Passing Aplenty For Larson Until Quincy Civil War Ends With 16th Place Finish
Quincy, CA June 21, 2008. Although he would not have won the hard charger award as
he did in the previous Hoosier Tires California 360 Civil War Series event at Calistoga
Speedway, Kyle Larson put on another impressive passing exhibition as the touring group
made their first ever visit to Quincy’s American Valley Speedway. After losing his
original fifth
starting spot in the main event due to being involved in a lap one skirmish, 15 year old
Larson twice came from the back on the pack, making 18 green flag passes on a very narrow,
mostly single file race track, in the span of the first 23 laps. Unfortunately, while
challenging for sixth with six laps remaining, the Dave and Debbie Vertullo CRV Racing
Products/Eagle/Kistler mount was trailered early after contact with another driver,
placing Larson 16th in the final rundown.
Larson’s night began with 13th fast time of the 32 cars on hand. His fourth place
finish in the first heat led to a transfer to the feature race. After Luke Dollansky, son
of World of Outlaws star Craig Dollansky, pulled the ten pill for the inversion, thereby
placing himself on the pole, Larson inherited the inside of row three. On the first
attempt at racing Mike Monahan, starting third, spun directly in front of Larson in turn
four. While Larson hit the binders and bounced off Monahan, both were able to continue on
without stalling, but others were not so fortunate.
With Larson retaking the fifth spot in the order, several cars in the outside row were
able to move up for the restart.
As the race got underway again, Dollansky, in his second ever sprint car race, spun in
front of the field in turn two. Larson was the first to make contact with Dollansky,
straightening Dollansky out but sending Larson into the outside wall. As several other
cars became involved, Larson made an amazing recovery, pulling his car down from the wall
to continue on. However, damage was incurred, including a flat right rear tire, broken
right rear shock, and right rear torsion arm, which necessitated a trip to the work area.
After making repairs, Larson restarted 18th, the last of the surviving cars, while
original 15th starter Myles Bishop lined up outside of polesitter Dollansky. By lap eight
Larson had moved to 11th, but a spin in turn four sent the young charger back to 17th for
the restart. After going green Larson was on a mission to the front, as he and Sean Becker
battled forward, both seemingly the only two drivers able to make outside passes. With
Becker making an outside pass on John Michael Bunch in turn two on lap 23 Larson tried to follow suit on the
next lap. However, Larson’s race came to an end as contact ensued with Bunch’s
right rear tire damaging Larson’s front end before the car careened into the outside
wall, while Bunch spun to a stop. Larson finished 16th and dropped one spot to fourth in
the season long point standings after six rounds of the 15 race Civil War Series. Bishop
turned his fortune of starting on the front row into his first ever sprint car feature
win.
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.
