Larson Experiences Another Tough Night As GSC Returns To Santa Maria
Santa Maria, CA. July 12, 2009. After a recent string of bad luck, Kyle Larson was looking
to put together his third problem free race in a row. However, contact from another car
while running in third place in the first Golden State Challenge Series feature event in
four years at Santa Maria Speedway put Larson on his head. Although able to make repairs
and return to the race, Larson was a late retiree as vision problems ended his night.
With 16 cars on hand to tackle the heavily watered central coast track Larson qualified
fifth fast in front of a capacity crowd. A second place finish in his heat put the Dave
and Debbie Vertullo Starr Property Management/Eagle/Kistler into the dash to determine the
first four rows of the
feature lineup. Larson started fifth in the six lapper and advanced one position to line
up fourth in the A-main event.
At the drop of the green flag Larson powered into third behind outside front row starter
Tyler Walker and fast time qualifier and dash winner Evan Suggs. Tommy Tarlton was riding
along in fourth as the quartet was quickly into backmarkers in the early going on the now
very tacky track.
On lap 10 the yellow flag appeared for Anthony Simone, which necessitated a single file
restart. As the leaders headed into turn one Tarlton looked to the inside of Larson hoping
to take over third. While Larson held steady fending off Tarlton’s advance, contact
soon ensued with both mounts tumbling into turn two.
Both crews replace top wings and returned their drivers to the
race at the back of the pack. As Walker began to pull away from the field while setting a
torrid pace, Larson reasserted himself and moved back to eight and closed in on Jonathan
Allard, who was hanging on to seventh.
Unfortunately for Larson, the close pursuit of Allard saw the
16 year old driver go through the last of his 42 tearoffs with a handful of laps left.
With his unprotected helmet visor covered with thick clay Larson chose to play it safe and
pull to the infield with three laps to go. While Larson was scored 14th Walker dominated
to the finish to pick up his sixth GSC win of the year.
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.
