Larson Makes First Civil War Feature at Placeville
Placerville, CA – May 5, 2007 The California Civil War Series featuring the 360
Sprint Cars returned for round number two at the Placerville Speedway, and for ParkerStore
driver Kyle Larson, the result was much better this time than the first. At the first
Civil War race in March Larson was making his sprint car driving debut and his night ended
in the B-main with a severely damaged race car. This time, during the Al Hinds Memorial
$3,000 to win race taken by Kyle Hirst, his night ended early with a flat right front tire, but the 14 year
old driver was able to claim a spot in his first Civil War A-main.
Late week rains led to a difficult track that received very little preparation but Larson
was able to qualify 13th quick of 43 drivers and started third in the first heat. On the
first lap Larson started to spin in turn four and was hit by Scott Russell, who had no
chance to avoid Larson. The resulting contact sent Larson into a roll on to his left side,
damaging his wing too much to continue.
Larson’s team made
repairs and he lined up seventh in the B-main. By the end of the 12 lapper Larson’s
ParkerStore/CRV Racing Products/Kistler Powered Dave and Debbie Vertullo ride had garnered
the sixth and final transfer spot in the feature race after a wild last lap battle among
several cars.
Larson started tail end in 22nd of the A-main and moved forward at the drop of the green
flag. After restarting for Brandon Wimmer, who spun in turn three, Larson lightly touched
the front stretch wall with the right side of his car on lap two. On lap three the now
slowly deflating right front tire led to Larson spinning in turn three to bring out a
caution. Larson restarted at the rear, and ended his race when the tire rolled off the
bead of the rim entering turn one of lap five. He was scored 20th in the final results.
Asked to comment after the races Larson said, “This was a really tough track tonight
and it caught me off guard there in turn four of my heat race. It had changed some since I qualified and I
just got on the gas too hard in turn four. So in the B-main I tried to be easier with the
throttle and things went better. It allowed the car to settle down, which is what it
needed because the track had become very rutted at both ends. It got pretty dicey there on
the last lap but I was able to get the last transfer into the main. It’s unfortunate
that I spun in the main because if I hadn’t we could have changed the flat right
front and gotten back out there to get some more seat time, which is what I need. But with
the two stop rule I was done. After the races it was nice to see Billy Sellers at the
track as a spectator. Billy was walking with a cane and was in good spirits. This coming
weekend I will get to race twice at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and I’m really
looking forward to it. They are both 410 races but I’ll be running the 360. I have
been wanting to race at that track since before I started my outlaw kart career, and I
can’t wait to give it a run.”
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by ParkerStore, CRV Racing Products, Starr Real
Estate and Property Management, D & J Towing, Heritage Drywall, A.R.T. Speed
Equipment, Platinum Powdercoating, JW Web Design, Wion’s Body Shop and RPM Indoor
Kart Racing and Conference Center.
Race: May 5, 2007
Photos Courtesy of Steve LaMothe
www.kylelarsonracing.com
