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Kyle Larson 2012 Year In Review
Source - MAJ1K Motorsports / www.KyleLarsonRacing.com - 12/29/12
While it would have seemed impossible for Kyle Larson to top his stellar season of 2011, somehow the 20 year old from Elk Grove, California managed to do just that in 2012. With a list of accomplishments last year that included a win with the World of Outlaws in the Gold Cup Race of Champions, multiple victories in all three divisions of USAC highlighted by a sweep of the Four Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, a huge win at the Belleville Midget Nationals, and a selection as one of seven finalists for Speed TV's Performer of the Year, the bar would be hard to top.
Just after a preliminary night win at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in the Keith Kunz Motorsports entry, that was followed by a third place finish in the finale, the rising talent was signed to a driver development contract with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. With EGR backing the Tim Russell Racing team, Larson made his first ever stock car start in February at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway a memorable one, as he led the only lap that mattered while snatching the win in the Super Late Model Pete Orr Memorial. He followed that up with another win in his second race at the same track, taking the opener of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
In March, Larson made his national stock car debut at one of the most demanding tracks in the country, Bristol Motor Speedway. Wheeling a car for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K & N Pro Series East as a Drive for Diversity participant due to his Japanese heritage, his ninth place finish did not hint at what was in store for Larson in the season long chase for the championship.
As the season moved along Larson kept very active in several different race cars, racing wherever and whenever he could. He reeled off an April win at Flora, Illinois in the Abreu Vineyards non-wing 410 sprint car, followed a week later by a victory at Dodge City in Keith Kunz' dirt midget. Two nights later Larson returned to the cockpit of the Abreu non-wing ride and captured his first ever win at the highly competitive Kokomo Speedway.
A week later Larson ventured to California to race at his favorite track, Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway. In a double-double show of versatility Larson raced three different cars on two nights for a four feature weekend. Driving the Josh Ford Motorsports # 72 USAC West Coast 360 non-wing sprint car, Larson started sixth and claimed the opener. On night number two Larson had misfortune resulting in a heat race tumble that damaged his car beyond repair. The # 73 car of teammate Ryan Bernal, absent due to Prom Night, was quickly readied. Due to the car change Larson started last in the B-main and collected the last transfer spot into the feature event. From there Larson put on a dazzling performance as he passed every car ahead of him on the way to the feature win.
At the same events Larson piloted Paul Silva's potent 410 winged sprint car in a pair of King of the West tussles. After taking the opener from sixth Larson looked to be on his way to a four feature sweep in the doubleheader finale. However, a blown oil filter seal while comfortably ahead with four laps to go was the only blemish in a very productive weekend.
In early June things started to heat up for the fledgling stock car exploits of Larson. At historic Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he experienced his first pole award in NASCAR K & N East competition, while also garnering a top five finish in the race. A week later a major highlight of Larson's burgeoning career came at Jefferson, Georgia's Gresham Motorsports Park when he scored his first NASCAR win in the K & N Pro Series East event there. With the win Larson served notice that he would become a serious contender for the championship.
A week down the road Larson's next set of high points came on the same night at Kokomo Speedway. First taking the non-wing sprint car feature in the Abreu Vineyards #1k ride, Larson came back to win a hard fought battle over teammate Bryan Clauson in the finale of the USAC Midget Week in the Keith Kunz Motorsports midget.
Another week later he made his first foray to tackle four races in the Ohio All Stars Speedweek in the Abreu 1k winged sprint car. Many eyes were opened as the youngster won his first two races, at Cannonball Speedway and Wayne County Speedway, over some very exceptional national competition. He also led the other two races he entered to cap a successful debut with the touring group.
Near the end of the month Larson made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Kentucky Speedway. Starting last after needing to change an engine during practice, the neophyte looked like a veteran as he drove to a tenth place finish in the Turner Motorsports entry. The tally of wins at the conclusion of the first half of 2012 stood at 14.
While a couple of second place finishes in Pennsylvania and Iowa kept him in contention for the K & N championship, Larson's open wheel racing really began to heat up in midsummer, starting with a second consecutive win in the PORWi Midget Series event at Osborn, Missouri. He followed that up with two wins in USAC sprint car competition, both at Iowa's Oskaloosa Speedway in the Hoffman #69. The last of the two victories was his second consecutive win in the highest paying event in USAC, the $15,000 to win Ultimate Challenge.
A night later, at the Knoxville Nationals for winged 410 sprint cars, Larson made his first ever appearance in the granddaddy-of-them-all for open wheel racing,. Driving the Abreu machine, Larson certainly made it a memorable occasion as he sped to the win, while also solidly locking himself into the Saturday night feature. There, he experienced a bit of bad luck as a blown tire that damaged his left rear shock kept him from scoring a top finish.
On the last day of August Larson made another appearance in the NASCAR Truck Series, this time at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After starting 17th Larson grew faster in the Turner pickup as the race progressed, with him eventually securing sixth at the checkered flag.
Back to the dirt, Larson began September by again taking two feature event victories on the same night in different cars. On the opening night of Gold Cup festivities Larson once again drove the Ford non-wing 360 to a USAC West Coast Series win, while also posting his first season victory in California Civil War 360 winged competition driving the Finley Farms entry. Topping the final night of action Larson won his second consecutive Gold Cup trophy wheeling the Silva #57, while beating multi-time World of Outlaw champion Donny Schatz by over half a lap.
