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DNF For Larson In Golden State Challenge Finale
Placerville, CA. August 22, 2009. With fifth place in the final points standings of the Golden State Challenge Series assured heading into the main event, Kyle Larson let it all hang out at Placerville Speedway Saturday night in an effort to capture his second series feature win of the season. Unfortunately, the top contender for Rookie of the Year honors was out of the race before the halfway point due to the two stop rule, one self inflicted and the other, as they say, a racing deal.
After qualifying ninth fast of the 25 cars assembled, Larson scored a runaway win in heat three from outside the front row. The Elk Grove, California driver started seventh in the dash and dropped one spot, which secured the fourth row outside starting position in the feature race.
On the opening lap of the race third starting Keith Bloom bounced off the turn four wall and veered toward the infield directly into Larson’s path. A deft maneuver by Larson narrowly averted disaster for the Starr Property Management/Stadelhofer Construction/Eagle/Kistler machine.
On the next start Larson powered into seventh and looked very racy utilizing the treacherous Placerville cushion. However, entering turn one of the next lap Larson missed the cushion just enough to allow the car to spin over the crest of the turn.
Larson restarted at the tail in 21st and began to process of becoming a contender once again. By the time the yellow appeared again on lap 6 Larson was still mired in 20th.
When the race resumed Larson picked up the pace and by lap 10 had moved into 15th. With a red flag that involved third place Andy Forsberg, sixth place Andy Gregg, and seventh place Robbie Farr, Larson jumped into eight on lap 11.
The restart saw Larson re-energized as he mounted a challenge on Brad Bumgarner for seventh. As Larson made his move to the outside of Bumgarner into turn one of lap 13 contact ensued with the right rear and left front tires of each slightly touching. Once again Larson sailed over the top edge of the race track and spun to a halt, ending his night due to his second stoppage in the event.
With the young driver out of the contest Larson’s crew was able to witness the great race between leader Jonathan Allard and point leader Tyler Walker. After a furious battle through heavy lapped traffic Walker prevailed late to take his record setting ninth GSC feature win and his first series title.
After the races Larson summed up the night’s event and also his rookie campaign with the GSC by saying, “First, I would like to congratulate Tyler Walker and his team for winning the GSC championship. My car felt really fast tonight thanks to the setup Dave Vertullo put on it. I just felt a little too good heading into turn one on the second lap and drove her in their a little too hard and spun. Coming from the back it felt fast running the top and I was making good progress. The incident that ended it was just one of those things. I had a good run on Brad and he moved up just a bit as I got there. No fault of his, it was just bad timing.”
Regarding the GSC season just concluded Larson said, “I really want to thank Dave and Debbie Vertullo for stepping up to run 410’s regularly this season. Getting to run with Walker, Allard, the Kaedings, Suggs and all the other top drivers that drop in has really helped my progression as a driver. We’ve been fast everywhere that we have raced and getting a win at Watsonville was the highlight. We had a little bit of a low point in June with some engine problems and crashes, but with Rich Stadelhofer offering support when it was needed most, we were able to keep racing. Hopefully, next year we can come back stronger and make a run at the GSC championship.”
Larson will be competing in the history packed Johnny Key Classic at Ocean Speedway this Saturday. Larson is one of the 14 drivers locked into the A-main by virtue of his big win during the California 360 Civil War Series event last month.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Starr Property Management, Inc., Phoenix ParkerStores and Lubrication Equipment and Supply Co., Stadelhofer Construction, Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, G & N Construction, JW Web Design, Safety Solutions-LFT Technologies, Simpson Performance Products, 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 current news and information.
Race: August 22, 2009
Photos Courtesy Shane Muir
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