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Third At Placerville Civil War Keeps Larson In Title Chase
Another run from deep in the pack for birthday boy
Placerville, CA. August 2, 2008. If passing points were a component of the Hoosier Tire California 360 Sprint Car Civil War Series Kyle Larson might have a pretty comfortable point lead at this point. With previous Civil War runs at Placerville (C-main to A-main), Calistoga (19th to sixth), and Petaluma (17th to fifth), added to last Saturday’s charge from 15th to third at Placerville, Larson is quickly earning a reputation as a driver who will find a way to the front. And despite point leader Sean Becker taking the win from third starting, Larson, who celebrated his 16th birthday two days prior, was able to stay solidly in second place in points after round 10 of the season long 15 race series. The soon to be high school junior is now trailing by eight points.
Qualifying 21st fast of the 43 cars on a rapidly drying track placed Larson’s Dave and Debbie Vertullo CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler mount outside of Steve Osborne in heat two. Osborne got the jump at the start and led the distance with Larson transferring into the A-main with his runner-up finish.
As the green flag unfurled for the feature race Larson slowly began his run to the front of the pack. As David Robinson Jr. led from the start, lap seven saw Larson first crack the top ten as he jumped from 11th to ninth. He executed a picture perfect slide job on Andy Forsberg in turn two of lap 11 to take the eighth position. On lap 13 an outside pass of fast time qualifier Camron Mendes down the backstretch pushed Larson into seventh, while Jimmy Trulli was disposed of down the frontstretch on the next lap. Lap 18 saw Larson get by Herman Klein to advance into the top five.
On lap 21 third place Colby Weisz, who was trailing Robinson Jr. and James Sweeney, grazed the front straight wall allowing fourth running Becker and Larson to slide into third and fourth. On lap 23 Sweeney attempted a slide job on Robinson Jr. in turn four but his machine began to spin into Robinson Jr.’s path, which caused contact between the duo. Robinson Jr. was able to keep his car going forward and maintain the lead as the yellow appeared for the stalled Sweeney.
Once the race restarted Becker began to apply heavy pressure to Robinson Jr. as Larson sat poised to take advantage of any miscue by either. On lap 26 Becker completed the pass on Robinson Jr. in turn three and four to take over the lead. Robinson Jr. made one last attempt at a slide job on Becker in turn one of the final lap, but to no avail. The move allowed Larson to quickly close ground and put a slide job on Robinson Jr. in turn three. But as the youngster hit the cushion in turn four the veteran Robinson Jr. reclaimed second on his way to the checkered flag to conclude an exciting night of racing before reportedly the largest crowd in Placerville Speedway history.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by CRV Racing Products, Starr Real Estate and Property Management, Global ParkerStore, Safety Solutions – LFT Technologies, D & J Towing, RPM Indoor Kart Racing and Conference Center, A.R.T. Ent. Speed Equipment, Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, JW Web Design, Mophead Graphix, SWEPCO Lubricants, Sierra Tire and Wheel, and Wyman Construction.
Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for video clips, current news and information.
Race Date: August 2, 2008
Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
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