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July 20, 2011 at
12:02:50 PM by maj1kmotorsportspr
One Win, Three Seconds Propel Larson To ASCS Northwest Speedweek Championship
Elk Grove, California – July 18, 2011. Finding schedule breaks in the pursuit of USAC championships in the Mopar National Midgets and TRAXXAS Silver Crown Series, Kyle Larson made a homecoming to the west coast for a chance to get back to his forte of winged sprint car racing. While skipping the USAC Indiana Sprintweek due to his prior commitments out west Larson made good use of his time. In six nights of racing the 18 year old from Elk Grove, California captured one win, four seconds, and a sixth place finish, all highlighted by his taking the ASCS Northwest Speedweek title in convincing fashion.
His first race, on July 8th, was in the familiar Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino/Keading Performance number 99 in a return to the Taco Bravo 360 Series at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway along the central California coastline. After preliminary events were concluded Larson started eighth on the 22 car grid. In a very entertaining battle through lapped traffic with Tim Kaeding and rookie sensation Rico Abreu over the last half of the race the trio fought furiously until Larson settled for second behind Kaeding at the checkered. In the process Larson locked up a starting position in the first three rows of the prestigious Johnny Key Classic at Ocean Speedway in late August.
The next night Larson again saddled up on the number 99, only this time she was powered by a 410 engine as he competed with the King of the West Sprints at Santa Maria Speedway. In a field of 24 cars the defending King of California started 13th in the feature and drove to sixth at the finish as Jonathan Allard scored his first ever win at the facility.
With Sunday off Larson ventured northward toward Oregon as he met up with the Finley Farms Racing team to do battle at Medford on Monday night in the opener of the scheduled six consecutive nights of racing in the Pacific Northwest. While each of the four events in Oregon were deemed ASCS Regional races, National ASCS tour regulars dotted the lineup at each venue in anticipation of the big money ASCS doubleheader in Elma, Washington in rounds five and six.
Thirty cars and drivers appeared for the opener at Medford’s Southern Oregon Speedway. With qualifying not a component of ASCS events passing cars is of great importance in heat races. However, on this night a large amount of water was applied before hot laps, putting passing at a premium. Fortunately for Larson, a pole start and win in his heat was enough to get him into the redraw for the top eight point earners that would set the first four rows of the main event. Starting from fifth Larson battled into second by lap 19, and although he cut a half lap lead of pole starter Henry Van Dam to a straightaway at the finish, he settled for the bridesmaid role ahead of Roger Crockett.
On Tuesday 24 teams headed for the Oregon coast at Coos Bay Speedway, all the while keeping their eye on the drizzly weather in the area. However, come race time blue skies mixed with clouds in the beautiful setting for a racetrack. Larson drove from eighth to third in his heat to easily make the redraw, where he received the third starting position on the feature grid. Van Dam started again from the pole but Crockett grab the lead at the outset. By lap nine Larson secured second from Van Dam utilizing the top side of the track. With the leaders working heavy lapped traffic Larson closed on Crockett. Eventually Crockett also moved to the high side and nullified any advantage Larson had previously. The duo raced on to the lap 30 checkered flag in that order as Van Dam garnered a distant third. Crockett and Van Dam sat tied atop the Northwest Speedweek points while Larson was only one point behind.
Wednesday night 30 cars assembled at the well prepared Cottage Grove Speedway for round three of the series. Larson again started eighth in his heat and raced to fourth, which placed him in the top eight redraw. Van Dam miraculously had the pole once again after the draw and lead the first three laps. At that point Wayne Johnson took over, while Larson followed into second a couple of laps later. Larson challenged Johnson soon after for several laps but the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native repulsed the youngsters efforts and drove to a comfortable victory. Despite his third runnerup in a row in the series Larson sat atop the points with a gap of 11 over Crockett.
Just 45 minutes up the road, Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Oregon held round number four on a very pleasant evening. With 23 cars pitted Larson started fourth in his heat and finished third, just making the cutoff for the top eight redraw. Selecting the third slot on the grid Larson looked to move one place higher on the podium. Although finally knocked off the pole by Trey Starks, Van Dam took the early lead from outside the front row. While the lead duo traded slide jobs over the next several laps Larson sat poised to pounce when needed. Before the midpoint of the race Larson did just that as he swept by both in rapid succession as the trio diced through lapped cars. Larson sped unchallenged to the finish and got the monkey off his back, taking his first Speedweek win. In the process Larson opened a gap of 36 points over Crockett as the teams headed a couple hundred miles northward for the final two events in the state of Washington.
Unfortunately, rain became the victor as the damp conditions at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma never lifted enough for the Fred Brownfield Memorial National ASCS doubleheader to proceed. With the ASCS schedule already full on the west coast swing the race was subsequently cancelled with no makeup available. As a result Larson and the Finley Farms number 77 team were declared the champions of the abbreviated tour. The Finley’s and Larson will head back to the Pacific Northwest once again this coming weekend to take on the ASCS National regulars in a return visit to Cottage Grove Speedway on Friday and Saturday.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa Casino ~ Reno, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Finley Farms, Cross Creek Trading Company, Simpson Race Products, RJ’s Race Graphics, Abreu Vineyards, JW Web Design,Toyota Racing Development, Bullet Chassis, IWX Motor Freight, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions and All Star Performance.
Videos of ASCS Speedweek are posted on www.kylelarsonracing.com
Race date: July 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2011
Photos Courtesy of MAJ1K Motorsports
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