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Passing Aplenty For Larson Until Quincy Civil War Ends With 16th Place Finish
Quincy, CA June 21, 2008. Although he would not have won the hard charger award as he did in the previous Hoosier Tires California 360 Civil War Series event at Calistoga Speedway, Kyle Larson put on another impressive passing exhibition as the touring group made their first ever visit to Quincy’s American Valley Speedway. After losing his original fifth starting spot in the main event due to being involved in a lap one skirmish, 15 year old Larson twice came from the back on the pack, making 18 green flag passes on a very narrow, mostly single file race track, in the span of the first 23 laps. Unfortunately, while challenging for sixth with six laps remaining, the Dave and Debbie Vertullo CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler mount was trailered early after contact with another driver, placing Larson 16th in the final rundown.
Larson’s night began with 13th fast time of the 32 cars on hand. His fourth place finish in the first heat led to a transfer to the feature race. After Luke Dollansky, son of World of Outlaws star Craig Dollansky, pulled the ten pill for the inversion, thereby placing himself on the pole, Larson inherited the inside of row three. On the first attempt at racing Mike Monahan, starting third, spun directly in front of Larson in turn four. While Larson hit the binders and bounced off Monahan, both were able to continue on without stalling, but others were not so fortunate.
With Larson retaking the fifth spot in the order, several cars in the outside row were able to move up for the restart. As the race got underway again, Dollansky, in his second ever sprint car race, spun in front of the field in turn two. Larson was the first to make contact with Dollansky, straightening Dollansky out but sending Larson into the outside wall. As several other cars became involved, Larson made an amazing recovery, pulling his car down from the wall to continue on. However, damage was incurred, including a flat right rear tire, broken right rear shock, and right rear torsion arm, which necessitated a trip to the work area.
After making repairs, Larson restarted 18th, the last of the surviving cars, while original 15th starter Myles Bishop lined up outside of polesitter Dollansky. By lap eight Larson had moved to 11th, but a spin in turn four sent the young charger back to 17th for the restart. After going green Larson was on a mission to the front, as he and Sean Becker battled forward, both seemingly the only two drivers able to make outside passes. With Becker making an outside pass on John Michael Bunch in turn two on lap 23 Larson tried to follow suit on the next lap. However, Larson’s race came to an end as contact ensued with Bunch’s right rear tire damaging Larson’s front end before the car careened into the outside wall, while Bunch spun to a stop. Larson finished 16th and dropped one spot to fourth in the season long point standings after six rounds of the 15 race Civil War Series. Bishop turned his fortune of starting on the front row into his first ever sprint car feature win.
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: June 21, 2008
Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
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