson dove underneath to avoid stacking up the trailing cars behind him and Swindell.

As Swindell exited the track to replace his tire, the World of Outlaws officials declared Larson jumped the start and placed him back two positions, much to the displeasure of the large crowd.

Instead of being in seventh for the restart, Schatz and Tarlton were placed ahead of Larson with 12 laps remaining. When the green reappeared Larson quickly got by Tarlton for eighth and had his sights on Schatz once again.

A miscue on lap 30 allowed Tarlton and Stewart to slip by and drop Larson back to tenth. A lap later Becker fought past Larson to move into the top ten for the first time.

With eight laps to go both Becker and Larson eliminated Stewart from the top ten for the final time. Over the course of the final laps Larson chased Becker while pacing Brad Sweet, who had gotten to 11th from 22nd. On the final lap Saldana made a spectacular pass of Sides in turn three to steal the win, while Larson made one final stab at Becker in the same corner.

Larson’s result was not nearly as successful as Saldana’s as the rut in turn three bit the high school senior and ended his race in the turn four concrete. The dejected Larson was scored 15th, which unfortunately did not reflect the overall performance of the first time Gold Cup feature race participant.

Prior to the Gold Cup Race of Champions Larson ran two other races earlier in the week. Larson and team first met up with the Outlaws at Cottage Grove, Oregon for their Tuesday night race at the beautiful tree shrouded facility.

Using a brand new chassis Larson had trouble adapting to the feel of the untested car and struggled all night. After getting lapped early in the feature race Larson pulled off the track on lap 12 rather than risking damage, and was scored 23rd.

The next night saw Larson pull into Silver Dollar Speedway to compete in the California 360 Civil War Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational event that would open the Gold Cup festivities. Larson’s Dave Vertullo tuned 360 ride was much more comfortable as he rebounded from a first lap spin and battled back to a fourth place finish on the very hard to pass rubber down surface.

Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Starr Property Management, Inc., Phoenix ParkerStores and Lubrication Equipment and Supply Co., Stadelhofer Construction, Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, G & N Construction, JW Web Design, Safety Solutions-LFT Technologies, Simpson Performance Products, Wyman Construction, GME-Nields Steerings, LRB Manufacturing, SWEPCO Lubricants, Edward’s Lawn Service, Sierra Tire and Wheel, Mancamp Motorsports, and Mophead Graphix.

Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for Saturday's main event video clip, current news and information.