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Larson Returns To Race In Double Header
Eighth at Chico and the Alphabet Soup at Placerville
Chico and Placerville, CA. May 2 and 3, 2008. After a three week hiatus from participating on the dirt tracks of Northern California, Kyle Larson and the Vertullo Racing team returned to action with a weekend doubleheader of racing. Larson ventured Friday to Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway to make his first run of the season in the 410 sprint ranks, where he posted an eight place finish. After making a quick turnaround to be able to participate at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the Family Chevrolet “Tribute to Al Hinds Sprint Car Show and Shine” barbecue and get together promoting the night’s memorial race at Placerville Speedway, Larson turned a C-main start into a rare transfer to the A-main during round three of the California 360 Sprint Car Civil War Series.
At Chico, Larson qualified tenth of 31 entrants and started fourth in his heat and finished there to transfer to the feature. He lined up fourth in the 25 lapper, surrounded by most of the top 410 pilots on the west coast. Kyle Hirst turned a front row start into his third win of the season, while Larson settled for an eight place finish.
Saturday started off early to participate in the first annual Tribute to Al Hinds Sprint Car Show and Shine Barbecue at Family Chevrolet in Shingle Springs. Sixteen drivers had their cars on display at the area auto dealership that drew over 500 race fans and families who enjoyed meeting the different drivers. “I would like to thank Tony Montalbano and his staff from Family Chevrolet, Jim Strauss from Strauss Foods, John and Alan Padjen, and Bill Sullivan for a very successful event. It was a privilege to be a part of this,” said Larson.
Later that night the Hoosier Tires Civil War Series returned for the second time to the foothill facility in Placerville, where Larson held second in points entering the event. During qualifying, a treacherous cushion was already in place and Larson jumped it in turns one and two on both of his timed laps, placing him 37th of the 39 drivers on hand. With that inauspicious start to his night, Larson’s chances to make the A-main looked quite bleak. After starting tenth in the first heat and finishing seventh, and missing the needed top four transfer needed to go directly to the feature race, the 15 year old driver was relegated to the C-main event.
Larson’s quest for the A-main began with a fourth place starting assignment in the C-main. He turned that into a second place finish in the ten lap event, which placed him last of the 18 car B-main field. Over the course of the 12 lap event Larson charged forward, with the run highlighted by a three car pass on the high side of turns one and two that propelled him into seventh on lap five. Over the final laps Larson battled with Camron Mendes for the final transfer spot. With three laps to go Larson secured the spot and held it to the checkered flag, completing his improbable run from the C to the A-main. “I’ve been racing with Camron since I was about 10 years old and I knew he would race me clean”, said Larson. “I was just happy to be in the A-main.”
Larson started shotgun once again in the 22 car feature race and was up to 17th on lap 12 when the cars of Andy Gregg, Mason Moore, Chad Compton, Steven Tiner and Willie Croft got together on the front straightaway. With Moore turning over and cars going in several directions Larson tried to weave through the melee, but caught his left front wheel on Croft’s car, collapsing his front axle and putting a hole in the radiator. After completing repairs, Larson returned to the race on lap 24 and improved his position two places to 19th by doing so. David Robinson Jr. won his first main event since returning to the cockpit after a two year retirement, maintaining his Civil War point lead, while Larson fell to sixth in the standing.
”I almost cleared the incident on the front stretch,” said the high school sophomore, “But it wasn’t to be. Dave Vertullo had a great setup on the car in the B and the A and I’m sure I could have gotten a top ten out of the A. Overall, with the way the night started, just to make the A was a big relief. My goal this season is a top five in the Civil War points and you’ve got to make the A-mains to do that.”
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, and Sierra Tire and Wheel.
Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for video clips, current news and information.
Race Date: May 2 and 3, 2008
Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.kylelarsonracing.com
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