Larson 16th to Seventh in First Trip to Antioch for GSC
Antioch, California. April 4, 2009. A newly reshaped race track at Antioch Speedway
greeted the drivers of the Golden State Challenge Series in round number two for the
premier 410 sprint car series on the West Coast. For some drivers the changes might have
required some adjustments, but for Rookie of the Year contender Kyle Larson, the visit was
his first chance to ever race at the facility. While many found the track to be quite
tricky on a very slick surface, Larson was a quick study as he found the racing groove
early and charged past nine cars in the feature event on his way to a seventh place
finish.
With 27 cars taking qualifying laps, a couple of wheelies hampered
Larson’s effort on the way to 17th quick time. Starting on the pole of the second
heat, another wheelie coming out of turn two of the second lap led to his right front
shock coming apart, which greatly affected the handling of his Dave and Debbie Vertullo
Starr Property Management/Eagle/Kistler mount. Although the right front tire vibrated
wildly for the rest of the eight lap race Larson was able to maintain control and finish
third to transfer to the main event.
With Jonathan Allard blasting into the lead over dash winner and pole starter Tim Kaeding
at the beginning of the 30 lap headliner, 16 year old Larson gradually began another of
his patented drives forward. After a yellow flag appeared for Willie Croft on lap four
that moved Larson into 12th, an extended period of racing ensued. Larson’s lap five
pass of Mike Benson propelled him into 11th, and two laps later his pass of Shane Golobic
pushed him into the top ten.
As one
of only a few to venture to the high side, Larson continued to make it work with Jason
Statler becoming his next victim with a pass coming out of turn four of lap nine. On the
next lap Larson disposed of 2008 GSC Rookie of the Year Brent Bjork to move into eighth.
Larson reeled in Washington’s Taylor Malsam over the next several laps and made the
pass on lap 17. A lap later the yellow flag was displayed for Malsam as he was stopped on
the race track.
As the race resumed Larson surprised sixth running Kyle Hirst with an outside pass in
turn three of lap 19. Larson closed on fifth place Bud Kaeding, keeping Hirst in tow.
While Larson showed Kaeding his nose a few times over the next several laps Hirst closed
back on the 83v’s rear bumper. Hirst reasserted himself on lap 24 and took back
sixth. While Tyler Walker made a late race pass of Allard in heavy lapped traffic, Larson
maintained seventh to the finish.
Larson and the Vertullo Racing team will appear next week at one of his favorite tracks,
as the GSC will make their first trek of 2009 to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway.
Larson’s last race of 2008 saw the Elk Grove, California resident score an impressive
fourth place finish in the Trophy Cup at the high banked speedway, a week after winning a
heat race with the World of Outlaws at the same location.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Starr Property Management,
Inc., Phoenix ParkerStores and Lubrication Equipment and Supply, G & N Construction,
Simpson Performance Products, Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, A.R.T. Speed
Equipment, JW Web Design, Safety Solutions-LFT Technologies, Wyman Construction,
GME-Nields Steerings, LRB Manufacturing, SWEPCO Lubricants, Edward’s Lawn Service,
Sierra Tire and Wheel, Mancamp Motorsports, and Mophead Graphix.
