From Gary Thomas, photo courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos
Despite the setback that didn’t allow him to compete during the Short Track Nationals finale on Saturday the 17-year-old was happy to be able to gain the experience of running his first career sprint car race in the Midwest. “It was definitely a great experience to run the Short Track Nationals and it was too bad the motor didn’t last on Saturday because we were good on Friday and I had a lot of confidence after getting a night on the track under my belt,” Larson said. “I again really have to thank Stadelhofer Construction, Phoenix ParkerStores and Jesse Hockett for giving me the chance to run last weekend and hopefully I can get back out there soon.”
The 22nd O’Reilly Short Track Nationals at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas featured a 101-car field that was split into a pair of qualifying nights and it saw Larson taking part in the Friday portion. The $15,000-to-win event was sanctioned by the Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Car Series and like all ASCS races the format saw pill draw set the heat line-ups, rather than using the traditional two-lap qualifying to begin the night. The field was split into six heat races to open the evening and Larson started from the outside of the third row in the sixth and final one.
The Elk Grove, CA driver quickly moved his way forward when the green lights came on and spent the majority of the heat locked in an entertaining battle for the runner-up position as he, Jan Howard and Mark Shirshekan kept the crowd on the edge of their seats in the 10-lapper. When the checkered flag was unveiled from the starters’ stand Larson crossed under it in third and with his points total it put him in the first of four qualifier races, where he would start from sixth and finish sixth. Following the qualifying races points were tallied up again and Larson had scored just enough to earn the 20th and final starting position in the 25-lap main event.
Starting scratch on the field aboard the Jesse Hockett Racing, Stadelhofer Construction No. 77 Larson methodically worked his way forward as the track had gotten very dry and treacherous in certain spots on the quarter-mile bullring. It didn’t affect the youngster though as he carved his way through the field to get up into 11th, before disaster struck on the final corners when he tipped over while looking to get by a couple more cars coming down for the checkered flag. Coming back looking for good things on Saturday the night unfortunatley came to an end as quickly as it started, when the engine dropped a valve in hot laps and forced Larson to watch the rest of the nights racing from the pits.
With the Short Track Nationals behind him Larson will now focus his attention on this weekends USAC National and USAC/CRA sanctioned $12,500-to-win Pacific Coast Nationals at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway. For the two-night show Larson will be behind the wheel of the BK Motorsports, Stadelhofer Construction, Kaeding Performance Maxim as he makes his second career attempt in the wingless 410 sprint car ranks. “I’m excited to get to run for Brent again this weekend and hopefully we can get the car up front and have a shot at winning,” said Larson, who scored a fifth place finish in the final Trophy Cup standings during what was his first and only prior start for the BK Motorsports team.
The 17-year-old charger made his wingless 410 debut at the Calistoga Speedway on Labor Day weekend and although both nights didn’t end how he wanted, the performance was still one to be proud of as he quickly adapted while competing on the high-speed half-mile. “Racing at Calistoga that weekend was some of the most fun I’ve had in a sprint car because you really have to be up on the wheel when driving one of these things without the wing,” Larson commented. “Tulare is probably my favorite track to race at so I’m sure it will be an awesome show this weekend and then when you add in some of the national guys coming that will make it even better.”
Tickets for the Pacific Coast Nationals this weekend will be the same price both nights with Reserved Grandstand seats being $35 and General Admission Bleacher tickets $30. Children under 12 will be half-price in the bleachers. The front gate of the Thunderbowl Raceway will open at 3pm on Saturday November 14 with wheel packing at 4, qualifying at 5 and first race scheduled for 6. Sunday will see the front gate open at 2pm with wheel packing at 3, qualifying at 4 and first race scheduled for 5. Pit passes will be $35 for members and $40 for non-members with the drivers meeting set to be at 3pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. Registration and pill draw will be at 1pm on Saturday and noon on Sunday. More info can be found at http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com
All of the action from the event will be broadcast via live video feed at http://www.usacracing.com/usac_live
For news, pictures and more information on Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson please visit http://www.kylelarsonracing.com