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Larson Sweeps Copper On Dirt Midget Doubleheader
Tucson, Arizona. February 18 and 19, 2011. Making his first appearances in the potent Keith Kunz Motorsports midget, 2010 King of California Kyle Larson continued his winning ways in the early portion of the 2011 season as he dominated both feature events of the Copper on Dirt Classic at USA Raceway Park in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend. Coming off the biggest win of his career in the Lucas Oil ASCS national winged sprint car race at Hanford, California the week previous week, the 18 year old made it three wins in a row while winning in a midget for the first time.
Larson, who will contend for the USAC national midget title with Kunz, said of the wins, “This is a great way to start off in my new ride with Keith Kunz. The car was on a rail all weekend and the Toyota engine ran great. My hat’s off to Keith and the crew as the car was flawless every time it hit the track. I don’t have a lot of midget experience but I hope to get some more wins this year when we get to the USAC midget schedule. I’m really looking forward to it”
Larson, who led flag to flag in his Hanford ASCS win, did the same in the Friday night victory after starting outside the front row. Driving the Toyota Racing Development sponsored Bullet Chassis built by Kunz, the Elk Grove, California resident pulled away to a three quarter lap advantage when the yellow flag appeared late in Friday’s 20 lapper. A torrid battle over the last laps saw Arizona midget champion RJ Johnson use lapped traffic to his advantage to steal second from Pennsylvania’s Steve Buckwalter as Larson pulled away and copped his first win.
Saturday’s closer saw Larson nearly take the lead on the first lap from fourth starting, but was just short at the line as California Racing Association sprint car champion Mike Spencer held on. By turn one though Larson again showed the way as the Toyota powered machine pulled in front. Larson’s teammate from Indiana, 16 year old Dalton Armstrong, slid into second as the duo darted away from Spencer.
The caution lights came on for a stopped Johnson on lap three as his night was over. With the green flag displayed, the race went non stop as Larson showed the way to a half lap advantage at the lap 25 checkered flag. Action behind was very competitive once again as Danny Sheridan prevailed in a fierce fight with Armstrong over the last several laps. Buckwalter brought Cactus Jack Yeley’s mount home fourth, while Sheridan’s teammate, Josh Pelkey, finished fifth.
The Kunz/Larson combo will start the Mopar USAC national midget campaign at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas with another double header scheduled to open the point season on April 22nd and 23rd. Between now and then Larson will be competing in California in various winged sprint car events, including several World of Outlaws and King of the West Series 410 races, and also a handful of 360 shows.
For more information and news on Kyle Larson please visit www.kylelarsonracing.com.
 
Race: February 18 & 19, 2011
Photos courtesy of Gaye Allen & Timothy Olds
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