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Kyle Larson 2008 Season in Review
Elk Grove, CA-November 7, 2008. In any sport, including racing, “The Sophomore Jinx” is a term that has taken hold to describe a competitor’s letdown the year after enjoying a fine rookie season.
For 16 year old second year sprint car driver Kyle Larson, the Sophomore Jinx was never a factor in 2008. In a season that began with a top five in the opening Hoosier Tires California 360 Sprint Car Civil War Series and ended with a pair of top fives in the two biggest 360 sprint car races in the Western United States, Larson showed he will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
The 2008 season saw Larson race in 31 total sprint car events spread between the 410 and 360 cars of Dave and Debbie Vertullo, and four races in Cliff and Jackie Blackwell’s midget. The campaign was remarkable for the consistent top ten finishes achieved. In the Civil War Series, where Larson finished second to former Golden State Challenge Series and Silver Dollar Speedway champion Sean Becker, there were 11 top tens with seven top fives, which included two exciting feature event wins in the 15 race series. The highlight of the Civil War chase came at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway on Memorial Day weekend, when the then 15 year old Larson set fast time and proceeded to take the win from sixth starting spot. Larson, nominated in 2007 for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year in both the 410 and 360 divisions, drove like a seasoned veteran while holding off the advances of 2001 track champion Tim Kaeding over the last half of the race.
Despite the abundance of top finishes for Larson in the 360 sprint car, as the season progressed he began to earn a reputation for starting at the back of the pack and making strong runs to the front. That scenario was displayed for the final time at the Fall Nationals at Silver Dollar Speedway as Larson charged from ninth in the B-main to capture the last transfer spot into the A-main. Starting in the 24th and last position of the talent laden field, Larson raced his way into fourth by the halfway point. As Jonathan Allard, Brad Furr, and Roger Crockett fought it out at the front, Larson battled with Tyler Walker for fourth. Walker prevailed on the last lap, but Larson once again showcased his ability to pass cars at a wide variety of tracks in 2008.
Although 2008 was highlighted by the two Civil War feature wins, the season ending race at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway, the Trophy Cup, put Larson’s emerging talent on display once again. Racing against many of the top drivers in the country, Larson claimed fourth place in the finale of the three day event behind Randy Hannagan, Sammy Swindell, and Brad Sweet, while fighting off Tim Kaeding slide jobs over the final laps. Larson’s effort on the closing night moved him from 19th in points to sixth, where the unique format of the Trophy Cup rewards drivers for earning points over the course of the three day event.
Larson’s limited starts in the Vertullo CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler 410 car still produced moments to remember. A fourth place finish at Silver Dollar Speedway early in the season was the top result, but the most memorable run came with the World of Outlaws at Tulare in October. Larson qualified tenth fast of 44 drivers entered and won his first ever World of Outlaw heat race, placing him in the dash. He started sixth and finished seventh, besting Brooke Tatnell, Jason Meyers, and Chad Hillier. The main event saw misfortune as Larson spun at the halfway point, which ended his night after collecting Shane Stewart.
Larson’s four races in the Cliff Blackwell midget began with a pair of races at the Chili Bowl. After flipping across the finish line when contact with a disabled car ensued, Larson was scored ninth in the F-main-not a bad result when considering there were nearly 300 cars on hand.
Larson’s first race with the Bay Cities Racing Association saw a sixth place finish at Placerville Speedway after starting 11th. His best run in the midget occurred despite not completing the race, as Larson ventured to race with the USAC Western States Midgets at the big half mile of Calistoga Speedway. Starting 15th, Larson ran the cushion to perfection to vault into fourth place by the halfway point. While a burned piston ended his impressive advancement, it only whetted his appetite for more midget racing in the future.
Summing up the just concluded season of racing Larson said, “I had a lot of fun this year. I got to race in the Chili Bowl for the first time, which was something I have been looking forward to for several years. Cliff and Jackie Blackwell are great people and I am very grateful for the opportunity to drive their midget. The USAC race at Calistoga was a blast and I sure want to be there again next year.”
“In the sprint cars I am very proud of the way we ran this year. Dave and Debbie Vertullo are very easy people to work with. They never put any pressure on me to perform, which allows me to focus on what I need to do behind the wheel. Dave, who is also my crew chief, had setups on the 360 car that were awesome all year long. At every track we went to, come main event time we were as fast as anybody. To be able to finish second in the Civil War points, fifth at the Fall Nationals, and fourth at the Trophy Cup is a good indication of how well we worked together.”
Larson is looking forward to 2009 as he hopes to improve on the extraordinary season just past. He is planning to make a return visit to the Chili Bowl in January to race with many of the biggest stars in racing that come from several different disciplines. “To race with guys like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and others is a thrill to be a part of. I consider it to be the best event in racing and just want to be a part of it.”
Sprint car plans for next season have not been determined as of yet. “I hope to run more 410 races in 2009. I would like to run with the Golden State Challenge Series because I want to race against the best drivers on the west coast. The Knoxville Nationals are something I want to do and hopefully I can get back there next year. I would also like to do some non wing stuff, especially the USAC Oval Nationals at Perris and the races at Calistoga.”
Larson’s racing efforts in 2008 were supported by Larson’s 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.
Many thanks to everyone involved.
www.kylelarsonracing.com
Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
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