7/7/2010
Sprint Source
Larson Takes Third 2010 Golden State Challenge Win At Chico
Chico, CA ~ July 2, 3 & 4, 2010. Kyle Larson made use of the Fourth of July holiday for his own personal celebration as the 17 year old from Elk Grove, California romped to a flag to flag win at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway on Sunday night. The win, in the final Golden State Challenge Series 410 event at the speedway in 2010, is Larson’s third GSC feature win of the season, third of his last nine races overall, and 12th total of his three and a half year career.
Larson utilized a bit of good fortune in earning the win by turning the eighth fastest qualifying time of 22 entrants into the pole position of the dash via the draw. As the other seven drivers eligible to start drew their starting positions for the race that would determine the lineup of the first four rows of the main event, Larson waited it out and was gifted with the pole position. While also earlier winning his heat race in impressive fashion, Larson led all six laps of the dash as Jonathan Allard drove from sixth to finish second.
With the track ultra dry slick due to very warm temperatures and an earlier beginning to accommodate the fireworks display post race, starting up front proved to be key. Larson got a great jump to lead the veteran Allard, a two time GSC champion and current GSC point leader, from the outset.
Through several yellow flags Larson was able to consistently leap out to a healthy advantage in his Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino mount. Around the mid point of the 30 lap feature the track conditions quickly changed to a rubber down type surface, but the change didn’t deter the young driver.
The only time Larson’s lead was threatened occurred on lap 26 when the lapped car of Stewart Krum spun and did a 360 in front of multiple cars, including the leaders. As Larson dove to the bottom of the back straightaway as Krum recovered, Allard made it three wide in an attempt to take the lead.
The move by Allard proved to be his undoing and changed the complexion of the race in a major way as contact ensued with Krum, resulting in significant left rear damage to the Morrie Williams owned car. After an extended caution period Allard’s crew was able to get him back out on the track just as Larson took the green flag.
Larson was comfortably out front as the race wound down over the last handful of laps. Brent Kaeding, who had a right rear tire deflating for some time, tangled with Mark Hall entering turn one of the last lap. With Larson coming out of turn four as the cars of Kaeding and Hall were flipping, the checkered was displayed before the red flag appeared, and officials declared the race completed at that point.
“I finally had some luck on my side tonight,” Larson said before fireworks began bursting, “To get the pole for the dash was really important with the way the track was going to be for the main. I just had to make sure I beat Jonathan on the start and conserved my tires, which I barely did.”
“I really want to thank my crew of Clark Riolo, Matt Britt and Nick Wilke,” Larson continued. “I kind of messed up my qualifying laps but they gave me a great car all night. Whether it was dry slick or later when it went rubber down, they had the car just right for me tonight.”
Action got underway at Silver Dollar Speedway the night prior as the track conducted their regular point series for the 410 sprint cars. Larson was one of 21 cars on hand and qualified a disappointing 14th quick. A second place finish in his heat race positioned the Kaeding Performance/Maxim/Shaver 12th on the grid for the main.
With the original start slowed by a yellow flag and then reformed Larson was caught up in a chain reaction of cars braking hard to avoid a sideways car in turn two. In order to avoid contact Larson spun his car over the crest of the banking, which led to a “Tommy Tipover” as the car laid onto its left side.
Although the red flag was unfurled Larson restarted at the rear with no damage, except for a slightly crinkled wing. With less than ideal aerodynamics Larson was still able to charge forward to a sixth place finish in the 25 lap race that saw Allard sweep the nights events.
Just for fun Larson also competed in the opening night of the Budweiser Outlaw Nationals at Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, California on Friday night. Driving a super 600 micro for noted engine builder Gordon Seros Larson qualified 11th of the 38 cars in his first ever appearance at the little bullring. In only his fourth drive in a 600 micro Larson won his heat before starting 11th in the feature race.
Larson was up to sixth and on the move in the early going. However, a tap from behind sent Larson into a 360 spin from which he recovered while only losing a couple of positions. Unfortunately, the yellow flag was quickly displayed and Larson was placed at the tail of the field. He restarted 20th and came back to finish a very respectable 7th in the feature event that was dotted with several sprint car, midget and micro stars.
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.
For more information and news on 17-year-old racer Kyle Larson please visit http://www.kylelarsonracing.com
Race: July 2, 3, & 4, 2010
Photos Courtesy of MAJ1K Motorsports
Submitted By: Kyle Larson Racing
