Peterson Media
Both Kyle Larson and Paul Silva have longed to win the Trophy Cup over both of their illustrious careers and in the event’s 20th year, and possibly Larson’s last shot for a while, the duo teamed up and scored both the race and event win in exciting fashion on Saturday night.
“I can’t thank Paul Silva enough for the opportunity to drive his car, and come out and finally win this thing,” Larson said. “He’s never won it as a car owner and crew chief, and I’ve always seemed to have bad luck, so I’m just really happy for everyone involved.”
Kicking off on Friday night, Larson timed the Lucas Oil Products/A.R.T. Speed Equipment/Pro Bilt Construction entry in fourth fastest against the 81 cars in action.
Lining up sixth in his heat, the Elk Grove, CA driver had his elbows up as he clawed his way to a second place finish, transferring him into the 30-lap feature event.
After the heats had concluded, Larson sat atop the point standings, meaning he would line up 12th in the feature event, based on the inversion.
When the race went green, Larson slowly worked his way inside the top 10, as he worked around the high banked 3/8 mile facility.
As the laps wound down, he was able to get past Bud Kaeding, Jonathan Cornell, and took advantage of Jonathan Allard getting into the wall, and finished in the third spot, putting him second in points through the first night.
Back in action on Saturday night, Larson lined up eighth in his heat, as heats were fully inverted, and a fourth place finish kept him in the second spot in points heading into the 50-lap feature, meaning he was start in the 12th row.
When the race went green, Larson was pitted against the fields fastest cars in the back of the pack, but still was able to move forward, as he reached the 14th spot, when the red flag flied on the 11th lap.
Making a few adjustments during the open red flag, Larson was event better when action resumed as he flew around the fence at the track and continued working forward, as he battled with Jason Meyers, as they raced inside the race battling for the points deal.
By the 35th lap Larson had reached the fourth spot as he chased after Brad Sweet, Roger Crockett and Jason Meyers.
Knowing he couldn’t let Meyers get to far ahead of him, Larson worked around Meyers on the 40th lap, and got around Crockett just before the yellow flew on the 44th lap for Tim Kaeding.
With several lapped cars between himself and Brad Sweet, Larson wasn’t able to battle Sweet initially on the start, but the yellow flew on the 47th lap, setting up quite possible the most memorable finish in the history of the event.
Back under green, Larson hounded Sweet, and as the white flag flew, he slid for the lead in the first set of turns, but Sweet was able to turn back down under him and hold the advantage.
Drag racing into the final two corners, Larson stayed high with a full head of steam as Sweet went to the bottom.
As the duo came of the corner, they met and made contact, with Larson getting into the wall, but he stayed in the throttle and somehow limped across the finish line in first, claiming both the race and the Trophy Cup title.
“It was an exciting last lap, and we made contact in the final corner, and I just stayed in the gas hoping I could hang on, and it worked out.”
The Silva Motorsports team thanks Lucas Oil Products, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Pro Bilt Construction, Palmero Properties, Finley Farms, Car and Fleet, Stepping Stone Genetics, FK Rod Ends, OMP Racing, Wesmar Racing Engines, Amerikote, XYZ, Hoosier Tire, Pro Shocks, Banshee Graphics, Dan Olson Products, K&N Filters, RE Technologies, Weld, Schoenfeld Headers, Butlerbuilt Seats, Vortex Wings, CP Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, Huggins Cams, BR Ignitioneering, Blackwell Consolidation, Shift Creative, and Petersen Media for their partnership in 2013.