Larson Takes Two Top Tens In Cottage Grove ASCS Nationals
Cottage Grove, Oregon – July 22 & 23, 2011. Coming off winning the ASCS Northwest
Bully Dog Speedweek the week prior Elk Grove, California’s Kyle Larson took on the
stars of the Lucas Oil ASCS National touring series as the group invaded Cottage Grove
Speedway this past weekend. Despite having to come from the B-main event on both nights,
and starting the feature each night from 18th, the 18 year old was able to drive the
potent Finley Farms/Cross Creek Trading Company/Wesmar powered Maxim #77 to ninth and sixth
place finishes.
With the unique draw format of the ASCS series talent laden heats are always a
possibility, and on the first night Larson was definitely involved first hand. Combined
with three National ASCS tour champions in Tim Crawley, Shane Stewart, and Gary Wright,
and other heavy hitters such as Wayne Johnson, Brady Bacon and Tony Bruce Jr., Larson
found himself in a tough spot having to start from the eight and final position in the
race. With valuable passing points on the line Larson was able to get past Bacon and Bruce
Jr., and salvage a sixth place finish.
The result placed Larson third on the grid of the B-main, where he raced to a second place
finish behind Aaron Reutzel in the 15 lap event. From outside the ninth row of the A-main
event Larson was on the move early and had passed several cars in the first handful of
laps. However on lap seven Larson allowed his mount to slip over the edge of turn three to
bring out a caution as Johnny Herrera led over J. Johnson and Crawley.
Underway again, Larson began to reassert himself as he steadily picked off cars and moved
forward in the field. With a major dog fight up front involving J. Johnson and a quickly
closing Roger Crockett over the last handful of laps that had the crowd’s attention,
Larson quietly moved into a top ten position. As J. Johnson edged Crockett in a stirring
photo finish by .027 seconds, Larson took the checkered flag in ninth.
When Larson drew the fourth starting position in his heat during the final night of
competition his task at hand did not appear to be as daunting as the previous night.
However, his fourth place finish in the ten lapper gridded him deeper into the B-main
event lineup on this night. Needing a top six transfer to make the headline event Larson
started from sixth. After a bit of struggle getting the feel of his car’s setup in
the early going Larson began to put fast laps down and drove to a second place finish
behind Jayme Barnes.
Once again Larson started 18th in the 35 lap feature and had his work cut out to make his
presence known to the front runners. As W. Johnson led in the early going over Jeff
Swindell and J. Johnson, Larson was on the move to the  front. By lap 28, when J. Johnson stole the lead from W. Johnson, Larson had
moved into sixth place. Just prior to the final caution with four laps to go Larson had
moved into the top five with a pass of Crockett. As Larson looked for a way underneath
fourth running Tim Kaeding Crockett slipped around Larson on the top side to take back
fifth. With that, Larson finished sixth as J. Johnson held the lead to the finish and
swept both ends of the Cottage Grove Lucas Oil ASCS Nationals.
Following the event Larson was quick to praise the Finley Farms team which includes Jason,
Scott, and Wyatt Finley. “These guys are a top notch team,” said Larson,
“and always provide me with an excellent car. They are a great family to be around
and I enjoy racing with them when my schedule allows, as we have had considerable success
this year.”
In eight nights of competition in the Finley Farms machine in 2011 Larson has never
finished outside the top ten. Prior to his Northwest Speedweek championship, which
included a win at Lebanon, Oregon’s Willamette Speedway and three runnerup finishes,
last February Larson garnered an ASCS National win at Hanford, California’s Kings
Speedway, to go along with a fourth place finish from 21st starting at Thunderbowl Raceway
at Tulare.
Larson will now head back to the Midwest for several big races. On Thursday the Kroger
Speedfest kicks off at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in the Indianapolis suburb of Clermont,
where the youngster will attempt to gain ground in the chase for the USAC National Midget
and Silver Crown championships. Larson currently sits third in midget points and sixth in
Silver Crown in his rookie year in both divisions. The following night Larson will make
his first ever appearance at the Indianapolis Speedrome bullring in another USAC midget
event.
At the conclusion of the Speedrome event Larson and the Keith Kunz Motorsports team will
haul through the night to make it just in time to partake in the $12,000 to win Cornhusker
Nationals midget race in McCool Junction, Nebraska Saturday night. The following night
Larson and the KKM team will venture to US 36 Raceway in Osborn, Missouri. Both events are
sanctioned by the POWRi Midget series that is based in Illinois.
Finally, Larson will head to the granddaddy of them all for midgets, the Belleville
Nationals in Belleville, Kansas on Friday and Saturday August 5th and 6th, where a total
purse of $90,000 is up for grabs. The defending King of California in 410 winged sprints
will make his first start in the prestigious happening that is being held for the 34th
consecutive year on the ultra fast circular high banks.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Finley Farms, Cross Creek Trading Company,
Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa Casino ~ Reno, ButlerBuilt
Professional Seat Systems, Simpson Race Products, RJ’s Race Graphics, Abreu
Vineyards, JW Web Design, Toyota Racing Development, Keith Kunz Motorsports, Bullet
Chassis, IWX Motor Freight, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions and All Star
Performance.
For more information and news on Kyle Larson visit his website at www.kylelarsonracing.com.
Race: July 22 & 23, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Shane Muir
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