Larson Charges From 11th To Lead Before Throttle Issues End In Crash
Antioch, California. April 9, 2011. Continuing a trend begun in several recent World of
Outlaws events, Kyle Larson charged from deep in the field of the feature race Saturday
night at the inaugural Golden State
King of the West Series at Antioch Speedway. In a thrilling drive to the front the
defending King of California took the lead from former two time Golden State champ
Jonathan Allard on lap 18 and appeared to be on his way to win number four of the 2011
campaign. However, a lap 22 yellow flag for debris on the track set up an unfortunate
series of events for Larson, who had battled sticking throttle issues since mid race,
which resulted in a tumble into the turn three wall two laps later.
The yellow flag magnified the situation Larson was dealing with when the green flag
reappeared and
the 18 year old almost drove the Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino and Resort
Maxim Shaver into the turn one fence on the restart, allowing Allard to sneak under and
retake the lead on the very fast and tacky track. Larson continued to closely pursue
Allard but it was all for naught when his machine lifted and collided with the turn three
wall on lap 24.
“Even coming through the pack I was dealing with the throttle sticking,” Larson
said after the race. “But I wasn’t all the way on the gas most of the time
coming up through the leaders and lapped cars. You just couldn’t be, with how much
traffic there was. When I got the lead and that yellow came out I knew I would have to be
hard on the gas out front with Jonathan behind me. I almost couldn’t turn it in turn
one on the restart, but saved it. After he got by me I still thought I could get him back,
but obviously it got the best of me and ended my night.”
Larson began the night with 27 other competitors pitted in front of the large crowd on
hand on a chilly night. With a large amount of water applied to the
track before a wheel was turned, passing would be at a premium in the heats. While the new
KWS format takes the heat winners to the dash along with the top four qualifiers not
winning, a heat win was of utmost importance as the Elk Grove, California driver qualified
eighth quick and started third in the fourth heat.
After getting shuffled back to sixth on the start Larson was just hoping at that point to
avoid a trip to the semi main. When leader Art McCarthy flipped on the backstretch to
bring out the red at the mid point of the race, Larson was in the final transfer spot of
fourth. As the green flag reappeared Larson blasted out of turn four and down the front
stretch into second. Inching closer to leader Andy Gregg each lap, Larson tried a valiant
wheel standing attempt of a pass out of turn four that fell just short at the line.
From the 11th starting position Larson began the 30 lap feature race patiently on the
still tacky, but now choppy race track. Scored 10th at the end of the first lap, Larson
battled with and then passed Shane Golobic on lap 6, and Rookie of the Year contender and
second fast qualifier Kenny Allen a lap later. On lap eight race long leader Bobby McMahan
had contact with a lapped car in turn one, which resulted in a flip for the veteran driver
and moved Larson up to seventh.
The race resumed with Allard as the new leader under a newly enacted double wide restart,
only to have a four car pileup on the frontstretch which involved Tommy Tarlton, Pat
Harvey Jr., Billy Strange, and Golobic. With Tarlton out Larson moved
to sixth on the single file restart. He quickly began to show his muscle as he overtook
Brad Furr for fifth on lap 10 and closed on Brent Kaeding. Stalking Kaeding with inside
attempts to no avail Larson passed the 13 time Golden State champ out of turn four on lap
14.
Entering turn one Larson maintained his momentum and drove around the outside of Jason
Statler to move into third place. With lapped cars a constant issue Larson closed on
second place Evan Suggs and dove under him in turn one of lap 17 to
take over the position. Only Allard separated Larson from first place and he quickly
narrowed a near straightaway gap in less than two laps. Into turn three Larson powered
around Allard and was scored as the new leader of lap 19.
Before action was slowed as someone’s nose wing was deposited on the backstretch of
lap 22, Larson had put a handful of cars between himself and Allard. With the lappers
moved to the back of the pack Allard restarted on Larson’s tail in single file order.
As the green appeared the hanging throttle became more pronounced on the open track for
Larson and his night was ended two laps later on the hook, scored 16th. Allard maintained
the lead to the checkered, with Suggs and Statler filling the final podium positions.
“My guys, led by Clark Riolo and Matt Britt, had the car set up perfect in the
feature. I love these hooked up and choppy type of tracks because you really
have to get up on the wheel. They had the car so good for the top of the race track and
nobody seemed to want to go up there. We had the car to beat tonight. I don’t know if
it was mud jammed somewhere that was causing the throttle to stick or what, but it was
getting gradually worse as the race went on. It’s a tough way to lose one but
we’ll just have to come back and get them next week.”
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill ~
Resort ~ Spa Casino ~ Reno, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Simpson Race Products,
Abreu Vineyards, JW Web Design, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions and All Star
Performance.
For more information and news on 18-year-old Kyle Larson visit his website at www.kylelarsonracing,com.
