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Larson Closes Out Season 6th In Glenn Howard Memorial
Perris, California – November 27, 2010. The 2010 racing season came to a conclusion for Kyle Larson Saturday night as the Golden State Challenge Series champion ran wingless once more in the USAC/CRA Glenn Howard Memorial at Perris Auto Speedway. On a day that started out under typical sunny Southern California skies Larson drove the Glenn Crossno owned ITI Performance machine on a deflating right front tire to a sixth place finish under threatening conditions that saw intermittent sprinkles throughout the last half of the program.
Larson, who was at the helm of the Crossno mount for the first time at the Oval Nationals, returned to the PAS to see if he could improve on his impressive performance three weeks previous. At that event, three nights of steady improvement saw the 18 year old running in fifth place with seven laps to go in the big money finale when he dropped from the race with mechanical issues.
Gremlins appeared again for Larson just as hot laps pushed off Saturday night and the red number 38 returned pitside for a new rear end. After installing a replacement Larson did his first laps at speed in a qualifying effort that saw him 11th fast of the 38 cars pitted.
Larson started sixth in the third heat and finished fifth in the 10 lapper, missing the transfer to the feature by one spot. Relegated to the B-main Larson sped from third on the grid to finish second in the 12 lap event and earn a spot in the feature lineup.
With the program in hurry-up mode due to the steadily increasing rain showers Larson installed tearoffs while buckled in the cockpit as the crew readied the car for the feature event. Getting his time back after transferring from the semi Larson lined up 11th as the field quickly assembled together.
Once underway outside front row starter Cory Kruseman assumed the lead and gradually increased his advantage, while Larson looked for a way forward on the tacky and somewhat narrow racing surface. When the race’s only yellow flag appeared on lap 17 Larson stood ninth in the running order. Unknown to Larson at the time his right front tire began to slowly deflate as he rolled around waiting for the race to resume.
Despite the condition Larson continued on and remained competitive over the course of the final laps. After the checkered flag fell on winner Kruseman at the conclusion of lap 30 the King of California crossed the stripe in sixth to bring an end to his 2010 racing season.
“I knew something was wrong with the right front corner of the car”, said Larson at the end of the race. “I really thought something was wrong with the shock, but the tire going down explains it. It’s unfortunate because the car was getting really fast as the fuel burned off. Glenn and my crew of Bryan Sundby, Rico Abreu, and Colby Copeland worked real hard tonight getting the car right and I appreciate their efforts, especially changing the rear end in time for qualifying.”
For more information, videos and news on Kyle Larson log onto www.kylelarsonracing.com .
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