PETERSEN MEDIA
Easton, CA pilot, Tommy Tarlton, is proving early in the year that his stuff is strong enough to charge through a field, as he charged from last to a third place finish, for the second time this year, Saturday night at the Placerville Speedway with the King of the West Series.
With a lone start at the track last year, Tarlton hasn’t seen the high banked track often in recent history, and he struggled in time trials.
Nearly having disaster on both of his laps, Tarlton ended up timing his Corporate Lending America/Tachi Palace and Casino/Tarlton and Son entry in 27th quickest.
“Qualifying got a little hairy, and I’m just glad we kept in on all four wheels both laps,” he said.
Lining up for his heat at the tail end, the driver known as ‘The Terminator’, was on the wheel, and the loud pedal, as he worked from eighth to fourth, and took the final transfer position to the feature event.
Essentially being lined up by his time for the 30-lap feature event, Tarlton gridded the field aboard his Bandy and Associates/Pro Signs/BG Lubricants in the 18th spot.
The star of the race was quite eventful as a pair of red flags, and a caution was needed before two laps were complete, and unfortunately Tarlton got a piece of the action on lap two, which resulted in a left front flat tire.
Heading to the work area, his team was able to make repairs, and they also made a quick adjustment to help him move through the field.
Restarting in 21st, Tarlton made up serious ground in two laps, as he was up to the 13th spot when the yellow flew, but he had too good of a start as he was penalized two spots for jumping, and sat back in the 15th spot.
When the race resumed on lap 4, it went the next 20-laps non-stop, and Tarlton thrilled the crowd with his hard-nosed style.
With nothing on the top-shelf in one and tow, Tarlton pedaled the bottom, before using monster runs down the back straight to pound the cushion in three and four to simply drive around many of the drivers who were on the bottom.
Passing what seemed to be a car a lap, Tarlton was up to the sixth spot when the caution flew on lap 24.
Getting into fifth on the restart, Tarlton took advantage of Jason Statler, and Rico Abreu making contact on the final corner, and stole the third spot at the finish line.
“It was a ton of fun here tonight,” Tarlton said. “I have a ton of family in the stands, and some great work customers as well, and that really gets me pumped up. Paul Baines and by guys gave me a great car, and I am thrilled we could come from last against these guys.”
Tarlton Racing would like to thank Corporate Lending America, Tachi Palace and Casino, Tarlton and Son, Bandy and Associates, Pro Signs, BG Lubricants, All Star Performance and Astro Titanium for their continued support.
2013 BY THE NUMBERS: Races-4, Wins-0, Top 5’s-4, Top 10’s-4
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Tommy by visiting www.tommytarlton.com or follow @Tarlton_Racing on Twitter.