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Larson Flag To Flag In ASCS National Feature At Hanford
21st To Fourth In Wednesday Tulare Event
Hanford, CA – February 12, 2011. 2010 King of California Kyle Larson raced to his first Lucas Oil ASCS National main event win Saturday night by leading all 30 laps of the feature at Giant Chevrolet/Kings Speedway. For the 18 year old who will contend for the USAC National Midget championship with Keith Kunz Motorsports in 2011, the win is the first national event victory in his four year career.
The win aboard the Finley Farms Maxim/Wesmar also proved beneficial to defending ASCS champ Jason Johnson as well, as Larson earned car owner points for the absent Louisianan who is still finishing his pursuit of the World Series Sprint Car title in Australia. Johnson’s ASCS 2010 title winning Crew Chief of the Year, Wayne Priddy, perfectly tuned the No. 41 to handle the hooked up and choppy surface presented to Larson and his fellow competitors.
“This is my type of race track,” said Larson in front of the large crowd on hand. “I like it hooked up and rough. On tracks like this you’ve really got to man up and hustle your way through the ruts. But I’ve got to thank Wayne and all the Finley Farms guys, Jason, Scott and Wyatt, for giving me such a good race car to drive.”
At the drop of the green flag, outside front row starter Tim Kaeding took the initial lead into turn one and two, but the yellow flag came out for a stopped Mason Moore on the back stretch. On the restart Larson took the lead from the pole while Kaeding trailed. A handful of laps in Kaeding slipped over the edge of turn three, and, as TK gathered himself, Larson drove away from Tim Crawley and Bud Kaeding.
B. Kaeding took second from Crawley a few laps later but was not up to Larson’s torrid pace. TK moved by Crawley for third on lap 14 and then found himself back to second when his younger sibling flipped in turn four on lap 18.
On the restart Larson immediately pulled away, while on lap 20 TK nearly flipped in the same spot his brother did. Twenty-second starting Tommy Tarlton nearly slipped by TK as he fought to regain control of his machine.
Despite two final caution periods over the last third of the race TK and Tarlton were not able to stay up with Larson as the laps wound down to the lap 30 checkered. The Elk Grove, California driver collected $6,000 for the win in only his seventh ASCS Lucas Oil National race.
While TK captured the first ever ASCS National event in California on the previous Wednesday night at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway, Larson overcame minor gremlins that plagued his team early to race from 9th starting in the B-main to finish a crowd pleasing fourth in the main event.
A steering box vibration in hot laps and a electronic malfunction in his heat forced Larson deep into the B-main field with only two laps at speed on the track. Despite that, Larson quickly got into the needed top six for a transfer to the feature, finally settling for fifth at the lap 12 checkered.
Although Gary Wright assumed the lead at the outset of the 30 lap finale, TK and Roger Crockett showed their strength and soon took control at the front. By the midpoint of the race 21st starting Larson had scurried into the top four and was involved in an epic battle with 16th starter Shane Stewart.
With less than 10 laps to go Larson took the final podium position from Tommy Tarlton in turn two. After also getting by Tarlton 2009 ASCS Champion Stewart never gave up his pursuit of Larson. As TK fought to hold off Crockett up front, Larson slipped slightly coming off turn four on lap 25 and Stewart took advantage to take over third. The top four stayed in that order to the finish as the always exciting Thunderbowl lived up to it’s name.
“What a fun race,” Larson exclaimed after the checkered flag fell. “I slipped in the slick stuff of turn four that one time and Shane was good enough to get me back. But after the way our night started I’m really happy to come home with a fourth place finish. Congratulations to Tim, and Dennis and Teresa Roth, I knew they would be the car to beat tonight.”
For more information and news on Kyle Larson please visit www.kylelarsonracing.com.
Video clips of the races are posted on his website.
Race: February 9 & 12, 2011
Photos Courtesy of MAJ1K Motorsports
www.kylelarsonracing.com
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