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Larson Recovers To Finish Fourth At Petaluma GSC

Petaluma, CA. April 18, 2009. On a lightning fast Petaluma Fairgrounds Speedway race track that saw intense racing throughout the main event, Kyle Larson recovered from a close call in the early going to garner his second top five finish in as many weeks, scoring fourth in round number four of the Golden State Challenge Series for 410 sprint cars.

After a couple of false starts Larson began the 30 lap main event from the fifth slot. As fellow GSC Rookie of the Year contender Brandon Carey assumed the early lead over dash winner and polesitter Tyler Walker, Larson fell in behind Jonathan Allard, Jason York, and sixth starting Brent Kaeding.

The beginning of lap two saw Larson attempt an outside pass of Kaeding in turn one, but the eight time GSC champion responded with a veteran move and forced the 16 year old driver off his line in turn two. While Larson struggled to get his car back down into the racing groove, another former GSC champion, Jason Statler, pounced on the opportunity and took over sixth. Colby Copeland also got underneath Larson heading into turn three and completed the pass coming out of four.

Good friend and fellow high school junior Copeland and Larson then began a spirited battle over the next several laps. After Copeland got by on lap three Larson dove underneath entering turn one of the next lap. Minor contact in turn two barely slowed the young duo.

The next go round saw Larson try the same move again in turn one. The result was slightly better as Larson completed the pass, only to have Copeland return the favor coming off the bottom of turn two as Larson slid out to the backstretch wall. The next few laps saw the pair gain or lose ground to each other, depending on who ran a better lap. Finally, Larson ended the battle with his good buddy on lap 11 when he executed an outside pass in turn one following a restart.

Larson then set out for Statler and made an outside pass in turn two of the next lap. Getting his rhythm going Larson went inside York down the backstretch of lap 13 to get back to his original starting position of fifth.

As Carey, Walker, and Allard diced through lapped traffic Larson began to slowly reel in Kaeding. By the time the yellow flag appeared on lap 18 Walker had assumed the lead, with Allard second over Carey, and Larson with a lapped car between him and Kaeding.

As the race resumed Larson challenged Kaeding at both ends of the race track, but was repelled. In the next several laps Statler began to apply pressure to Larson as Kaeding got by Carey for third. On lap 25 Statler went to the outside of Larson in turn three and came out of turn four with fifth place. A lap later the last yellow flag was displayed, setting up an exciting finish for Walker and Allard, and also for sixth place Larson.

When the green came out Larson drove hard into turn one outside of Statler. As Statler drove deep into turn two to counter the move, Larson dove underneath Statler to retake fifth. At the other end of the track Larson got below Carey and moved into fourth at the flag stand. While Walker held off Allard in a furious last lap fight to the finish through several lappers, Larson closed on Kaeding to finish just out of a second straight podium finish.

In preliminary action Larson continued his fine qualifying efforts of late in the Dave and Debbie Vertullo Starr Property Management/Eagle/Kistler 83v, placing fourth fast of the 23 cars in attendance. Larson started fifth and tussled with fast qualifier Kaeding in the early going of heat one before both got by Stephen Allard. As the race continued Larson distanced himself from Kaeding and settled for fourth at the finish. In the eight car dash Larson drew the five pill and, at the end of the six lapper, finished there to determine his starting spot in the main event.

Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Starr Property Management, Inc., Phoenix ParkerStores and Lubrication Equipment and Supply, G & N Construction, Simpson Performance Products, Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, JW Web Design, Safety Solutions-LFT Technologies, Wyman Construction, GME-Nields Steering, LRB Manufacturing, SWEPCO Lubricants, Edward’s Lawn Service, Sierra Tire and Wheel, Mancamp Motorsports, and Mophead Graphix.

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