Eight days later Larson earned his first ever win aboard the Fox Brothers non wing 410 mount, besting 53 other cars in the Jack Hewitt Classic at Waynesfield Raceway Park in Ohio. The following Saturday saw Larson experience the classic highs and lows of racing, all in the same day. First, he captured his second K & N Pro Series East win in front of the NASCAR elite on hand for the Cup weekend at New Hampshire Speedway.
Then, hopping a private jet owned by Tony Stewart, Larson was whisked away to make it in time to Eldora Speedway to hopefully defend his 2011 sweep of the USAC Four Crown Nationals. The first order of business saw Larson arrive to step into Stewart's Silver Crown car for the first time. With only a couple of immediate hot laps under his belt Larson placed the unfamiliar machine on the pole when qualifying was complete.
The crowd began to buzz when Larson raced from ninth to win the midget feature in dominating fashion, once again wheeling the Kunz #71. Next up, he jumped into the Hoffman sprinter to try to continue the fairytale story. However, a rut in turn one saw Larson bounce into the turn one wall. With that, a harrowing crash was in store, as Larson was hit full tilt by another competitor while upside down. Luckily surviving with only minor bruises and a headache, he nevertheless made the decision to call it a night, which dashed any hopes of a Four Crown repeat.
The first weekend of October had Larson in Pontoon Beach, Illinois for a three night affair at Tri City Speedway. The highest paying event in USAC midget racing saw Larson finish second and first on the preliminary nights, while also taking the $10,000 to win finale, again in the Kunz #71. Six days hence Larson scored another win in the Finley Farms winged 360, as he visited Watsonville, California's Ocean Speedway.
In the penultimate NASCAR K & N event at the end of October Larson placed fourth at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. The result gave the rookie driver a 10 point lead going into the final event the next week at venerable Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina. Knowing he needed to keep second in points Brett Moffitt in his sights, Larson drove conservatively in the early going. However, in the late stages of the race Larson was giving it everything he had in sixth place, while Moffitt led the race and had drawn even in the point battle.
While Moffitt held the tie breaker if he won the race and they tied in points, things looked bleak for Larson's championship hopes as the pair took the white flag. But in a storybook finish, Moffitt got loose coming off turn two, collected the second place car, and crashed to a stop on the backstretch. With the crowd looking on in stunned amazement, Larson drove to the finish and became the first Drive for Diversity candidate to win a major touring NASCAR championship. To cap the list of NASCAR accomplishments Larson was also named the series Rookie of the Year.
Coming back to earth, Larson ventured to Phoenix to make his third start in the Turner Motorsports NASCAR Truck the following week. Putting his emerging talents on display Larson led most of the last quarter of the race. If not for a late race caution that necessitated a double file restart Larson would surely have had his first Truck Series win, however, he instead settled for a commendable second place finish.
The next night he commuted over to nearby Canyon Raceway Park to again take on the stars of the USAC National Midget series. And once again, Larson came away with another win as he parked the Kunz Motorsports machine in victory lane.
In his final start in the Turner Motorsports NASCAR Truck at Florida's Homestead Speedway Larson continued to show rapid improvement as he tied for fast time in qualifying. Losing the tiebreaker was not a hindrance as Larson led the most laps while dominating most of the race. Unfortunately, a late race restart saw him lose some ground, before recovering and heading back to the front. Attempting to move into second with two laps to go, Larson and Ty Dillon came together, with the Turner machine ultimately hauled away on the hook. Nonetheless, everyone on hand was aware of who had the fastest truck on this night.
Capping off another incredible season Larson spent Thanksgiving winning one of the longest running and most prestigious events in racing, the Turkey Night Grand Prix. Besting a field of 59 cars in a return to dirt for the classic that first ran in 1934, Larson fought off repeated attempts from multiple contenders to kiss the coveted Aggie Trophy in the Perris Auto Speedway victory lane.
Ending the season on a global scale Larson returned to Auckland, New Zealand to compete for the second time in the International Midget World Series at Western Springs Speedway. Where midget racing appeals to crowds in excess of 20,000, Larson drove track owner Bill Buckley's potent machine to consecutive wins in the last few days of the memorable 2012 year.
As the 2012 season closed Larson's summary produced 30 wins while driving 21 different cars, in a total of 123 races. Surely the most active driver in the country and probably the world, Larson displayed his versatility by racing NASCAR Trucks, K & N stock cars, ARCA stock cars, Late Model stock cars, USAC Silver Crown cars, and USAC midgets on pavement. On every kind of dirt surface he tamed Silver Crown cars, 410 winged and non-wing sprint cars, 360 winged and non-wing sprinters, and the midgets. With his year long list of accolades Larson is once again nominated for the Speed TV Mario Andretti Trophy for Performer of the Year, due to be named in January of 2013.
***The following was added 1/3/13 by Doug Bushey***
To continue his amazing streak of open wheel domination on dirt into the New Year, "Yung Money" just added another jewel to his crown by making history at the Western Springs Speedway in Auckland, New Zealand, making a clean sweep of the four-race International Midget World Series and thus was crowned "King of the Springs".
Before last week, no one had ever won back-to-back-to-back Main Events in one season. Kyle Larson did just that by winning the 25-lap Feature, the 30-lap Feature, and the 40-Lap Feature at the famed track. Last night, the "NorCal Ninja" completed is "Domination Down Under" tour by parking the #99 speedcar in the "Circle" after 50 perfect laps. The celebration was kicked off immediately after the checkers flew with Kyle's signature "donuts" in the infield and then photo opportunities with Kyle proudly waving the "Grand 'Ole Flag" to the cheers of many new fans! Next up...Chili Bowl...
Doug Bushey
Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations
Agent
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