Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
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Larson 22nd to Sixth in Placerville Civil War Finale
Runnerup in Civil War Championship to Becker

Placerville, California. September 27th, 2008. With the championship determined in the favor of Sean Becker before the start of the feature race, the pressure was off both Becker and runnerup Kyle Larson as the traveling group closed the 2008 Hoosier Tire California 360 Sprint Car Series campaign where it began, at Placerville Speedway. The final event was also a condensed version of how the season unfolded for the pair of multi time outlaw kart champions, with Becker gaining his series leading fourth feature win and Larson once again putting on a passing display from deep in the pack.

With 22 points separating the duo and 30 cars on hand Becker set the tone for the night with fast time, while Larson recorded the eighth quickest time. Becker secured a transfer spot into the A-main when he finished third in the first heat. When Larson finished sixth in the fourth heat, Becker’s three points earned in his heat settled the championship issue. With the heat finishes in the book the 25 point gap could not have been overcome by Larson in the feature, where the Civil War point system has a difference of 24 points from first to last place.

Larson, a two time feature winner in the 15 race series, still had to make it through the stacked B-main, where six of the top eight qualifiers found themselves. Larson could only muster the final transfer spot of sixth from the same starting spot, which relegated him to the final position in the 22 car headline event.

While Becker ran the first seventeen laps in third trailing leader Herman Klein and Scott Kinney, Larson battled from the back of the pack trying to advance forward. By lap 14 the Dave and Debbie Vertullo CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler mount had moved ten places ahead into 12th. For the next 12 laps sixteen year old Larson battled Mike Benson for 11th. On lap 24 Larson nearly completed the pass on the backstretch but ran out of room and went up the dirt embankment before jumping the tall cushion in turn three, where he barely saved the car from flipping. The incident brought out the yellow flag and Larson restarted at the back in 15th with six laps remaining.

With Becker having taken over second on lap 18 and Larson determined to get the best result possible, all eyes became riveted on the pair once again after the restart. Becker began to apply heavy pressure to Klein, while Larson started another charge forward, in the same fashion for which he has become known for in the Civil War series. In two laps Larson cracked the top ten with passes of five cars. On lap 27 Larson sped by Scott Russell, and on lap 28, when Becker made the pass on Klein for the lead, Larson disposed of track champion Colby Weisz. On lap 29 Larson passed Billy Wallace for seventh and chased down Placerville’s track champion from the previous year, Greg DeCaires, and nipped him at the line to earn a very satisfying sixth place finish and another Civil War Hard Charger award.

Assessing the completed Civil War season Larson stated, “First I want to congratulate Sean. I can remember when I was ten Sean taught me how to use a clutch and what to expect when I ran my first race in a 125cc kart. We both worked our way up through the outlaw karts and I have always looked up to him. He is the Steve Kinser of outlaw karts.
I wish I could have won this championship but I’m proud to finish between Sean and Andy Forsberg as they are the most accomplished drivers in this series and very tough to beat. I also have to thank Dave Vertullo for providing me with a car that could have won every time out. I made it kind of tough on myself with some of my qualifying results, but come main event time Dave always gave me a car that I could race with. I really appreciate everything he and Debbie have done for me.”

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, Mancamp Motorsports and Edward’s Lawn Service.

Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for video clips, current news and information.

Highlights from Main Event - Larson once again starts at the back and charges foward. Not just once but twice.