EVENTFUL NIGHT SEES LARSON SECOND TO TIM KAEDING IN JOHNNY KEY CLASSIC
Watsonville, CA – August 28, 2010. Just as he did the week previous when he was
crowned King of California of the Golden State Challenge Series, Kyle Larson was looking
to add his name to a
prestigious list of drivers when he competed in one of California’s most heralded
races, the Johnny Key Classic. Although Larson gave Tim Kaeding all he could handle over
the course of the last 20 of a scheduled 50 laps at Ocean Speedway Saturday night, the 18
year old from Elk Grove, California came up just shy of victory in a thrilling duel with
the World of Outlaw veteran.
The Taco Bravo 360 Series sanctioned event is the highlight of the season at Ocean
Speedway and honors the memory of local legend and national star Johnny Key, who hailed
from nearby Salinas. The 50th running of the race featured, as always, a format that has
drivers pre-qualify for the big race over the course of several weeks.
This year’s event saw Larson as the first pre-qualified entrant when he won the main
event on June 25th. When he also won round two on July 17th second place finisher Ronnie
Day moved in as the next entrant. Feature winners of rounds three and four, Tommy Tarlton
and T. Kaeding, were joined by the two highest drivers in the track’s season long
point standings not already locked in, Brent Kaeding and Peter Murphy.
Prior to those six drivers gracing the speedway, qualifying
and twin B-mains were held for the other 25 cars on hand. After Andy Gregg ? turned the
fastest qualifying lap, Brad Furr and Justin Sanders paced the 16 final entrants into the
feature event by each scoring wins in their respective B-mains.
Following the completion of the semi-features the six locked in drivers drew for starting
positions in a six lap dash that would set the lineup of the first three rows of the Key
classic. Larson had his work cut out when he drew the number six pill, with Tarlton
drawing the pole over Day, B. Kaeding, Murphy, and T. Kaeding. When the checkered fell
Tarlton scored the win over BK, TK, Day, Larson and Murphy.
The half century lap race is set up to have a mid point 15 minute break in which
competitor’s crews
can do virtually anything to improve the performance of the race car over the last half of
the race. Little did anyone know at the outset that a complete engine change would add
much drama to the proceedings.
With the feature finally underway BK jumped out to the lead as Tarlton slipped to fourth
as he fought early handling woes. Day and TK followed as Larson fell into seventh behind
Murphy and Sanders. By lap four Larson drove under Sanders and around Murphy to advance to
fifth.
Over the next few laps Larson began to reel in the lead foursome as the action at the
front was furious. As the lead pack began lap nine Larson had a run on the bottom of the
frontstretch as Tarlton looked to make something happen with Day. Just when Larson
appeared to have the momentum to carry past Tarlton, the Easton, California driver made a
dramatic move to the low side that contacted the Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill
Casino sponsored car and sent it veering into the implement tire in turn one.
At the same time that Larson was unable to keep his mount running Cory Eliason flipped in
turn four to bring the race’s first stoppage. With the race reverting back to the
last completed lap officials ruled that Larson would return to the race where he was
scored at that point, which was fifth.
When the race resumed TK powered ahead of father BK to take the lead. As BK began to
experience a faltering powerplant, Tarlton and Larson both powered by lap on 16. When the
same top four and the rest of the field reached the lap 25 red flag period, the fans did
not expect what was in store as crews
went to work on the cars directly in front of them on the front straightaway.
Taking advantage of the unique format of the race BK’s crew of “Hogs” raced
out onto the speedway to try to accomplish the near impossible by changing engines during
the break. Amazingly pushing off to restart even before other racers, BK rejoined the race
still holding fourth.
At the same time, a curious decision added to the drama as fans were informed that Larson
would be set back due to officials rescinding their earlier ruling that gave the youngster
his spot back at the lap 8 red flag. As a puzzling compromise, Larson was dropped to sixth
on the restart.
As the field roared back to life Larson appeared more determined than ever as he raced
past Day on lap 27 and fourth place Sanders on lap 29. As Tarlton and BK were trading
slide jobs for second and third Larson sat poised to pounce on both.
Coming out of turn four for the completion of lap 31 Larson drove under BK and then
disposed of Tarlton just a few feet later on lap 32. He quickly pulled away and set out
for TK. When the yellow flag appeared a lap later only one lapped car separated Larson
from the leader.
Over the latter stages of the race Larson shadowed TK and on many occasions raced side by
side. The thrilling battle, with TK running the high side and Larson looking for traction
on the bottom, got more intense as the laps clicked off, with a winner clearly undecided.
When the final yellow flag appeared as the leaders were battling on the last lap, the race
became a 51 lap event as track rules provide a two lap race to the finish in that
situation. At the final restart third running Tarlton got a great push and Larson lost
ground to TK as he fought to hold second. Successfully resuming command of the runnerup
position over the last pair of laps Larson crossed the finish line one second behind the
jubilant TK.
When interviewed after the race Larson stated, “ Congratulations to Tim. He was real
smart under the yellow when we had to go through the infield and he would spray loose dirt
onto the bottom. Then I got kind of startled by Tommy on that last restart and sort of
lost my shot at Tim. But I got a third here last year and now a second, so maybe the trend
will lead me to winning this race next year.”
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, Abreu Vineyards and All Star Performance.
