From The Grandstand

by Ron Rodda
May 29, 2008

Lincoln, CA Nine years ago this July I was putting down my blanket in the grandstands in Cottage Grove, Oregon, preparing to enjoy the 2nd night of Northwest Speedweek. Across the aisle, a family of four was performing the same task, leading to a conversation that continues even today. The Elk Grove, CA foursome were parents Mike and Janet Larson, along with their then six year old son, Kyle, and 11 year old daughter, Andrea.

During that conversation, the Larsons mentioned that Kyle was going to start his racing career in a beginner box stock winged go kart. That meant I would be seeing them again that following winter in Red Bluff for the indoor season. Over the years I watched Kyle win races while competing around Northern California kart tracks as he quickly acquired a driving style that was both smooth and mature beyond his years.

In 2007 the now 14 year old strapped into a sprint car, the now well known 83V owned by Dave and Debbie Vertullo. In his rookie season, Kyle managed to win two races, an accomplishment that takes years for many drivers. His first win was at Placerville, but it came on a night when I was in Haubstadt, IN at a MSCS event. I can still remember Janet’s incredibly exciting voice mails that night as I sweltered in the Southern Indiana heat and humidity.

A 2nd win came at Petaluma on a night when I was at Placerville, far closer to the scene of the win than the first one, but still it seemed as if seeing the now 15 year old veteran receive the checkers was not to be. Luckily, on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend I got to see the 3rd win, and by all accounts, it was the best of the trio.


The 1st heat prepares for a green with the Chico fair in the background.

The annual fair in Chico is always on the holiday weekend and Sunday night offers the amazing deal for fans of a Civil War event free with fair admission. Twice the race has been rained out, and the 2008 version was threatened but never fazed. Rain was reported a short distance north of the track as the A main pushed off, but no moisture fell on the quarter mile or on Larson’s parade.

The evening started for the teenager by setting his first ever quick time, a 12.343 effort as the first of 48 cars out of the push off lanes. Being out early was an advantage and his laps were smooth and efficient, good enough to best Sean Becker and Andy Forsberg for the top 3 qualifying efforts.

The ten lap heats invert six and take four and, with the talent laden field, every position presented a battle. Larson was 3rd after ten times around the Silver Dollar oval and when the six pill was pulled, the two time career sprint car winner was assigned to the outside of the 3rd row for the 30 lap main.

Colby Wiesz led a lap before Willie Croft, the prior night’s flag to flag leader, took over with Andy Forsberg 3rd. Kyle Larson was 3rd by lap 12 and moved up a spot when Croft spun while attempting to drive under a back marker with 14 laps complete. With Wiesz back into the lead after Croft’s misfortune, the field entered turn one for the 17th time. Kyle drove under Wiesz to demonstrate the perfect slide job on the somewhat dry but very racy surface as he took over the lead.

Larson had the lead, but also had one of the best in the business pursuing the 2nd year driver, namely Tim Kaeding. Kaeding had raced past Wiesz along the backstretch on the 17th circuit. A 13 lap battle, halted a trio of occasions by yellows, was dramatic with the quintessential example of a nationally known driver racing with a rising star. Despite intense pressure from Kaeding, Larson never wavered and collected his 3rd career sprint car win over Kaeding and Sean Becker.

Kyle Larson after his thrilling, crowd pleasing win at Chico. (photo courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos)

While I missed the first two, this one certainly seemed to be the most exciting from what I was told and the huge crowd knew they had been part of a special night. As for me, I finally got to be present when Kyle Larson won a sprint car main event. It is sort of like completing the story that began nine years ago in the wooden bleachers in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

The night prior, I spent at the closest dirt track to my garage, Marysville Raceway Park, where the remodeled quarter hosted 15 winged 360s in what turned out to be an excellent night of racing. Their 20 lap main was among the better I have ever seen at the facility with Cortney Dozier leading initially off the outside front row start. Korey Lovell was 2nd by lap 2 and just before the halfway point, Colby Wiesz started running the top of turns 3 and 4, reaching 3rd on lap 9. He was 2nd a couple of laps later and continued using the same clay to take the lead from Dozier on lap 13. Wiesz led the remaining laps of the ultra fast paced event and a last lap spin and tangle put Christian Stover in 2nd ahead of Dozier.

The 19 car field of nonwing spec sprints held up their end of the show very well with perhaps an even more competitive main. Chris Magoon led off of the pole, chased by Herman Klein and the same Cortney Dozier who doubled this evening.

A spec sprint heat goes green as the sun sets over Marysville's track

The top 3 ran unchanged until Dozier moved up a spot on lap 9 and Tony Richards, seeking a 4th straight win at Marysville, took 3rd a lap later. Dozier took the lead on lap 13 and contact two laps later sent Magoon off on the hook as he and Richards dueled for 2nd. Richards, a former San Jose Speedway regular in the 1990s, followed Dozier one lap before a mechanical problem led to an exit by the leader and Richards took over for the last 5 laps. Klein and John C. Anderson filled the top 3.

The sprint 100s were on hand, a division powered by engines 100 cubic inches maximum. Nick McColloch won their main which had its own share of solid racing. Tim MacLaughlin seemed to have the win secure when his car slowed the last lap, creating the opportunity for McColloch. Many time sprint 100 winner and series champion, Tony Gaoiran was 3rd.

Both nights were able to showcase excellent racing because the number one factor is exciting dirt track racing, that being track conditions, were conducive to quality racing. Marysville’s track kept getting better as the night progressed, particularly in the north set of turns, and Chico had just the amount of dryness coupled with two grooves to make the show they presented all possible.

Although Friday was an off night with nothing close enough to attend, the next two nights made for one of the best racing weekends of the year. As May draws to an end, there are several huge shows on Saturday, the 31st. Roseville hosts the USAC sprints. The same night Marysville runs the Mel Hall Memorial, an event held in the memory of the former track promoter, and Placerville runs both Golden State Challenge series 410 sprints and BCRA midgets. My decision on which to attend has apparently been made for me as late softball games at a major west coast tournament in Reno will keep me away from every option.