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Déjà Vu At Watsonville GSC As Larson Trails Same Top Three
Watsonville, CA. April 25, 2009. With a result that mirrored the previous week’s Golden State Challenge race at Petaluma Speedway, Kyle Larson tallied his second fourth place finish in a row as the touring series competed at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway for the first time in 2009. Point leader Tyler Walker won for the second week in a row, albeit in much more spectacular fashion this time, with a last lap pass of race long leader Jonathan Allard, and Brent Kaeding completed the quadruple double by taking third again. Unfortunately for Larson, who advanced to fourth in the season long point standings with his third top four finish in a row, the same three driver’s who crossed the line ahead of him are the same three ahead of him in the point race.
Larson got his night off to a good start with third fast time as Evan Suggs set a new track record on the very well prepared race track. Although Larson drove to a third place finish in his heat race, the rear brake rotor and hub came apart midway through the race, necessitating a complete rear axle change. The time needed to complete repairs kept the Vertullo Racing Starr Property Management Eagle/Kistler from making the call for the dash, where Larson was slated to start seventh.
Missing the dash put Larson on the outside of the fourth row for the 30 lap feature event. On the opening lap, Larson scooted by seventh and sixth starting Cowboy Craig Smith and Suggs. He settled in behind Bud Kaeding, as Allard led over Brent Kaeding, Walker and Jason Statler.
The lead pack kept the same formation until lap 13, as Bud Kaeding got by Statler to take fourth from the 2004 GSC Champion. On lap 18 Larson came out of turn four with a run underneath Statler. As the pair entered turn one contact ensued with both cars touching rear wheels. The result saw Statler come to a stop with a flat left rear tire, which required a quick stop in the pits to replace.
As the green came out for the restart Larson powered around Bud Kaeding in turns one and two and dropped in front of the two time USAC Silver Crown Champ into turn three. As the leaders began to encounter lapped cars Larson closed quickly on third running Walker.
With the pressure from Larson, Walker stepped up and moved to the very top of the track, which he found to his car’s liking. On lap 26 Walker got by Brent Kaeding and began to challenge Allard, who was finding lapped traffic to be difficult as the laps wound down. As Allard got boxed in on the bottom coming to the white flag Walker used the top side to power into the lead in turns one and two of the final lap. While Walker captured the checkered flag in crowd pleasing fashion, Larson held on to finish fourth behind Brent Kaeding.
Next week Larson and the rest of the GSC regulars will return to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway for their second appearance there this season. Three weeks ago Larson had his best effort of the campaign so far, setting second fast time, capturing a dominating heat race win from the third row, and finishing third in the A-main.
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 main event video clip.
Race: April 25, 2009
Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
 
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