By Bryan Hulbert
QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (November 30, 2019) Opening the 4th annual Copper Classic at Arizona Speedway on Saturday night, California’s Kyle Larson brought his momentum from the Midgets to the ASCS Southwest Region with his first career victory against the Arizona based tour in the Finley Farms/Chevrolet Accessories No. 57.
Taking the green from sixth, Larson worked into the top three on the first lap as Hunter Schuerenberg showed the way with Christopher Bell in tow. Red with 23 laps to run, the restart saw Bell take a shot at the lead with Schuerenberg able to fend off the charge. Settling back into second, the position would be short-lived as Kyle Larson made his way by.
Closing quickly on Hunter for the lead, the caution paused his advance with 20 laps remaining. Looking top shelf on the restart for the lead, Larson worked off the second turn with momentum. Rolling the cushion in turn three before diamonding off with the lead in sight, Larson took command on Lap 6 just as brake issues struck Schuerenberg; forcing him off the pace entering the second turn.
With Christopher Bell tied to his back bumper on the restart, Larson was able to pull away and keep pace to the checkered flag. Bell would hold onto second with Justin Sanders moving up from 10th to complete the podium. Bill Balog and Colton Hardy made up the top five.
J.T. Imperial crossed sixth with Thomas Kennedy climbing from 15th to seventh. Craig Stidham, Geoff Ensign, and Mark Dobmeier completed the top ten.
The 4th annual Copper Classic concludes on Sunday, December 1 at Arizona Speedway with action going green at 5:00 P.M. (MT). Live coverage can be found online at http://www.speedshift.tv.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47346 N Ironwood Rd. More information on the facility can be found online at http://www.arizonaspeedway.net as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Arizona-Speedway-211954742150175. Fans can also email info@arizonaspeedway.net or call (480) 926-6688.
For other news, notes, and information on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to any of the nine Regional Tours that make up ASCS Nation in 2019, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, on Instagram, and Twitter (@LucasOilASCS).
Race Results:
ASCS Southwest Region
Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
4th annual Copper Classic – Night 1
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson, 13.522[21]; 2. 74-Colton Hardy, 13.539[1]; 3. 21-Christopher Bell, 13.667[8]; 4. 3-Craig Stidham, 13.725[4]; 5. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.820[3]; 6. 7Z-Zane Blanchard, 13.865[6]; 7. 7B-Bill Balog, 13.901[7]; 8. 75X-J.T. Imperial, 13.985[26]; 9. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 13.988[24]; 10. 17-Justin Sanders, 14.031[9]; 11. 25-Geoff Ensign, 14.072[25]; 12. 22B-Jesse Baker, 14.095[23]; 13. 2B-Billy Chester III, 14.134[12]; 14. 9-Dustin Freitas, 14.142[22]; 15. 01-Thomas Kennedy, 14.341[13]; 16. 45L-Jeff Lowery, 14.364[11]; 17. 7-Ryan Linder, 14.391[20]; 18. 34-Sterling Cling, 14.579[10]; 19. 99-James Aragon, 14.650[19]; 20. 45-Lonnie Cox, 14.755[18]; 21. 5K-Patrick Krob, 14.838[15]; 22. 3V-Jim Vanzant, 15.640[16]; 23. 18J-Paul Jones, 16.987[17]; 24. 6-Bud Rowe, 16.987[5]; 25. 2-Alex Pettas, 16.987[14]; 26. 8-Eric Wilkins, 16.987[2]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson, [1]; 2. 3-Craig Stidham, [2]; 3. 7B-Bill Balog, [3]; 4. 17-Justin Sanders, [4]; 5. 2B-Billy Chester III, [5]; 6. 45L-Jeff Lowery, [6]; 7. 99-James Aragon, [7]; 8. 3V-Jim Vanzant, [8]; (DNS) 2-Alex Pettas,
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, [2]; 2. 74-Colton Hardy, [1]; 3. 75X-J.T. Imperial, [3]; 4. 25-Geoff Ensign, [4]; 5. 9-Dustin Freitas, [5]; 6. 7-Ryan Linder, [6]; 7. 18J-Paul Jones, [8]; (DNS) 45-Lonnie Cox, ; (DNS) 8-Eric Wilkins,
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Christopher Bell, [1]; 2. 7Z-Zane Blanchard, [2]; 3. 13-Mark Dobmeier, [3]; 4. 22B-Jesse Baker, [4]; 5. 01-Thomas Kennedy, [5]; 6. 34-Sterling Cling, [6]; 7. 6-Bud Rowe, [8]; 8. (DNF) 5K-Patrick Krob, [7]
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson, [6]; 2. 21-Christopher Bell, [4]; 3. 17-Justin Sanders, [10]; 4. 7B-Bill Balog, [7]; 5. 74-Colton Hardy, [5]; 6. 75X-J.T. Imperial, [8]; 7. 01-Thomas Kennedy, [15]; 8. 3-Craig Stidham, [3]; 9. 25-Geoff Ensign, [11]; 10. 13-Mark Dobmeier, [9]; 11. 22B-Jesse Baker, [12]; 12. 9-Dustin Freitas, [14]; 13. 7-Ryan Linder, [17]; 14. 6-Bud Rowe, [24]; 15. 3V-Jim Vanzant, [22]; 16. (DNF) 5K-Patrick Krob, [21]; 17. (DNF) 34-Sterling Cling, [18]; 18. (DNF) 99-James Aragon, [19]; 19. (DNF) 19AZ-Hunter Schuerenberg, [2]; 20. (DNF) 2B-Billy Chester III, [13]; 21. (DNF) 45-Lonnie Cox, [20]; 22. (DNF) 7Z-Zane Blanchard, [1]; 23. (DNF) 45L-Jeff Lowery, [16]; 24. (DNF) 18J-Paul Jones, [23]; (DNS) 8-Eric Wilkins, ; (DNS) 2-Alex Pettas,