LARSON SALVAGES TWO TOP TENS IN HOLIDAY WEEKEND ACTION
Petaluma and Chico, CA. July 3 and 4, 2009. After a recent string of bad luck involving
broken engines and damaged race cars Kyle Larson was able to take the checkered flag in
races with the California 360 Civil War and Golden State Challenge Series. The Independence Day weekend
saw the 16 year old driver make a return engagement in Mark Moore’s sprint car with
the Civil War as the series made their second appearance at Petaluma Speedway. He capped
the weekend at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway by getting saddled back on his regular
ride in the GSC, the Vertullo Racing 83v, after a hard crash at the previous race at
Tulare.
Larson, last year’s runnerup in the Civil War points, made his second foray with the
group this season at the very chilly and fog shrouded coastal facility that saw 39 cars
signed in. Larson qualified 23rd quick before transferring to the feature with a second
place finish in his heat. He lined the 1m machine 18th on the grid in race number five of
the 14 race tour.
At the outset Larson was on the move forward on the somewhat slippery racetrack. A spin
on lap 11 while swapping positions with Stephen Allard for tenth relegated Larson to the
rear of the field. Three laps later he was back to 11th and getting faster each lap. When
the checkered came out for winner Mike Henry, the third year driver had finished eighth,
passing the most cars while capturing the hard charger award.
With Chico temperatures hovering at the century mark on Saturday, the GSC series held race
number 14 of the 21 event schedule at the recently reconfigured track. Larson qualified
eighth fast of the 27 cars pitted, then finished third in his heat, which locked him into
the dash to determine the first four rows of the feature. Larson started outside the front
row in the six lapper, but a slip over the turn four crest on the rapidly drying track
pushed the youngster back to fifth at the finish.
The 30 lap feature race became a rubber
down affair with tire wear a real concern late in the race as a few cars experienced
flats. At the completion of the event that saw Bud Kaeding win his first A-main at Chico
since he was a 17 year old, Larson rolled the car into the trailer unscathed with a
seventh place finish.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Starr Property Management, Inc., Phoenix
ParkerStores and Lubrication Equipment and Supply Co., Stadelhofer Construction,
Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, G & N Construction,
JW Web Design, Safety Solutions-LFT Technologies, Simpson Performance Products, Wyman
Construction, GME-Nields Steerings, LRB Manufacturing, SWEPCO Lubricants, Edward’s
Lawn Service, Sierra Tire and Wheel, Mancamp Motorsports, and Mophead Graphix.
