Larson Closes Out Season 6th In Glenn Howard Memorial
Perris, California – November 27, 2010. The 2010 racing season came to a conclusion
for Kyle Larson Saturday night as the Golden State Challenge
Series champion ran wingless once more in the USAC/CRA Glenn Howard Memorial at Perris
Auto Speedway. On a day that started out under typical sunny Southern California skies
Larson drove the Glenn Crossno owned ITI Performance machine on a deflating right front
tire to a sixth place finish under threatening conditions that saw intermittent sprinkles
throughout the last half of the program.
Larson, who was at the helm of the Crossno mount for the first time at the Oval Nationals,
returned to the PAS to see if he could improve on his impressive performance three weeks
previous. At that event, three nights of steady improvement saw the 18 year old running in
fifth place with seven laps to go in the big money finale when he dropped from the race
with mechanical issues.
 Gremlins
appeared again for Larson just as hot laps pushed off Saturday night and the red number 38
returned pitside for a new rear end. After installing a replacement Larson did his first
laps at speed in a qualifying effort that saw him 11th fast of the 38 cars pitted.
Larson started sixth in the third heat and finished fifth in the 10 lapper, missing the
transfer to the feature by one spot. Relegated to the B-main Larson sped from third on the
grid to finish second in the 12 lap event and earn a spot in the feature lineup.
With the program in hurry-up mode due to the steadily increasing rain showers Larson
installed tearoffs while buckled in the cockpit as the crew readied the car for the
feature event. Getting his time back after transferring from the semi Larson lined up 11th
as the field quickly assembled together.
Once underway outside front row starter Cory Kruseman assumed the lead and gradually
increased his advantage, while Larson looked for a way forward on the tacky and somewhat
narrow racing surface. When the race’s only yellow flag appeared on lap 17 Larson
stood ninth in the running order. Unknown to Larson at the time his right front tire began
to slowly deflate as he rolled around waiting for the race to resume.
Despite the condition Larson continued on and remained competitive over the course of the
final laps. After the checkered flag fell on winner Kruseman at the conclusion of lap 30
the King of California crossed the stripe in sixth to bring an end to his 2010 racing
season.
“I knew something was wrong with the right front corner of the car”, said Larson
at the end of the race. “I really thought something was wrong with the shock, but the
tire going down explains it. It’s unfortunate because the car was getting really fast
as the fuel burned off. Glenn and my crew of Bryan Sundby, Rico Abreu, and Colby Copeland
worked real hard tonight getting the car right and I appreciate their efforts, especially
changing the rear end in time for qualifying.”
For more information and news on Kyle Larson log onto www.kylelarsonracing.com.
Race: November 27, 2010
Photos Courtesy of MAJ1K Motorsports
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