Watsonville and Chico, CA ~ May 7 and 8, 2010 ~ In contention for the win from the drop of the green flag in the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial race at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway Saturday night, Kyle Larson raced home to a second place finish, bested only by defending American Sprint Car Series National champion Shane Stewart. In the highest paying race of the Golden State Challenge Series season that honors one of California’s best ever drivers Larson sped to his sixth top five feature finish in a row.
On a night that saw a strong 36 car field assembled Larson also had a very good points result which puts him back in contention for the series title. Larson, driver of the Stadelhofer Construction/Peppermill Casino-Reno/Kaeding Performance/Maxim/Shaver now sits six points out of the lead behind 13 time GSC champion Brent Kaeding, while trailing two time titlist Jonathan Allard by three.
Larson began the night with the fourth fast qualifying time and won his heat from the sixth starting position. By placing up front Larson qualified for the eight car six lap dash that would set the first four rows of the feature race based on finishing order. Drawing the number five slot put Larson on the inside of the third row, which is where the Elk Grove, California driver finished.
A pair of yellow flags at the beginning negated the start of the 40 lap headliner. On the third start outside front row starter Sean Becker allowed his car to spin coming out of turn four approaching the green flag. Unfortunately, Larson T-boned Becker very hard as a major pileup ensued alongside of the duo. The red flag was quickly displayed as Pat Harvey Jr. and Andy Gregg flipped down the frontstretch, while also collecting Colby Copeland and Tyler Wolf. Surprisingly, Larson was able to keep his car going as he pushed Becker’s mount out of the way and continued on to the work area.
With an open red flag Larson’s crew was able to replace his damaged nose wing and also beat back into shape the dented right front rim, which was allowing air to escape. When the lineup reformed dash winner and polesitter Allard led Stewart while Larson sat third.
As the race finally began in single file order Allard assumed the point. Larson promptly showed that he would be a factor as he passed Stewart on the bottom of turn four to take second at the conclusion of the first lap. He then drove around the outside of Allard in turn three of lap three to take over the lead but a half lap later a yellow flag was displayed for Alissa Geving, before it turned into a red flag for flip victim Robbie Whitchurch at the other end of the track.
When the race restarted Stewart showed his strength as he scooted under Larson in turns one and two, before taking the lead when Allard caught a rut in turn four. Stewart’s lead was short lived as he slid wide in the difficult to maneuver turn four, allowing Allard to resume command with Larson still in tow. Allard then held a slight lead over Stewart, who had his hands full with Larson, until another yellow appeared on lap ten for Wolf and Copeland.
A lap after the green light reappeared Stewart got underneath Allard and the two veterans ran side by side for nearly a lap until Stewart pulled ahead. While Stewart maintained control of the top spot Larson and Allard remained in striking distance. By the time the final slowdown occurred on lap 17 Bud Kaeding was also presenting himself as a factor as he moved into fourth from 13th starting, practically the only driver primarily using the top of the racetrack all the way around.
As the race passed its midpoint the top three remained Stewart, Allard, and Larson, with each separated by about five car lengths, while Bud Kaeding gradually lost ground to the leaders. Soon after Stewart found heavy traffic looming ahead and by lap 30 Allard and Larson closed in within feet of the leader. On lap 32 Allard powered around the outside of Stewart in turn four and led again. However, Stewart would not be denied and retook the lead down the backstretch.
Trying very hard to run the top to track down Stewart on lap 35 Allard drifted over the top edge of turn one and did a slow spin. As Larson advanced to second Allard was able to regain control and continue on, albeit in sixth place. As the laps wound down Larson narrowed the gap slightly on Stewart, but the Bixby, Oklahoma driver was able to hold the lead to the end over the 17 year old. While Bud Kaeding finished on the podium Allard was able to race back to fourth at the checkered flag.
Larson also competed at Ocean Speedway Friday night as the track contested round number three of their Taco Bravo 360 Series. Larson drew a late qualifying number and found a quickly drying track, which resulted in the 16th fastest lap of the 27 cars pitted. In the heat race Larson experienced a rear end failure while in a transfer spot, sending him to the B-main event. There he started fourth and proceeded to cut a swath through the field on his way to a half lap victory.
The 30 lap feature event saw Larson start 15th in the 22 car field. As youngsters Justin Sanders and Justyn Cox battled up front, all the while holding off tough veterans Tommy Tarlton and Bud and Brent Kaeding, Larson methodically moved forward. When Cox was involved in a questionable officials decision on lap 24 that placed him at the back of the pack Larson had advanced to fifth.
As the green came back out Larson misjudged his entry into turn one and three cars quickly got underneath him before the backstretch. He tracked down Shane Golobic and Eric Rossi before the checkered flag came out but had to settle for sixth behind the strong run of Sanders, who topped Bud Kaeding, Tarlton, Peter Murphy, and Brent Kaeding.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, The Peppermill~Resort~ Spa~Casino~Reno, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions, Simpson Race Products, Abreu Vineyard, JW Web Design and All Star Performance.
Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for videos, current news and information.
Race: May 7 & 8, 2010
Photos Courtesy Shane Muir
And Steve’s Racing Photos
www.stevesracingphotos.com
- Kyle Larson Racing on May 11, 2010
- Article Date: 5/11/2010