Chico, California. July 24 and 25, 2009. Kyle Larson and the rest of the regulars of the
Golden State Challenge Series made their last 2009 visits to Chico’s Silver Dollar
Speedway Friday and Saturday, with the 26th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson highlighting
the second night. For Larson, victory was a real possibility each night until gremlins
reared their ugly heads and hampered the efforts of the driver from Elk Grove, California.
On Friday night Larson qualified seventh
fast of the 31 cars pitted, and then transferred to the feature with a fourth place finish
in his heat. He drew the outside front row starting position for the eight car dash that
determines the first four rows of the main event. Larson did not let the opportunity slip
as he drove away from the pack to take a comfortable win.
With the dash win Larson started the Dave and Debbie Vertullo Starr Property Management/
Eagle/ Kistler on the pole of the 30 lap headliner. From the outset Larson was on the move
as he closed quickly on back markers, while putting down the races fastest laps. With the
lappers slowing Larson’s progress, a closing Tyler Walker entered the fray as the
pair diced through the traffic over the first eight laps.
On lap nine Walker got under Larson in turn four to take over the lead. For the next
several laps Larson kept pace with the former NASCAR driver. However, just after a lap 17
restart Larson hit a rut in turn three, which broke one of the bolts attaching the
Jacob’s Ladder to the right rear corner of the car.
From that point on the car became a handful
for the 16 year old driver, with the left front continuously hiking in the air upon
acceleration. Third running Jonathan Allard was able to get by soon after the restart and
Evan Suggs moved past on lap 21. The top four maintained their positions to the finish,
with Larson settling in and manhandling his car over the final laps to remain
unchallenged.
The next night Larson qualified fifth quickest of the 29 cars assembled for the $4000.00
to win tribute to the legendary Patterson. Larson sped to another fourth place finish in
his heat and once again secured a place in the dash. This time Larson started fourth and
finished fifth.
The result placed Larson on the inside of the third row for the feature race. After the
green flag appeared outside front row
starter Colby Copeland flipped in turn two, collecting Walker in the process. With the
lineup reset Larson restarted fourth.
Dash winner Brett Miller took the top spot over Kyle Hirst once underway, with Larson
holding third. The red flag appeared for turn four flip victim Zach Zimmerly on lap six.
Upon the restart a slight touch of Hirst’s rear bumper knocked Larson’s nose
wing askew.
However, the young driver was not deterred as he made his presence known by driving around
Hirst coming out of turn four. By this point Larson’s nose wing had flipped backwards
onto his hood with seemingly little effect. On lap seven he continued to charge forward
despite the lack of front end downforce, all the while reeling in Miller.
Unfortunately, the dramatic run around the high side came to a sudden end
when Larson hooked a rut in turn one. A couple of quick end for end flips stopped with a
hard landing on all fours. Larson emerged unscathed, but the same could not be said for
his car. He was scored 20th in the final rundown, while Miller succumbed on lap 14 to
Hirst, who led to the lap 30 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.
