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UPS AND DOWNS FOR LARSON ON PACIFIC NORTHWEST SPEEDWEEK
Takes Thrilling Medford Win On Night Two

Elk Grove, California. June 11-19, 2010. Seventeen year old sprint car driver Kyle Larson just returned from a nearly 2000 mile racing adventure that stretched almost to Canada in what started out to be a seven race in nine day excursion. With a rainout at Lebanon, Oregon’s Willamette Speedway shortening the set of races to six, the week saw Larson’s emotions run the gamut with a Golden State Challenge Series feature win before missing an A-main event for the first time this season days later.

For the first time the road to the Dirt Cup at Alger, Washington’s Skagit Speedway had the added incentive of a $5000 point fund for the races contested. In addition, for the first time, Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway was the kickoff event for the teams heading north. There, 32 cars signed in with Larson racing the Stadelhofer Construction/ Peppermill Casino/ Kaeding Performance ride to an eighth place finish in the Golden State Challenge sanctioned event.

A night later another 32 cars assembled at Medford, Oregon’s Southern Oregon Speedway for round number two of the GSC portion of the trip. Larson’s week was highlighted on this night with his second GSC feature win of the 2010 season and 10th overall sprint car victory in his fourth year of driving. Larson utilized the low side of the well prepared race track to chase down Jonathan Allard in the late going and take the win in front of a large appreciative crowd.

After a day off teams converged Monday night at the beautiful surroundings of the always well prepared Cottage Grove Speedway for another GSC get-together. 31 cars appeared for qualifying but Larson was one of three drivers who did not get to time in due to mechanical failures when the u-joint broke just as he was coming to the green flag. With that misfortune Larson was forced to start at the back of all events he contested on the night.

When he was not able to transfer to the feature via his heat race he once again started shotgun in the 15 car B-main. A solid run to third gained a sigh of relief for the team as Larson made his way to the 30 lap headliner. In one of his best runs to date Larson’s extensive passing skills were on display as he made his way forward to an impressive fourth place finish at the checkered.

Tuesday’s GSC race at Willamette Speedway was unfortunately lost to rain and the teams headed nearly seven hours northward for the unsanctioned 39th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup that began on Thursday. Larson enjoyed a solid beginning to his second Dirt Cup by winning his heat race and racing from ninth to fourth in the main event. The results ranked Larson fifth in points of the 44 cars on hand after the first night of competition was complete.

On Friday night the high hopes earned the night before were significantly deflated when damage to the right rear corner of the car occurred in a heat race shunt and sent the youngster pitward for repairs. Although repairs were completed in time and a push truck was waiting to go track officials curiously decided to restart the race without the 99 car.

Larson then started fourth in the B-main and passed two time defending Dirt Cup champion Jayme Barnes for second in the early going just before a yellow flag appeared. As cars paced around the track Larson realized his right rear tire was going flat and dove to the pits once again. Even with the replacement tire Larson was not able to overcome the hand he was dealt and finished tenth, missing his first feature race of the 2010 season.

Even with the misfortune of the night, hopes picked up when Larson and team were informed that they were 14th in total points, two spots ahead of the last car locked into the $25,000 to win feature race on Saturday night.

When the 24 car field headed down the backstretch for the first time disaster struck once again as Barry Martinez and Marc Duperron collided just in front of Larson. As Larson took evasive action Duperron helicoptered in the air and bounced the Elk Grove, California driver into the turn three wall, while knocking the top wing from its mountings.

Larson never stopped and once again drove to the pits for repairs. With substantial damage to the right rear suspension that was not fully repaired and a new wing Larson restarted at the back of the pack with no laps completed.

In a remarkable display of driving Larson drove forward with his damaged mount to eventually run as high as ninth in the late going. With only a handful of laps remaining something in the rear end broke and Larson scampered to the infield pit area for the final time. The disappointing 17th place finish ended Dirt Cup 2010 for Larson while Shane Stewart sat on the other end of the spectrum as a champion of the event for the second time.

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.