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Twin Top Fives for Larson at Watsonville and Tulare
Watsonville and Tulare, CA – April 15 and 16, 2011. Looking for a solid weekend of sprint car racing in California prior to his first foray into the world of USAC Championship midget racing in the Midwest, Kyle Larson drove to fifth and third place finishes at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway and Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. Although potential victories were possible both nights, neither materialized due to unfortunate and unusual circumstances at each respective venue.
With 27 cars entered for the season opener of the Taco Bravo 360 Sprint Car Series at Ocean Speedway group qualifying was attempted for the first time at the track. Larson and his Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino Resort team were pleased with the process as the #99x Maxim/Shaver machine sat second quick when the sessions were done.
Larson parlayed the effort into an easy heat race win from fourth starting, which, after the four inversion was pulled, placed the 18 year old from Elk Grove, California in the third starting slot for the A-main event. Fourth fast qualifier Eric Humphries and two time defending Taco Bravo champion Tommy Tarlton occupied the front row while Larson lined up inside of fast timer Shane Golobic.
After the first start was aborted for a spun James Bondurant action got underway with Tarlton leading and Larson scooting underneath Humphries and Golobic to trail at the end of the first circuit. Another yellow slowed the field on lap 2, necessitating a single file restart. Although Golobic was somehow placed second in the order for the restart, when the green reappeared Larson quickly reassumed the position on the backstretch and set out for Tarlton.
For the next three laps Tarlton and Larson battled nearly side by side. As Larson used the low line into turn one of lap five Tarlton slammed the door shut. After Larson checked up to avoid contact with Tarlton, he gathered it up to attempt another run at the lead. However, third running Golobic got into the back of Larson and sent him into a spin that would end any hopes for a win.
Although Larson fought back to seventh by lap 18 the track surface, which had been mostly slick since the earlier qualifying sessions, began to take rubber. Forward progress became more difficult and Larson passed only two more cars to finish fifth at the lap 30 checkered. Tim Kaeding parked in victory lane after using lapped cars to his advantage with a pass of Tarlton on lap 22.
The next night at Tulare Larson timed in fifth quick in a fine field of 32 cars assembled for the second race in the new Golden State King of the West Sprints for 410 sprint cars. Needing a heat race win to assure himself a place in the dash that lines up the first four rows of the feature race, Larson was only able to muster a second place finish in heat two behind Evan Suggs. As the fastest qualified car not in the dash Larson lined up ninth on the grid for the scheduled 30 lap event.
Once again Tarlton led from the start as Kaeding and Roger Crockett trailed. On lap eight Kaeding took over the point while in the early going Larson gradually moved his way forward. Jonathan Allard made several bold moves to take over second from Tarlton on lap 10 as Larson sat fifth behind Crockett. On lap 13 Allard made a high side pass of Kaeding, only to see it nullified when the yellow flag appeared.
While Kaeding continued to lead despite persistent challenges from Allard, Larson got past Crockett for fourth. As the track gradually began to take rubber the intensity heated up as the top four ran high speed laps nose to tail. To add to the drama Kaeding’s machine appeared to develop engine problems as the laps dwindled away.
As the white flag appeared Allard got into the frontstretch wall looking for a way around Kaeding and went for a wild tumble as the field sped past. With the red flag displayed with only a handful of minutes left before the State mandated curfew, a two lap dash to the finish was anticipated as Allard’s damaged mount was hooked to the tow truck. However, officials declared that the race was complete due to safety concerns related to excessive tire wear, and Kaeding salvaged the win over Tarlton and Larson. The surprising conclusion was not what the Larson camp wanted to see as it was announced Kaeding was only running on seven cylinders, and reportedly, Tarlton was concerned with brake issues as well.
Larson now moves on to his first ever attempt at a national championship as he will be in Dodge City, Kansas this coming weekend to take on the stars of the United States Auto Club Mopar Midget Series. Larson’s hopes are high as, in his maiden voyage in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota midget at the Copper on Dirt Classic at USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona in February, he swept the doubleheader in dominating fashion.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa Casino ~ Reno, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Simpson Race Products, Abreu Vineyards, JW Web Design, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions and All Star Performance.
For more information and news on 18-year-old Kyle Larson visit his website at www.kylelarsonracing,com.
Race: April 15 & 16, 2011
Photos Courtesy of MAJ1K Motorsports
Ocean Speedway - Main Event
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