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Larson Charges From 11th To Lead Before Throttle Issues End In Crash
Antioch, California. April 9, 2011. Continuing a trend begun in several recent World of Outlaws events, Kyle Larson charged from deep in the field of the feature race Saturday night at the inaugural Golden State King of the West Series at Antioch Speedway. In a thrilling drive to the front the defending King of California took the lead from former two time Golden State champ Jonathan Allard on lap 18 and appeared to be on his way to win number four of the 2011 campaign. However, a lap 22 yellow flag for debris on the track set up an unfortunate series of events for Larson, who had battled sticking throttle issues since mid race, which resulted in a tumble into the turn three wall two laps later.
The yellow flag magnified the situation Larson was dealing with when the green flag reappeared and the 18 year old almost drove the Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino and Resort Maxim Shaver into the turn one fence on the restart, allowing Allard to sneak under and retake the lead on the very fast and tacky track. Larson continued to closely pursue Allard but it was all for naught when his machine lifted and collided with the turn three wall on lap 24.
“Even coming through the pack I was dealing with the throttle sticking,” Larson said after the race. “But I wasn’t all the way on the gas most of the time coming up through the leaders and lapped cars. You just couldn’t be, with how much traffic there was. When I got the lead and that yellow came out I knew I would have to be hard on the gas out front with Jonathan behind me. I almost couldn’t turn it in turn one on the restart, but saved it. After he got by me I still thought I could get him back, but obviously it got the best of me and ended my night.”
Larson began the night with 27 other competitors pitted in front of the large crowd on hand on a chilly night. With a large amount of water applied to the track before a wheel was turned, passing would be at a premium in the heats. While the new KWS format takes the heat winners to the dash along with the top four qualifiers not winning, a heat win was of utmost importance as the Elk Grove, California driver qualified eighth quick and started third in the fourth heat.
After getting shuffled back to sixth on the start Larson was just hoping at that point to avoid a trip to the semi main. When leader Art McCarthy flipped on the backstretch to bring out the red at the mid point of the race, Larson was in the final transfer spot of fourth. As the green flag reappeared Larson blasted out of turn four and down the front stretch into second. Inching closer to leader Andy Gregg each lap, Larson tried a valiant wheel standing attempt of a pass out of turn four that fell just short at the line.
From the 11th starting position Larson began the 30 lap feature race patiently on the still tacky, but now choppy race track. Scored 10th at the end of the first lap, Larson battled with and then passed Shane Golobic on lap 6, and Rookie of the Year contender and second fast qualifier Kenny Allen a lap later. On lap eight race long leader Bobby McMahan had contact with a lapped car in turn one, which resulted in a flip for the veteran driver and moved Larson up to seventh.
The race resumed with Allard as the new leader under a newly enacted double wide restart, only to have a four car pileup on the frontstretch which involved Tommy Tarlton, Pat Harvey Jr., Billy Strange, and Golobic. With Tarlton out Larson moved to sixth on the single file restart. He quickly began to show his muscle as he overtook Brad Furr for fifth on lap 10 and closed on Brent Kaeding. Stalking Kaeding with inside attempts to no avail Larson passed the 13 time Golden State champ out of turn four on lap 14.
Entering turn one Larson maintained his momentum and drove around the outside of Jason Statler to move into third place. With lapped cars a constant issue Larson closed on second place Evan Suggs and dove under him in turn one of lap 17 to take over the position. Only Allard separated Larson from first place and he quickly narrowed a near straightaway gap in less than two laps. Into turn three Larson powered around Allard and was scored as the new leader of lap 19.
Before action was slowed as someone’s nose wing was deposited on the backstretch of lap 22, Larson had put a handful of cars between himself and Allard. With the lappers moved to the back of the pack Allard restarted on Larson’s tail in single file order. As the green appeared the hanging throttle became more pronounced on the open track for Larson and his night was ended two laps later on the hook, scored 16th. Allard maintained the lead to the checkered, with Suggs and Statler filling the final podium positions.
“My guys, led by Clark Riolo and Matt Britt, had the car set up perfect in the feature. I love these hooked up and choppy type of tracks because you really have to get up on the wheel. They had the car so good for the top of the race track and nobody seemed to want to go up there. We had the car to beat tonight. I don’t know if it was mud jammed somewhere that was causing the throttle to stick or what, but it was getting gradually worse as the race went on. It’s a tough way to lose one but we’ll just have to come back and get them next week.”
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 9, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Steve Cox
www.SprintCarPhotos.com
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