This message was edited on
June 03, 2009 at
07:43:20 AM by 83vmotorsports
Larson Grabs First Golden State Win At Watsonville
Scores Fifth At Placerville Saturday
Watsonville and Placerville, CA. May 29 and 30, 2009. Sixteen year old Kyle Larson checked off another accomplishment on his list of things to do by taking his first Golden State Challenge Series main event win at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway Friday night. The leading contender for GSC Rookie of the Year also backed that effort up the next night at Placerville Speedway by racing from 11th to fifth in the feature event at the high banked foothill facility.
Friday night at the fog shrouded Ocean Speedway Larson qualified fifth fast in the 24 car field, before starting third and finishing there in heat number two. After making several GSC dashes this season, Larson finally drew a front row assignment by picking the pill marked with a one. He did not let the opportunity slip away as he beat Jason Statler into turn one before opening a straightaway advantage at the lap six checkered.
The same scenario was repeated at the start of the 30 lap headliner, as Larson quickly opened up a comfortable lead. Although the early going saw several yellow flag slow downs and red flag stoppages, Larson would push the Dave and Debbie Vertullo Starr Property Management/Eagle/Kistler to a safe lead after each restart.
The intensity level ratcheted up after a lap 23 red flag period that saw teams allowed to add fuel and make adjustments to their setups. When the race resumed Statler’s team had obviously made the right moves as he attacked the cushion of the very heavy race track. Applying heavy pressure to Larson, who held the same low line that had worked since the opening lap, Statler inched closer to the Elk Grove, California resident. As the pair exited turn four on the way to the white flag, Statler had momentum in his favor going into turn one. However, the 2004 Golden State champion caught the cushion in turn one and executed a hard flip that ended his valiant effort to get the win.
When the race was restarted for the final time Larson easily held off new second place runner Bud Kaeding and defending Golden State champion Jonathan Allard. In victory lane the high school junior who has now claimed six feature wins in a little over two seasons of racing sprint cars said, “It feels great to get my first Golden State win. I owe it all the Dave Vertullo, who has been giving me a great car every week. We didn’t make any changes all night. I just tried to hit my marks in the main event and tried not to worry about what might be going on behind me.”
At Placerville Speedway the next night Larson qualified 11th fast of the 20 cars on hand. Tyler Walker got the jump on polestarter Larson in the second heat and both finished one and two at the conclusion of the ten lap event.
From his 11th starting spot in the feature Larson was hot from the outset. By lap six, when Larson made a spectacular pass around both Roger Crockett and Willie Croft, he had advanced to sixth. Larson made several attempts to pass Allard prior to fourth place Kyle Hirst jumping a rear tire going into turn one and bringing out the yellow on lap 13. With three laps to go Larson briefly got by Andy Gregg for fourth. But Gregg fought back to pass Larson and Bud Kaeding to take over third. Larson closed on Kaeding and nearly passed the two time USAC Silver Crown champion on the last lap, but settled for his fifth top five finish of the Golden State Challenge season. Walker led flag to flag to pick up his fifth feature win this season.
At the end of the night Larson commented, “We had a really good weekend. Things went my way with the draw at Watsonville and my car was very fast. I didn’t qualify so good here and missed the dash, but I had one of the fastest cars come main event time. I love to run the cushion here and Dave had the car just the way I like it.”
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Starr Property Management, Inc., Phoenix ParkerStores and Lubrication Equipment and Supply Co., 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 Steerings, 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.
Race: May 29 & 30, 2009
Ocean Speedway Photos Courtesy of Shane Muir
Placerville Speedway Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
Videos posted on www.kylelarsonracing.com of main events
Ocean Speedway
Placerville Speedway
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