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Two Cars, Two Tracks, Two Sixths For Larson
Watsonville and Placerville, CA. September 24 and 25, 2010. Coming off an impressive sixth place finish with the World of Outlaws at the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway two weeks ago Kyle Larson was finally back in the saddle of a sprint car, this time competing in two different 360 cars on successive nights. Although the two venues were different, the results mirrored the Gold Cup as Larson settled for sixth place finishes after early race misfortunes in each.
On Friday night at the well prepared Ocean Speedway in Watsonville Larson began the event by setting fast time over a stout field of 37 entries, just off the track record at 11.586. Heat races were conducted on a track that was still lightening fast and Larson found himself headed to the B-main after an eighth place finish.
The semi-feature saw Larson, second in points of the Taco Bravo series, lined up on the pole with point leader Tommy Tarlton to his outside. The duo easily pulled away from the rest of the pack at the outset, with Larson’s Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino Reno/Kaeding Performance sponsored mount comfortably ahead at the finish.
With a four inversion pill drawn to set the A-main lineup Larson and Tarlton started fifth and sixth, behind the front row of Mike Henry and Andy Gregg, with Evan Suggs and Tim Kaeding poised in row two.
Gregg assumed the lead at the unfurling of the green flag while Kaeding dropped Henry to third on lap two. Larson also powered by Suggs on lap two and began looking for a way around Henry as Tarlton sat sixth.
The top six remained static until lap seven, when Kaeding spun in turn three. Unfortunately for Larson, his attempt to slide his car under the stopped Kaeding was not successful, and a soft roll onto its side resulted after contact.
When it appeared there was little damage to his car Larson restarted with Kaeding at the back of the pack with 24 laps to go. Once underway again it was obvious Larson’s machine was having significant handling issues.
Over the course of the next four laps yellow flags ruled, which enabled Larson to duck into the pits on three occasions to replace a broken Jacobs Ladder and correct rear braking issues. When a red flag was displayed on lap 11 so that teams could refuel Larson sat 15th in line.
It wasn’t until lap 25 that Larson cracked the top 10, but by that time the driver from Elk Grove, California was up on the wheel as the track conditions began to suit his run the cushion style. On lap 27 Larson blasted by both Andy Forsberg and Steven Tiner to move into eight and two laps later pulled another double pass on Civil War point leader Sean Becker and Justin Sanders.
With a pass on Henry on lap 23 Tarlton drove a steady race to take the win. Kaeding was able to fight his way back to second, while Larson’s sixth place finish dropped him 30 points in arrears of Tarlton with a pair of Taco Bravo races to settle the championship.
On Saturday night Larson made a guest appearance in Rich Rosser’s #23R as the Civil War Series trekked to Placerville Speedway as the foothill facility hosted the final night of competition in the13 race tour.
Once again Larson set fast time over a 29 car field, but this time Larson earned a transfer spot into the feature by placing fourth in the first heat. When the pill draw for the inversion was complete, the reigning King of California Golden State Challenge Series champion would start sixth.
Tiner and Kaeding occupied the first row, while Gregg and Forsberg sat in row two. Larson lined up outside of Henry as the 22 car field rolled around the track while point leader Becker was adding much drama to the scene as his mount would not fire.
Finally the green flag appeared sans Becker, who would lose the championship to Forsberg at that point because he did not make the original start. Kaeding jumped out to the lead as Larson quickly advanced to fourth before the first lap was complete.
However, entering turn three of lap two Larson got in a little too hot on the low side and did a half spin. As he recovered six cars got by and he found himself 10th on an atypically difficult to pass surface.
By lap three he was back to eighth and assumed seventh when Gregg spun to a stop in turn one of lap 10. After getting the door slammed shut high and low by Greg DeCaires for several laps Larson finally powered by into sixth on lap 16.
Larson moved up to fifth when second place Forsberg spun to a stop in turn three of lap 23. On the restart Jimmy Trulli scampered past Larson to take over the spot and a lap later Tiner fell victim to Trulli also. Over the course of the last laps Kaeding romped in front of the pack while Larson diced with Tiner to no avail, and crossed the line just out of the top five.
When queried after the race to sum up the pair of races Larson said, “ We were really fast both night’s but a mistake by Tim at Watsonville and one by me here tonight took us out of having any chance to win at either place. It’s disappointing, but really it just felt good to be back in a sprint car after a couple of weeks off. I really want to thank Rich Rosser for letting me drive his car tonight. It’s a real fast car and Rich is real enjoyable to race with. We’ve been trying to get together for some time and run. I just wish I could have gotten him a win.”
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, The Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa ~ Casino ~ Reno, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions, Simpson Race Products, JW Web Design, Abreu Vineyards and All Star Performance.
For more information and news on 18-year-old Kyle Larson log onto www.kylelarsonracing.com.
Race: September 25 & 25, 2010
Photos Courtesy of Shane Muir
and Steve LaMothe
Ocean Speedway
Placerville Speedway
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