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Kyle Larson Races To Tenth In The 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Finale
Tulsa, Oklahoma. January 12-16, 2010. In only his sixth ever start in a midget, Elk Grove, California’s Kyle Larson realized a boyhood dream by making his way into the feature in what he considers to be the most important race of the year, the Chili Bowl Nationals. However, making the race was only the first goal achieved as the 2009 California Golden State Challenge Series 410 winged sprint car Rookie of the Year, the youngest driver in the lineup at 17 years of age, stepped onto the national stage for the first time by battling his way to a tenth place finish in the star studded field of competitors.
Driving a Corey Tucker/ Bryan Clauson Inc. Spike Chassis/ Esslinger powered machine for the second year in a row, Larson was on rails all week at the mega event inside the massive Quik Trip Center. Each time the youngster hit the Tulsa Expo Raceway surface he found a way to finish ahead of where he started, which is critical in the draw format that rewards passing.
In his Thursday night Bully Dog preliminary qualifying heat race Larson equaled the best passing performance of the week by powering his way to a second place finish from ninth starting in the first eight lapper, while earning just two points less than fourth heat winner Tracy Hines. As second place in points Larson was inverted into the sixth slot in the second A-qualifier, one of four races which included the top 40 point earners from the eight heat races. After falling back to ninth at the end of lap two Larson got with it and raced back to a fifth place finish in the race won by NASCAR star Kasey Kahne. Larson’s effort placed him sixth of the top 16 combined point earners in the straight up starting grid for the night’s feature race.
In the early going Larson once again slid backwards as he was tenth by lap three. As the first 22 laps went non-stop Larson found his rhythm as he passed 2008 Chili Bowl champ Damion Gardner on lap five and Terry McCarl two laps later. Over the next 12 laps Larson’s Stadelhofer Construction sponsored mount chased down and tussled with Tony Roney. On lap 19 Larson finally got by Roney and also quickly passed Shane Cottle, taking over sixth.
Two laps later Larson placed a masterful slide job on Kahne in turn three and four to assume the fifth position. At the beginning of lap 23 the whole complexion of the race changed as defending champion Sammy Swindell, the leader since lap nine, was caught up in a wild flip by Jonathan Hendrick that also involved Billy Pauch Jr. With the race reverted back to lap 22 Larson found himself fourth behind new leader Darren Hagen, Hines, and New Zealander Brad Mosen.
Once back under green flag conditions Larson held fourth until Hines jumped the cushion in turn two of lap 24 after Mosen dropped the 2005 Chili Bowl winner to third. With no chance to avoid Hines, Larson hit his rear bumper as Cottle got past both. Larson deftly gathered himself and shot by Hines entering the back straightaway. As Hagen went on to lead the last lap Roney hugged the bottom to get past Mosen and take the runnerup position, while Larson trailed Mosen and Cottle. Despite the top five finish Larson missed the needed third place automatic transfer into Saturday’s A-main event.
After waiting two more days Larson was poised to fight his way into the feature lineup that needed only six more entrants when the second B-main rolled onto the track. Starting third Larson patiently bided his time as he trailed Chris Windom and 2006 Chili Bowl victor Tim McCreadie in the opening stages. After dispatching McCreadie near the midpoint of the race, Larson showed his strength when he powered around Windom on lap 15. As Larson lead to the finish Thomas Meseraull and Daniel Adler also got by Windom. With his place secure in the big event Larson held one of the 25 spots (which included a provisional to Swindell as last year’s defending champion) that the total field of nearly 270 drivers coveted.
After track officials reworked the surface and then held driver introductions Larson lined up 14th to start the race. A repeat scenario found the high school senior searching the track to find his way in the early going and getting shuffled as far back as 22nd by lap eight. Larson then got a feel for the drying track and began to mount an impressive run forward. When the first yellow flag appeared on lap 11 for a spin by Swindell that collected Chad Boat, Larson had already repasssed Bobby East, Meseraull and Swindell to advance back to 18th.
When the race resumed Larson was as fast as anyone on the track as he jumped to 12th when the next yellow appeared on lap 18. In that span Larson hurried by Adler, Kahne, Windom, Danny Stratton, Tucker/Clauson teammate Shane Golobic, and Brad Sweet. With 21 laps down Larson moved into the top 10 for the first time with passes of Roney and Cottle.
When third place Hagen spun in turn one a lap later Larson advanced to ninth. It was short lived though as Sweet shot by two laps later to drop Larson to tenth again. Soon after Larson pushed in turn three, while losing spots to Cottle, Windom, and a charging Swindell, to sit 13th at lap 28. Mike Hess dropped him to 14th with 18 laps to go before Larson mounted another charge. Passes of Sweet and Hess pushed Larson back to 11th with 15 laps to run. Contact between Larson and Tuesday’s preliminary winner Zach Daum on lap 36 saw the Illinois driver tumble in turn two, halting the action once again.
Running tenth again Larson set out after first Cottle and then USAC National midget champion Brad Kuhn. When another yellow appeared on lap 40 Larson had once again advanced to eighth. After the restart Larson jumped the cushion in turn two, allowing Cottle to steal eighth. As Larson fought to get around an ill handling Michael Pickens, Sweet slid by both on the inside to take over ninth.
Larson finally got past Pickens a lap later to get back into the top ten, but was soon engaged in a spirited battle once again with Kuhn. When the final yellow appeared with two to go all eyes were on the front three as Kevin Swindell, who had lead since lap 24, and 2009 USAC National midget champion Cole Whitt found the defending race winner and five time champ, Slammin’ Sammy breathing down their necks. Although the drama subsided up front when K. Swindell held firm to the finish, Larson’s last laps were tense as he just nipped Pickens at the line to hold on for a top ten in his first Chili Bowl Nationals A-main event in his third try in the prestigious race.
“I would like to thank Cory Tucker and Tim and Bryan Clauson for putting a great team together”, said Larson at the conclusion of the event. “Shane was awesome on his preliminary night as he locked himself in the A-main for tonight’s feature. Bryan had some bad luck in the first B-main or we would have had all three cars in the feature. My car felt great all week. I could put it anywhere and it was as fast as any car here. The crew we had, including Big Al, AJ, Jen, and Kyle, were great to work with and I really appreciate everything they did for me. This is definitely the highlight of my career so far.”
”I would also like to thank my sponsors who helped me get here”, Larson continued. “Rich Stadelhofer, from Stadelhofer Construction, was very instrumental in securing the ride for me and has been helping me a lot in my career. I couldn’t have accomplished this without his support. I also want to thank the others that helped me get here - Bret Givens, Dan and Laurel Belton, Ed Noceti, Ricci Dias, Tom Wheeler Collectibles, Davey Welsh, Bernie Kerns, Ike Fontaine, Joe Silveira of North County Plastering, Terry Brown, and Susan Signorelli and Marcel Cassulo.”
Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for videos and photos from the Chili Bowl.
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