Larson makes history at Western Springs Speedway
American sensation Kyle Larson has added to the glorious history at Western Springs Speedway with his dominant victory
in the Crown Plaza Auckland World 50 Lap Classic enough to not only make him winner of the International Midget Series,
but the first driver to ever win all four races across the series in one attempt.
The only person who could get near Larson in the hot-laps qualifying session was fellow American Bryan Clauson, but
21-year old Larson topped that session and took a comfortable victory in the A-Dash to sit his car on pole position
alongside team-mate and New Zealand’s top hope, Michael Pickens, when the feature race got underway.
When the feature got underway, Larson cleared out to a comfortable gap while Pickens came under pressure for second
across the course of the 50 laps from fellow countrymen Brad Mosen and Hayden Williams, plus Americans Clauson, Dave
Darland and Jerry Coons Jr. First Mosen and then later Clauson both found their way past, but were forced onto the
infield within laps with engine failure in both cases.
But things really spiced up when Coons broke a wheel and rolled. While the American was ok, the yellow lights came on
and closed the field up for what would be a two lap dash to the flag. But any threat his opposition thought they could
impose on Larson was soon dispelled as he shot off into the distance to take victory and create history. Pickens crossed
the line in second and Williams was third, while Darland only just held off a last minute challenge from another Kiwi,
Shane O’Connor.
With that race win, Larson also won the Herman Tros Memorial Shield as the winner of the International Midget Series,
comfortably clear of Pickens and Williams.
Other action saw Jonathan Allard win the Sprintcar feature and Scott Baker victorious in the TQ’s.
Racing continues at Western Springs with the Koken Tools New Zealand Sprintcar championship which runs on January 5.
Race day sees gates open at 5pm with the first race getting underway at 6.30. Adults are $30 with kids under the age of
16 free with a paying adult. For more information, check out www.springsspeedway.com.
ENDS