Larson’s Exciting Run Ends Early In Cotton Classic 410 Go Also Places 10th In 360 Feature
Hanford, CA, November 10, 2007 – Somewhat like the days when it was common for him to
race in two and sometimes three divisions at an outlaw kart event, Kyle Larson got a rare
opportunity to strap into two different race cars as the King’s Speedway Cotton
Classic closed out the California winged 410 sprint car racing season, while also holding
the penultimate show for the 360 sprinters. After racing
to 10th in the 360 feature Larson provided much of the action in the 410 main as he
battled forward from the back half of the star studded field to sixth, before hooking the
king sized hole in turn one, nearly flipping his mount, recovering to jump the infield
berm, and then coming to a stop just short of a group of photographers. Apparently due to
the race already being a half hour past curfew, the expected yellow flag never came as
Larson watched the last five laps from the inside of the track.
Qualifying saw Larson time in fifth quick of the 29 360 drivers and 13th fast of the 22
410’s assembled. Like Larson, several top runners did double duty, including World of
Outlaws stars Jason Meyers and Paul McMahan, Shane Stewart, Tim Kaeding, Roger Crockett,
Andy Forsberg, Tommy Tarlton and Craig Stidham.
Track
officials used the Outlaw style invert four, take two to the dash format, with the added
quirk of the top two qualifiers automatically seeded into the dash, regardless of their
heat race finish. Larson lined his Dave and Debbie Vertullo/ParkerStore/CRV Racing
Products/Eagle Kistler third on the grid of his 360 heat, and after battling McMahan for
second, finished where he started on the lightning fast track. He then jumped into the
identical looking 410 for that heat race, where Larson’s qualifying time put him one
spot out of the pole start and into the fifth slot. With fast timer Stewart, McMahan,
Forsberg, and Stidham all lined up ahead, Larson kept pace but settled for fifth at the
checkered.
Larson began the 360 feature from 11th, behind
the dash cars, and battle raced long between ninth and 12th in the yellow and red flag
plagued race. With the event cut short by five laps Larson ended tenth behind winner
Meyers, Stewart, Willie Croft, Kaeding, Tarlton, McMahan, Brandon Wimmer, Forsberg and
Garret Ishii.
The 410 feature saw Larson start from 14th but he quickly got by Danny Faria and Tarlton
on lap one and got into 12th. On lap seven Larson raced by Stephen Allard into 11th, while
he advanced another spot a lap later as Forsberg brought out the yellow. On lap 11 Larson
scooted past Evan Suggs into ninth and three laps later disposed of Stidham for eighth.
The charging Larson then closed on the dicing duo of teammates McMahan and Greg DeCaires,
who were driving the identical NMI sponsored cars of Steve Chastain. By lap 19 Larson
executed the pass of McMahan as the threesome raced three wide down the backstretch. A lap
later the high school sophomore moved by DeCaires into sixth. DeCaires fought back and
briefly held the spot on lap 23, but Larson blasted back by and set out for Meyers. As he
quickly closed on Meyers, a top five finish looked nearly certain with five laps to go.
But it was not to be, as Larson finally caught the hole in turn one that had been a
nuisance, and more, for almost every driver at some point. He was scored 11th in the final
results as Jonathan Allard was victorious over Kaeding, Crockett, Ronnie Day and Meyers.
“I wish the photographers weren’t there” the Elk Grove resident said.
“I would have been able to drive back out, but I had nowhere else to go. The car felt
so good. Dave Vertullo had been doing a real good job with the setups and I could drive
the car anywhere. With Paul McMahan in my sights, I knew I could catch him. I could go
high and low in my car and that is what I did. After battling Greg DeCaires and making the
inside move to finally pull away from him I could see Jason Meyers ahead and I was closing
in on him. I tried to step it up again but caught the hole in turn one. I was bummed for a
while but it felt good passing Paul and Greg. It sure was fun racing with them. I get to
try again next week in the 360 at the Trophy Cup in Tulare, where all these guys and many
more like Joey Saldana, Jason Solwold, and Randy Hannagan will be. It’s going to be
real tough to make the A-main on Saturday night, but that would be a great way to close
out my first sprint car season.”
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by ParkerStore, CRV Racing Products, Starr Real
Estate and Property Management, Safety Solutions – LFT Technologies, Heritage
Drywall, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, D & J Towing, RPM Indoor Kart Racing and Conference
Center, Platinum Powdercoating, JW Web Design, Wion’s Body Shop, SWEPCO Lubricants
and Sierra Tire and Wheel.
Race: November 10, 2007
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman
www.kylelarsonracing.com
