Larson Takes Sixth in Maiden Voyage in BCRA Midgets
Golden State 410 Run Sees DNF
Placerville, CA May 31, 2008. Although the old adage “When it rains, it pours”
wasn’t necessarily the case for Kyle Larson at Placerville Speedway Saturday night,
there were definitely some showers between sunny periods as the 15 year old driver raced
in both divisions on hand, those being the Golden State Challenge 410 sprint cars and Bay
Cities Racing Association midgets.
The night got off to an eventful start for Larson during initial wheel packing for the
sprint cars as last week’s winner of the Civil War race for 360 sprint cars at
Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway had his Dave and Debbie Vertullo mount burst to speed
as it was push started. As Larson struggled to both get the car out of gear and hit the
kill switch, the car got into the slimy mud in turn two, then jumping the
infield berm, before bouncing off of Bud Kaeding, who was waiting for a push off from the
infield. After the contact with Kaeding Larson came to a stop after hitting one of the
large infield implement safety tires, sending one of the officials who was sitting on it
for a tumble. Fortunately, the scary situation only resulted in damage to Larson’s
car, with the bent left front torsion tube being the biggest problem.
As several people pitched in to help install a new axle and links with coil over shocks
replacing torsion bars coil over shocks, Dave Vertullo diagnosed the engine malfunction
leading to the mishap.
With no hot laps Larson was the second car out to qualify and finished 15th of the 23 cars
pitted. Larson then jumped into the Cliff and Jackie Blackwell midget that he raced at
this years Chili Bowl and ran an impressive set of hot laps.
Racing for Larson began with the third sprint car heat, where the youngster
checked out on the field from his outside front row starting slot, setting the second
fastest overall lap of the night, at 10.354, topped only by Andy Forsberg’s fast time
effort of 10.285.
As Larson jumped into the midget for the very next race a broken brake line fitting was
found to be leaking. The crew scrambled to cap the line to the left front brake and
quickly bleed the system. Finally, Larson took the 10th and last starting spot in the heat
and then charged to a fifth place finish.
As the midget field lined up for their 30 lap feature, Larson’s crew was still trying
to correct the persistent braking line issue. Finally the decision was made to recap and
rebleed the brakes, leaving Larson with no left front brake and without full rear brakes. He was able to take his 14th place starting
position in the lineup before the green flag unfurled. Once underway, Larson and fellow
double division racer Bud Kaeding utilized the cushion on the top grove to advance
forward. Several battles developed for Larson along the way, as he eventually dispatched
with each as he went to the front. At the checkered flag, Quintin Crye copped his first
BCRA main event win while Larson finished in sixth, with the run highlighted by him having
the fourth fastest lap time of the19 competitors in the race.
Larson started the CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler 83v sprint car 15th in the 22 car
field for the GSC feature. From the start Larson was having troubles keeping the car
underneath him. As the race wore on Larson was falling back and just trying to avoid
causing a caution. Finally, on lap 20 Larson got sideways in turn four and, as Brandon
Carey tried to avoid Larson, the duo came together on the frontstretch, which sent Carey
into one of the infield tires, ending his night. At that point Larson also exited the
race, credited with a 20th place finish, while Tim Kaeding went on to win the 30 lap
event.
“Boy, what a night!” said the high school sophomore from Elk Grove, California.
“It was so up and down. I just wish it was a little more up for the sprint car main.
The car was really good in the heat and we made some changes to make it better, but it
went the other way. The midget sure was fun, even with the brake problem. I want to thank
Richard Brown for setting the car up and Cliff and Jackie Blackwell for providing the
ride. I hope there is another midget race I can run with them, they are great people to
race for. They are like Dave and Debbie Vertullo, they just want to have fun and the only
pressure is what I put on myself.”
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by CRV Racing Products, Starr Real Estate and
Property Management, Global ParkerStore, Safety Solutions – LFT Technologies, D &
J Towing, RPM Indoor Kart Racing and Conference Center, A.R.T. Ent. Speed Equipment,
Wion’s Body Shop and Powdercoating, JW Web Design, Mophead Graphix, SWEPCO
Lubricants, and Sierra Tire and Wheel.
Race Date: May 31, 2008
Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
