Larson’s Bid For Short Track Nationals Feature Comes Up Short
Little Rock, Arkansas. October 28-30, 2010. Facing quite possibly the most formidable
field of sprint cars gathered together in one place at the 23rd Annual Comp Cams Short
Track Nationals Kyle Larson knew going in that he had an uphill battle to make the final
nights 20 car main event. With an event record 125 entries Larson, and many more,
including names such as Stewart, Lasoski, Tatnell, Hannagan, Solwold, Wright,
Stenhouse,Jr., Johnson
(Jason and Wayne), and two time defending STN champion Tony Bruce Jr., watched from the
sidelines as Brad Sweet was gifted with the $15,000 win when race long leader Greg Wilson
was bumped from the lead by second place Sam Hafertepe, Jr. coming to the white flag.
With the large contingent of race cars on hand the field was split over the first two
nights of competition. Thursday’s first night saw 55 cars entered in the pill
draw-passing points type format as Hafertepe, Jr. led the way over Sammy Swindell and
Wilson, who locked themselves into Saturday’s finale.
A larger field of 70 cars appeared the next night with Larson at the helm of El Paso,
Texas’ Casey Minks 75L, sponsored by Western Dedicated Trucking, Kwik Car Wash,
Santomauro Racing Products, and Shark Racing Engines. The driver of the Rod Tiner wrenched
machine drew a very high number, 94, which placed Larson shotgun in the eight car field
for heat number three.
On a still greasy track when the third heat rolled out Larson engaged in a race long
battle with 2009 American Sprint Car Series Champion Shane Stewart over the 10 lap
distance. When the checkered flag fell Larson settled for fifth at the finish as track
champion Zach Pringle won over World of Outlaw regular Chad Kemenah, Taylor Velasquez, and
Stewart.
When the points were tallied after the nine heat races were completed Larson was
unfortunately the first driver outside of the six car inversion for the five qualifier
races. Needing a top finish in the first 12 lap qualifier to earn enough points to join
the 20 car main event lineup Larson started seventh in the loaded race that included high
point man Tim Crawley, Sweet, Lasoski, and Jack Dover.
As Lasoski and Sweet worked their way to the front Larson
showed what he was capable of as he tussled with Crawley for several laps before making a
crowd pleasing top side pass out of turn four on the local favorite. As Larson pulled away
from Crawley he closed on third running Pringle and began hounding him over the last few
laps.
Knowing he probably needed third place points to make the feature race Larson drove his
mount hard into what was left of the cushion in turn one to make a last attempt at Pringle
on the final lap. But it was not to be as the 18 year old from Elk Grove, California lost
traction and slid over the edge of turn two. As the car gently fell over onto its side
after going down the steep drop off Larson was scored ninth.
As Larson’s, and many others, night was complete after the qualifiers the feature
race took center stage. The 25 lapper was won by Brad Sweet, as Brandon Wimmer and Chad
Kemenah earned the final locked in berths to Saturday’s big money event.
With only the top three feature race finishers from the previous two nights exempt from
heat races and qualifiers on Saturday, all others had to run another set of heats
determined by a draw. Larson drew number 35 on this night and started third in the fourth
heat.
Bruce, Jr., grabbed the initial lead
from his pole starting position but Larson quickly advanced past outside front row starter
Gary Taylor into second. In short order Larson blasted past Bruce, Jr., to take a
comfortable lead he would hold until the finish.
After the 12 heat races were completed the seven qualifier races were next up with the top
two finishers from each completing the A-main grid. Each qualifier was lined straight up
based on total points earned to that point.
Larson’s sixth place starting position in qualifier number five landed him in
arguably the toughest grouping of all, with Tim Kaeding, Tim Shaffer, Gary Wright, Kyle
Hirst and Jack Dover all starting ahead. To make matters worse for many drivers deep in
the field the ¼ mile track had taken rubber by the beginning of the qualifiers due to the
extreme number of laps already contested.
Larson made the most of his situation as he drove past Dover and Wright early in the 12
lap race. Although he and Hirst reeled in Kaeding over the course of the event while
Shaffer sped away, the Northern California duo ran out of laps and trailered for the night
as the pair of Tims advanced into the headline event.
After a futile attempt by track prep crews to scrape the rubber off the racing surface the
main event got under way well into Sunday morning. With Pole Dash winner Wilson leading
for 29 ¾ laps he looked to be a surprise winner of this year’s STN. But Hafertepe,
Jr. was looking for his own glory when he nudged Wilson out of turn four. The contact was
just enough for Sweet skate by, lead the final lap, and add another significant win to his
growing resume.
For Larson, the excursion to Arkansas was still worth it as he enjoyed the time spent with
the Minks
team. “These are a real fun bunch of guys to hang around with”, said Larson.
“Casey and his crew of Don and Eric, Lamar of Kwik Car Wash, and Bob Miller of
Western Dedicated Trucking are great people and made me feel comfortable all week. I
really appreciate Casey letting me have Rod Tiner be a part of the team. Rod’s one of
the best in the sport and he had the car fast every time that it hit the track. I just
wish we all could have had a better track for tonight’s qualifiers.”
The team now has plans to rejoin for two more big events coming up on the late season
racing calendar. After Larson competes in the USAC Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway
for long time car owner Glenn Crossno this weekend, the rising star will find his way to
Las Crusces, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona to take on the best of the ASCS National Tour
and many other top drivers expected to be in attendance.
