Larson 19th to Sixth At Calistoga
Moves into third in Civil War Points
Calistoga CA, June 14, 2008. Kyle Larson shook off the effects of a dismal qualifying
effort by rebounding to take a very satisfying sixth place finish at one of his favorite
tracks, the picturesque Calistoga Speedway, as the Hoosier Tire
California 360 Sprint Car Civil War series held round number five of their 15 race
schedule this past Saturday night. Larson, the winner of the previous Civil War race at
Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway on May 25, was able to stay in contention for the
Civil War title by earning his fourth top six finish in five events of the highly
competitive Civil War Series.
Larson, who nabbed his first fast time award at the aforementioned Silver Dollar event,
could not carry the momentum to the big half mile racetrack in Calistoga as he only
managed 28th fast of the 38 cars pitted. Relegated to missing the six car inversion for
the heat races, Larson started seventh in his heat. He charged forward and secured the
final main event transfer spot of fourth with a pass on Richard Bailey with two laps to
go.
Larson started the Dave and Debbie Vertullo/CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler 19th for the 20 lap
feature race and was already up to 13th by lap four despite having his nose wing collapse
just after the race began. Following a front stretch crash that eliminated Herman
Klein, Bud Kaeding, and Stephen Allard, Larson dispatched with the Placerville Speedway
point leader Colby Weisz, and set out after Mike Benson, then Bradley Terrell, Andy
Forsberg and finally Brad Furr. At the 10 mile checkered flag Larson had earned the hard charger
award for his sixth place run from 19th, while Tyler Walker captured the victory. The
effort moved Larson into a tie with Forsberg for third place in Civil War points, trailing
leader Sean Becker by 20 points and David Robinson Jr. by eight.
“I guess I need a car in front of me when I qualify here,” said the 15 year old
hotshoe. “I’ve missed the inversion all three times I’ve raced here and had
to fight just to get to the
A-main. But I love to race here. I have a lot of respect for this place because I have
been coming here my whole life and know what can happen if you get over your head. For me,
though, it’s a fun place to race because if you are very smooth you can make up a lot
of ground quick. And even though it’s pretty narrow, if you commit yourself to making
passes on the outside, you can get it done.”
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.
