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Larson Makes Three Features Over Holiday Weekend
Moves Into 11th In Civil War Points
Marysville and Chico, CA ~ May 25, 26, 27. Fourteen year old Sprint Car Driver Kyle Larson enjoyed a full slate of racing over the Memorial Day weekend as he competed in three top tier events that included two 360 Civil War Series races and a special fair race before a packed house at the annual Silver Dollar Fair in Chico. Each event saw the resident of Elk Grove, California continue his progression in the sprint car ranks with starts in every main event, which saw high car counts at each.
The weekend started with a rained out Civil War Series makeup race at Marysville Raceway Park on Friday night. Larson qualified 20th of the 36 cars on hand and transferred to the A-Main with a second place finish from outside the front row in his heat race. Larson started his Dave and Debbie Vertullo ParkerStore/CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler mount in 18th, but found his car extremely tight in the early going. After making adjustments on a mid race red flag Larson restarted at the tail of the field. Front running former World of Outlaw driver and Civil War point leader Brandon Wimmer lapped Larson, but with his car coming to life, Larson camped on Wimmer’s tail over the remainder of the race as the duo raced through heavy lapped traffic. While Wimmer went on to win Larson was scored 18th in the final rundown, although he passed several lead lap cars in the 30 lapper.
On Saturday Larson ventured to Silver Dollar Speedway for a two night stay at that track. The first night was a non point race with the 360 cars again the headline division as 35 cars parked in the pits. The format saw no qualifying with a draw for heat race positions, with passing points earned. Larson started fifth in his heat and finished third, earning the eight most points when the heat race finishes were tallied. The 25 lap feature race saw Larson come home with a ninth place finish as Hawaiian driver Dean Freitas scored an upset win.
Sunday night was round four of the 15 race Civil War Series and Larson qualified 23rd of the 47 cars assembled. Larson took a pole start in heat number two and captured his first Civil War heat win with a 10 car length advantage at the checkered. He started 19th of the 22 cars in the feature event and drove to a 12th place finish as the busy weekend came to a conclusion. Larson’s showing propelled the young driver into 11th in the Civil War point series and solidified his hold as the leading rookie in the standings.
At the end of the long holiday weekend Larson said, “This was really fun. I wish I could race every day of the week. The best part was that we could roll the car in the trailer and enjoy ourselves between races. At Marysville the track conditions surprised us in the main and the car was way too tight to start with. After loosening it up under the red it really took off. Brandon went by me in a few laps and that’s when I really got going. Following someone like him really helped me learn some things. At one point I really felt like I could go around the outside of him, but he’s been taking me under his wing and helping me. I was already down a lap, so I thought maybe messing him up wouldn’t be such a smart thing to do. But that was the most fun I’ve had yet in a sprint car. At Silver Dollar, if it weren’t for a 360 spin on Saturday I might have had a top five, and on Sunday if I didn’t make a slight bobble coming out of turn four to the checkered flag I would have had a top ten. But it felt good making all three main events and getting all those laps, because that’s what I really need right now. I really have to thank my crew Dave, CJ, Bark, Andy, Deputy Dave and my dad, as they did all the work for me while I got to have all the fun. I also want to thank David Robinson Jr., a former two time Civil War Champion, for coaching me Friday and Sunday. My confidence goes up every time he’s around.”
Larson and the Vertullo racing team will visit Marysville Raceway Park again this coming weekend as the track honors the memory of long time track promoter Mel Hall.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by ParkerStore, CRV Racing Products, Starr Real Estate and Property Management, Safety Solutions – LFT Technologies, D & J Towing, Heritage Drywall, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, RPM Indoor Kart Racing and Conference Center, Platinum Powdercoating, JW Web Design, MotoWear, Wion’s Body Shop and Sierra Tire and Wheel.
Race: May 25-26-27, 2007
Photos Courtesy of Steve LaMothe
www.kylelarsonracing.com
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