Larson Takes Top Five From 24th At Chico Fall Nationals
Chico, California. October 2 and 4, 2008. Like the Bill Murray movie “Groundhog
Day,” race day for Kyle Larson seems to have a way of repeating itself. The theme
usually goes like this: he either has a lackluster qualifying effort or misses the heat
race transfer and goes to the B-main event, where both scenarios lead to a tail end
starting assignment in the feature race, which leads to a crowd pleasing run to the front.
However, at the rain plagued Fall Nationals for 360 sprint cars at Chico’s Silver
Dollar Speedway the script deviated slightly as the planned three day event saw
Friday’s event washed out and Thursday’s results thrown out, where Larson just
short of guaranteed himself a Saturday A-main start by standing seventh in points.
With 75 cars pitted Saturday’s program saw time trials eliminated due to time
constraints. Heat race transfers were not a component and the drivers were split into
seven heat races. Finishing position points and passing points were added together to set
the lineups for the five feature races that started with the E-main. Larson’s
Vertullo Racing CRV Racing Products/Eagle/Kistler gridded third in the fourth heat and, on
a track that saw little passing in any heat race, finished there.
After all seven heats were completed and points were tallied Larson was placed ninth in the loaded B-main
event that started Knoxville 360 Nationals Champion Wayne Johnson, Brent and Bud Kaeding,
Sean Becker, Greg DeCaires and Bobby McMahan. Larson’s effort to be among the top
four that would go to the headline event was hampered on the opening lap when he had to
avoid cars that scrambled in turns one and two. The predicament dropped Larson to 11th
when the first lap was scored.
However, foreshadowing the rest of the night, Larson quickly settled in and began to move
forward. By lap six he captured the coveted final transfer spot when he passed Andy Gregg.
By lap 11 though, 15th starting Sean Becker began to apply pressure. On lap 13 Larson and
Becker both scooted by pole starter Robbie Whitchurch, dropping him to fifth. On the next
lap Becker got by Larson, but Larson held the final transfer to the lap 20 finish, behind
Johnson, Brent Kaeding, and Becker.
Just as the week prior, when Larson started last of 22 cars at Placerville’s season
ending Civil War event, he would again start last in the 24 car field for the Fall
Nationals. On a track that, due to the large amount of rain, had become very fast and very
rutted, Larson began his quest to the front once again. By lap 3, when Larson passed Brent
Kaeding, the pint size leadfoot had advanced into 17th. Two laps later Larson ran 13th.
Over the next three laps several red and yellow flag periods were observed and by the time
eight laps were scored Larson found himself seventh.
While
Roger Crockett and Brad Furr swapped the lead at the front Larson trailed only them and
third running Tyler Walker, Jonathan Allard, Mike Henry and Willie Croft. On lap 10 Larson
disposed of Henry, who was also passed by Croft. The next lap saw Larson power past Croft
and move into the top five, just prior to a yellow flag for Chad Groves.
On the restart a 28 lap non-stop dash to the 40 lap finish ensued with fourth running
Walker bouncing through a turn one rut and handing the position to the charging Larson. On
lap 15 Allard moved by Crockett into second behind Furr, while a lap later Walker
reasserted himself back to fourth with Brent Kaeding sliding into sixth behind Larson.
As the race wore on Larson continued to challenge Walker while fending off advances by
Kaeding. On lap
21 Larson fought his way past Walker, only to lose it back a lap later. The top six held
their places until 13th starting Allard took the lead from Furr with nine laps to go. Over
the final two laps Walker and Larson had the crowd on their feet as the sixteen year old
driver made one final pass on Walker in turn four of lap 39. On the final lap, though,
Walker was not to be denied as the former NASCAR racer prevailed at the finish by two
tenths of a second over the Elk Grove, California high school junior, while Allard won his
first ever Fall Nationals title.
Larson, who finished ninth in this event in his rookie season last year, summed up the
’08 event by stating, “I was a little disappointed when Thursday’s results
were tossed
out, but I was just glad we got to race and I thank John Padjen and all his staff for
getting the race in.”
“My car was tight in the heat race,” continued Larson, “and I was lucky
that I was able to finish third. Dave Vertullo made a gear change and loosened up the car
for the B and the car came to life. Dave made a couple more changes for the main and the
car was perfect. If the wing slider hadn’t disconnected from all the bouncing around
with about 12 laps to go, making the car really tight, I think I had a top three coming.
Still, I’m very pleased to finish in the company I did.”
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.
