By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – September 6, 2010…With the famed Gold Cup Race of Champions on the horizon this week at Silver Dollar Speedway recently crowned King of California Kyle Larson will gear up to compete in four consecutive nights of racing at the even, which will be kick-started by his first outing of the season with the Bay Cities Racing Association on Wednesday.
Larson is also coming off a top-five effort with the USAC/CRA Wingless 410’s on Sunday at Calistoga Speedway’s Louie Vermeil Classic, where he began the night by qualifying fifth fastest in the 28-car field, before scoring a thrilling last-lap heat race victory in a photo finish at the line over Gregg Bragg.
The 18-year-old proceeded to then spend much of the main event in the second position, until suffering a flat right rear tire with just three-laps remaining in the race. He was able to pit and get the tire fixed though and came on strong during the final few laps to record a fourth place finish at the checkered flag.
The consistent effort was also good enough to wrap up the 2010 Calistoga Speedway track title for Larson, as he gets set to head into the prestigious Gold Cup Race of Champions this week at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. The event begins on Wednesday night with the Civil War Series, Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprints and BCRA Midgets taking to the quarter-mile bullring.
Late developments will find Larson in action on Wednesday aboard the Neverlift Motorsports No. 15x TCR/Van Dyne Chevy for the BCRA portion of the event, in what will be his first Midget start since tallying a 10th place finish at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma earlier this year.
“I’m looking forward to having the chance to get back in a Midget and want to thank the 15x team for giving me the opportunity to drive the car,” said Larson, who also brought home a fifth place finish on his preliminary night at this year’s Chili Bowl while competing for Cory Tucker Racing/Bryan Clauson Incorporated. “I had a great run at the Chili Bowl in January and this will be my first time running a Midget at Chico so it should be fun.”
The Neverlift Motorsports No. 15x Midget is supported by Manitowoc, Prickett’s Distributing, the Press Box, Hoosier Tire West, Moose Race Prep, Wunder Bar, K&N Filters, Elite Powder Coating, the Sandwich Works and Vigil Truck Body.
After Wednesday’s event Larson will then climb back behind the wheel of the Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill Casino-Reno No. 99 Maxim for the World of Outlaws portion of the Gold Cup Race of Champions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Unlike in past years where the field was split during the two preliminary nights, drivers will now compete all three-nights looking to gather points towards starting positions for Saturday, which will be capped with a 40-lap/$50,000-to-win main event.
In his most recent start at the Silver Dollar Speedway on July 4 Larson raced to a dominating flag-to-flag victory with the Golden State Challenge Series and also scored a runner up finish to Shane Stewart during the annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial in May at the high-banked clay oval.
“We’ve been real fast every time we have run at Chico this year so hopefully that will continue at the Gold Cup,” said Larson. “My guys have been giving me great stuff all season long and I have a lot of confidence going into this week. It doesn’t get much bigger out here than the Gold Cup and running well in these big races is something we’re definitely striving for.”
Brand new Kyle Larson “King of California” t-shirts will also be available at the Gold Cup Race of Champions with all kids sizes, as well as adult small, medium, large & XL on sale for $20 and adult 2XL and 3XL $25. To purchase the shirts at the track this week please Kyle’s sister Andrea.
Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, The Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa ~ Casino ~ Reno, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions, Simpson Race Products, JW Web Design and All Star Performance.
For more information and news on 18-year-old Kyle Larson log onto http://www.kylelarsonracing.com
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Kyle Larson “King of California” shirts will be available at the Gold Cup Race of Champions this week. For anyone that would like to purchase a shirt please see Kyle’s sister Andrea at the track.