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Three Top Tens For Larson In Three Memorial Weekend Golden State Challenge Events
Petaluma and Calistoga, CA – May 28, 29 & 30, 2010. For the first time since May of 2007 the Golden State Challenge Series 410 sprint cars held races on three consecutive nights and Kyle Larson and his Stadelhofer Construction/ Peppermill Casino team was there to compete. Opening at the 3/8 mile Petaluma Speedway on Friday and continuing on for the next two nights at the picturesque half mile Calistoga Speedway, the triple header had a mixed bag of happenings for the driver from Elk Grove, California.
At an atypically dry and dusty Petaluma Speedway Larson timed in fourth fast of the 16 cars pitted. Starting fourth and only needing to finish in the top five in his heat race Larson made a rare miscue on lap four when he clipped the inside berm in turn three and spun. Restarting at the back and only salvaging a sixth place finish meant Larson would miss the dash and start ninth in the feature.
With the prep crew reworking the track after the heats were completed, the usual extreme tackiness of the speedway resurfaced in time for the main event. From his ninth starting position Larson got a great start and moved into sixth before the completion of the first lap, with dash winner Jonathan Allard leading Evan Suggs, Brent Kaeding, Zach Zimmerly and Jason Statler.
Through the first two thirds of the race the top five never changed, while Sean Becker and Larson swapped sixth on lap 15, 17 and 18, as Tim Kaeding sat poised to pounce on either driver. Unfortunately for Larson, his right rear wheel broke on lap 19 causing the tire to deflate, and necessitating a trip to the work area.
Trailing the field on the restart Larson was able to race forward and salvage a tenth place finish at the lap 30 checkered flag. Allard went on to claim his fourth GSC main event win of the season, with Suggs steadily pressuring in second, as Zimmerly advanced to his second podium finish in 2010.
Moving over to Calistoga the next day found a very dry and dusty racetrack during hot laps. Realizing conditions were unsafe for the high speeds reached, race and track officials and drivers all agreed moisture was needed or the race could not be contested. An hour later a blazingly fast and somewhat rough surface was ready to qualify on.
To save time, group qualifying was utilized and Larson stopped the clocks with the sixth fast time of the 19 cars pitted in the infield. Although his second place finish in the second heat would have normally allowed Larson to draw a starting position in the six lap eight car dash, the time factor eliminated that race.
Instead, an inversion pill was drawn and the number came up four, meaning Larson would start the feature sixth. Bud Kaeding started from the pole with third quick Bobby McMahan outside. Following were the two fastest qualifiers, Allard and T. Kaeding, with Brent Kaeding and Larson in row three.
Bud Kaeding grabbed the lead at the start as McMahan immediately faded and pulled into the infield with mechanical issues. By lap three Allard assumed the lead and two laps later T. Kaeding dropped his younger brother to third. In short order the lead pack was having to deal with lapped traffic that was very difficult to deal with on the narrow racing line.
The high speed chess game made for many moments and near misses but the race continued along at a breathtaking pace with Allard and TK battling up front, and Bud Kaeding falling into the clutches of his dad and Larson. After a handful of attempts to make something happen on the outside groove Larson finally used a lapped car on lap 19 to time a pass of the elder Kaeding in turn one and two and get beside Bud Kaeding down the backstretch. Using the same lapped car Larson powered around the outside into turn three to take over third.
Over the last six circuits Allard survived the lapped cars and heavy pressure from TK to win for the second night in a row. The 17 year old Larson finished comfortably in third with Bud Kaeding holding off his father for fourth.
The final night of racing saw more normal track conditions with 18 cars on hand. Larson qualified sixth quick and again finished second in his heat. With no time constraints, the dash was again part of the program. Larson’s sponsor, Rich Stadelhofer - a resident of Calistoga, drew the pill for the youngster and as luck would have it, the 99 car started from the pole in the dash for the first time this season. Larson did not waste the opportunity as he won by a second and a half over T.Kaeding.
The same two started the main event on the front row and TK powered out of turn four with the advantage at the drop of the green flag. Larson fought back by getting the point on the low side of turn one, but TK retook the lead out of turn two.
As the pair pulled away, McMahan fought hard to hold off Bud Kaeding and Allard. While Larson held firm trailing TK through heavy lapped traffic, on lap seven Bud Kaeding got McMahan for third.
As the raced progressed Bud Kaeding began to gradually reel in his brother and Larson. When the yellow flag appeared for Alissa Geving on lap 17 Allard had just disposed of McMahan to move into fourth.
On the restart Bud Kaeding dove to the turn one infield to slide under Larson for second. Entering turn three Allard got under Larson but the young driver found traction on the outside to reassert himself. As Allard’s mount drifted outward contact resulted in Larson spinning to a stop in turn four.
After a stop in the work area to inspect the bent front axle and drag link, and to duct tape the nose wing to the frame, Larson restarted in the back. Underway again Bud Kaeding surprised his brother by blasting by on the outside of turn two, while Larson marched forward through the pack. Over the final laps Bud Kaeding held off the advances of brother Tim to take the crowd pleasing win. Larson salvaged what he could by charging back to seventh at the lap 25 checkered.
Larson quoted at the end of the night, “I was very honored to do the memorial lap for Jesse Hockett. He gave me the opportunity to run his car at the Short Track Nationals last year and we became friends. I’ll miss Jesse. He was a great person and great racer.” Larson added, “I really wanted to win for Rich at Calistoga, since this is his home track and his wife and friends were at the races, but it wasn’t meant to be. We’ll just have to come back here in September with the non wing USAC guys and get us a win or two.”
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 and All Star Performance.
Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for videos, current news and information.
Race: May 28, 29 & 30, 2010
Photos Courtesy of Randy Frank/Franknsigns
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