Larson 22nd to Sixth in Placerville Civil War Finale
Runnerup in Civil War Championship to Becker
Placerville, California. September 27th, 2008. With the championship determined in the
favor of Sean Becker before the start of the feature race, the pressure was
off both Becker and runnerup Kyle Larson as the traveling group closed the 2008 Hoosier
Tire California 360 Sprint Car Series campaign where it began, at Placerville Speedway.
The final event was also a condensed version of how the season unfolded for the
pair of multi time outlaw kart champions, with Becker gaining his series leading fourth
feature win and Larson once again putting on a passing display from deep in the pack.
With 22 points
separating the duo and 30 cars on hand Becker set the tone for the night with fast time,
while Larson recorded the eighth quickest time. Becker secured a transfer spot into the
A-main when he finished third in the first heat. When Larson finished sixth in the
fourth heat, Becker’s three points earned in his heat settled the championship
issue. With the heat finishes in the book the 25 point gap could not have been
overcome by Larson in the feature, where the Civil War point system has a difference of 24
points from first to last place.
Larson, a two time feature winner in the 15 race series, still had to make it through the
stacked B-main, where six of the top eight qualifiers found themselves. Larson could
only muster the final
transfer spot of sixth from the same starting spot, which relegated him to the final
position in the 22 car headline event.
While Becker ran the first seventeen laps in third trailing leader Herman Klein and Scott
Kinney, Larson battled from the back of the pack trying to advance forward. By lap
14 the Dave and Debbie Vertullo CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler mount had moved ten
places ahead into 12th. For the next 12 laps sixteen year old Larson battled Mike Benson
for 11th. On lap 24 Larson nearly completed the pass on the backstretch but ran out
of room and went up the dirt embankment before jumping the tall cushion in turn three,
where he barely saved the car from flipping. The incident
brought out the yellow flag and Larson restarted at the back in 15th with six laps
remaining.
With Becker having taken over second on lap 18 and Larson determined to get the best
result possible, all eyes became riveted on the pair once again after the restart.
Becker began to apply heavy pressure to Klein, while Larson started another charge
forward, in the same fashion for which he has become known for in the Civil War series.
In two laps Larson cracked the top ten with passes of five cars. On lap 27 Larson
sped by Scott Russell, and on lap 28, when Becker made the pass on Klein for the lead,
Larson disposed of track champion Colby Weisz. On lap 29 Larson passed Billy Wallace
for seventh and chased down Placerville’s track champion from the previous year, Greg
DeCaires, and nipped him at the line to earn a very satisfying sixth place finish and
another Civil War Hard Charger award.
Assessing the completed Civil War season Larson stated, “First I want to congratulate
Sean. I can remember when I was ten Sean taught me how to use a clutch and what to
expect when I ran my first race in a 125cc kart. We both worked our way up through the
outlaw karts and I have always looked up to him. He is the Steve Kinser of outlaw
karts. I wish I could have won this championship but I’m proud to finish
between Sean and Andy Forsberg as they are the most accomplished drivers in this series
and very tough to beat. I also have to thank Dave Vertullo for providing me with a
car that could have won every time out. I made it kind of tough on myself with some of my
qualifying results, but come main event time Dave always gave me a car that I could race
with. I really appreciate everything he and Debbie have done for me.”
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, Sierra Tire and Wheel, and Wyman Construction, Mancamp Motorsports and
Edward’s Lawn Service.
re was
off both Becker and runnerup Kyle Larson as the traveling group closed the 2008 Hoosier
Tire California 360 Sprint Car Series campaign where it began, at Placerville Speedway.
The final event was also a condensed version of how the season unfolded for the
pair of multi time outlaw kart champions, with Becker gaining his series leading fourth
feature win and Larson once again putting on a passing display from deep in the pack. 
incident
brought out the yellow flag and Larson restarted at the back in 15th with six laps
remaining.
expect when I ran my first race in a 125cc kart. We both worked our way up through the
outlaw karts and I have always looked up to him. He is the Steve Kinser of outlaw
karts. I wish I could have won this championship but I’m proud to finish
between Sean and Andy Forsberg as they are the most accomplished drivers in this series
and very tough to beat. I also have to thank Dave Vertullo for providing me with a
car that could have won every time out. I made it kind of tough on myself with some of my
qualifying results, but come main event time Dave always gave me a car that I could race
with. I really appreciate everything he and Debbie have done for me.” 