Kyle Larson embarks on 30th Pacific Coast Nationals this weekend at Thunderbowl
Raceway after blown engine slows Short Track Nationals bid
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – November 11, 2009…With engine issues this past Saturday putting an
early end to his maiden Short Track Nationals voyage Elk Grove, CA's Kyle Larson will now
gear-up for this weekends running of the USAC National and USAC/CRA sanctioned Pacific Coast Nationals at the Tulare Thunderbowl
Raceway.
Despite the setback that didn't allow him to compete during the Short Track Nationals
finale on Saturday the 17-year-old was happy to be able to gain the experience of running
his first career sprint car race in the Midwest. "It was definitely a great
experience to run the Short Track Nationals and it was too bad the motor didn't last on
Saturday because we were good on Friday and I had a lot of confidence after getting a
night on the track under my belt," Larson said. "I again really have to thank
Stadelhofer Construction, Phoenix ParkerStores and Jesse Hockett for giving me the chance
to run last weekend and hopefully I can get back out there soon."
The 22nd O'Reilly Short Track Nationals at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas
featured a 101-car field that was split into a pair of qualifying nights and it saw Larson
taking part in the Friday portion. The $15,000-to-win event was sanctioned by the Lucas
Oil ASCS National Sprint Car Series and like all ASCS races the format saw pill draw set
the heat line-ups, rather than using the
traditional two-lap qualifying to begin the night. The field was split into six heat races
to open the evening and Larson started from the outside of the third row in the sixth and
final one.
The Elk Grove, CA driver quickly moved his way forward when the green lights came on and
spent the majority of the heat locked in an entertaining battle for the runner-up position
as he, Jan Howard and Mark Shirshekan kept the crowd on the edge of their seats in the
10-lapper. When the checkered flag was unveiled from the starters' stand Larson crossed
under it in third and with his points total it put him in the first of four qualifier
races, where he would start from sixth and finish sixth. Following the qualifying races
points were tallied up again and Larson had scored just enough to earn the 20th and final
starting position in the 25-lap main event.
Starting scratch on the field aboard the Jesse Hockett Racing, Stadelhofer Construction
No. 77 Larson methodically worked his way forward as the track had gotten very dry and treacherous in certain spots on the
quarter-mile bullring. It didn't affect the youngster though as he carved his way through
the field to get up into 11th, before disaster struck on the final corners when he tipped
over while looking to get by a couple more cars coming down for the checkered flag. Coming
back looking for good things on Saturday the night unfortunatley came to an end as quickly
as it started, when the engine dropped a valve in hot laps and forced Larson to watch the
rest of the nights racing from the pits.
With the Short Track Nationals behind him Larson will now focus his attention on this
weekends USAC National and USAC/CRA sanctioned $12,500-to-win Pacific Coast Nationals at
the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway. For the two-night show Larson will be behind the wheel of
the BK Motorsports, Stadelhofer Construction, Kaeding Performance Maxim as he makes his
second career attempt in the wingless 410 sprint car ranks. "I'm excited to get to
run for Brent again this weekend and hopefully we can get the car up front and have a shot
at winning," said Larson, who scored a fifth place finish in the final Trophy Cup
standings during what was his first and only prior start for the BK Motorsports team.
The 17-year-old charger made his wingless 410 debut at the Calistoga Speedway on Labor Day
weekend and although the nights didn't end how he wanted, the performance was still one to
be proud of as he quickly adapted while competing on the high-speed half-mile.
"Racing at Calistoga that weekend was some of the most fun I've had in a sprint car
because you really have to be up on the wheel when driving one of these things without the
wing," Larson commented. "Tulare is probably my favorite track to race at so I'm
sure it will be an awesome show this weekend and then when you add in some of the national
guys coming that will make it even better."
Tickets for the Pacific Coast Nationals this weekend will be the same price both nights
with Reserved Grandstand seats being $35 and General Admission Bleacher tickets $30.
Children under 12 will be half-price in the bleachers. The front gate of the Thunderbowl
Raceway will open at 3pm on Saturday November 14 with wheel packing at 4, qualifying at 5
and first race scheduled for 6. Sunday will see the front gate open at 2pm with wheel
packing at 3, qualifying at 4 and first race scheduled for 5. Pit passes will be $35 for
members and $40 for non-members with the drivers meeting set to be at 3pm on Saturday and
2pm on Sunday. Registration and pill draw will be at 1pm on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
More info can be found at http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com.
