Petaluma, CA. April 18, 2009. On a lightning fast Petaluma Fairgrounds Speedway race track
that saw intense racing throughout the main event, Kyle Larson recovered from a close call in the early going to garner his second top five finish in as many
weeks, scoring fourth in round number four of the Golden State Challenge Series for 410
sprint cars.
After a couple of false starts Larson began the 30 lap main event from the fifth slot. As
fellow GSC Rookie of the Year contender Brandon Carey assumed the early lead over dash
winner and polesitter Tyler Walker, Larson fell in behind Jonathan Allard, Jason York, and
sixth starting Brent Kaeding.
The beginning of lap two saw Larson attempt an outside pass of Kaeding in turn one, but
the eight time GSC champion responded with a veteran move and forced the 16 year old
driver off his line in turn two. While Larson struggled to get his car back down into the
racing groove, another
former GSC champion, Jason Statler, pounced on the opportunity and took over sixth. Colby
Copeland also got underneath Larson heading into turn three and completed the pass coming
out of four.
Good friend and fellow high school junior Copeland and Larson then began a spirited battle
over the next several laps. After Copeland got by on lap three Larson dove underneath
entering turn one of the next lap. Minor contact in turn two barely slowed the young duo.
The next go round saw Larson try the same move again in turn one. The result was slightly better as Larson completed the pass, only to have Copeland
return the favor coming off the bottom of turn two as Larson slid out to the backstretch
wall. The next few laps saw the pair gain or lose ground to each other, depending on who
ran a better lap. Finally, Larson ended the battle with his good buddy on lap 11 when he
executed an outside pass in turn one following a restart.
Larson then set out for Statler and made an outside pass in turn two of the next lap.
Getting his rhythm going Larson went inside York down the backstretch of lap 13 to get
back to his original starting position of fifth.
As Carey, Walker, and Allard diced through lapped traffic Larson began to slowly reel in
Kaeding. By the time the yellow flag appeared on lap 18 Walker had assumed the lead, with
Allard second over Carey, and Larson with a lapped car between him and Kaeding.
As the race resumed Larson challenged Kaeding at both ends of the race track, but was repelled. In the next several laps Statler
began to apply pressure to Larson as Kaeding got by Carey for third. On lap 25 Statler
went to the outside of Larson in turn three and came out of turn four with fifth place. A
lap later the last yellow flag was displayed, setting up an exciting finish for Walker and
Allard, and also for sixth place Larson.
When the green came out Larson drove hard into turn one outside of Statler. As Statler
drove deep into turn two to counter the move, Larson dove underneath Statler to retake
fifth. At the other end of the track Larson got below Carey and moved into fourth at the
flag stand. While Walker held off Allard in a furious last lap fight to the finish through
several lappers, Larson closed on Kaeding to finish just out of a second straight podium
finish.
In preliminary action Larson continued his fine qualifying efforts of late in the Dave and Debbie Vertullo Starr Property
Management/Eagle/Kistler 83v, placing fourth fast of the 23 cars in attendance. Larson
started fifth and tussled with fast qualifier Kaeding in the early going of heat one
before both got by Stephen Allard. As the race continued Larson distanced himself from
Kaeding and settled for fourth at the finish. In the eight car dash Larson drew the five
pill and, at the end of the six lapper, finished there to determine his starting spot in
the main event.
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.
