Larson Hot Streak Continues With Fifth Golden State Challenge Win
Takes Point Lead With Two Races To Go
Marysville, CA ~ July 24, 2010. Red hot Kyle Larson drove to his third win in the last
four Golden State Challenge Series 410 sprint car events as the Elk Grove, California
driver continued to add to his victory column at Marysville Raceway Park Saturday night.
Coupled with the impressive run in GSC
competition over the last month Larson has also taken three of the last four Taco Bravo
360 wins at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway in their ultra competitive series. The 17
year olds current streak also propelled him into the GSC point lead over 13 time champion
Brent Kaeding, leading by six points with two races to go.
Marysville Raceway Park hosted 410 sprint cars for the first time in ten years and 24 cars
pitted on a sweltering day that turned into a comfortable full moon night. Larson
struggled a bit in qualifying and only turned in the 10th quickest time, hurting his
chances to make the dash for the eight fastest qualifiers who transfer to the main from
heat race activities.
However, with third quick Brent Bjork missing his assigned order in qualifying, he was not
eligible for the dash and with Larson further aided by eight quick Korey Lovell not
transferring to the main in his heat, the Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino-Reno
sponsored driver found himself locked into the dash with a heat race win.
Larson pulled the four pill for the eight car six lap dash that lines up
the first four rows of the main event. At the checkered flag Larson had advanced two
positions and finished behind new father Jason Statler to set up the front row, as point
leader Kaeding finished third.
On a track that was getting progressively rougher as the night wore on Statler and Larson
showed their strength over the rest of the field from the outset of the feature. As
Statler led early while looking to garner his first win of the season, Larson stayed
within striking distance in the opening handful of laps.
By lap five Statler came upon heavy traffic and Larson sat poised to strike. On lap seven
Larson negotiated a daring outside pass of Statler exiting turn two and took a lead down
the backstretch that he would not relinquish. Showing patience amid crafty moves through
traffic Larson extended his lead over the next several laps.
With the race nearing it’s conclusion the defending GSC Rookie of the Year had perhaps his only miscue of the race when he hooked
one of the deep ruts in turn two and got off his line momentarily. With Statler looking to
capitalize the lapped car of Lovell tried to dart by but drove into Larson’s machine
as he recovered. The contact sent Lovell flipping, which brought out the red flag and
nullified the hopes Statler had of retaking the lead.
Underway again Larson pulled away from Statler until a multiple car wreck in turn two
brought out the red flag just as Larson was coming to the white flag. When the green flag appeared for the final time Statler gave it
everything he had and closely pursued Larson over the final two laps. However, Larson
never hesitated and raced to his eight tally of the season and 15th career win of his
three and a half year career, while former point leader Kaeding finished fifth.
One week from his 18th birthday, Larson told the crowd in victory lane, “It feels
great to get another win tonight and I really have to thank Rich Stadelhofer of
Stadelhofer Construction, my whole crew and everyone that helps us out. The track was
tricky tonight with the rough spots, but we’ve been on a pretty good roll lately and
hopefully we can keep this lead the last two races and bring home the title.”
With no GSC racing this coming Saturday Larson will celebrate his birthday with a fun run
back to his roots of outlaw kart racing. The winner of the Golden Driller Trophy in the
outlaw kart division at this year’s Tulsa Shootout will look to keep his current hot
streak alive at Cycleland Speedway near Chico, California.
