Elk Grove, CA. January 25, 2010. Coming off the highlight of his career with a 10th place finish in last week’s Chili Bowl Midget Nationals A- main event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kyle Larson is set to take another positive step as he will embark on a 2010 campaign matched with one of the icons in the world of sprint car racing, 13 time King of California Brent Kaeding. The 17 year old Larson, with sponsorship from Stadelhofer Construction, will compete in approximately 40 races in BK Motorsports machinery this season, with an emphasis on the Golden State Challenge Series championship and the high profile events on the west coast.
Larson and Kaeding will continue a relationship that began at the tail end of 2009, when Larson found himself rideless just prior to the Trophy Cup at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. With a twist of fate that saw Larson, Rich Stadelhofer, and Kaeding all together a couple of weeks prior at an outlaw kart race in Lakeport, California, a deal was struck for the young driver to be entered in a number 99 Kaeding Performance mount. The association proved beneficial to all concerned when Larson placed third in the feature event and finished fourth in the all important overall points.
Another strong effort by Larson at Tulare three weeks later when the USAC National sprint car group came to town further impressed Kaeding and crew, which set in motion the talks which will join the threesome over the course of the 2010 racing season. “ I am so fortunate to be in this position,” said Larson. “To be together with Brent and his crew, and the resources they have, is just awesome every time I think about it. His operation, with the “Hogs” working on his cars, is as good as or better than any team in sprint car racing. To be able to tap into Brent’s knowledge and experiences in racing will without question make me a better driver and I am looking forward to this season so much.”
“Without Rich’s support, none of this would be possible,” Larson continued. “His support all last year, and his help at the Chili Bowl last week when I got to drive for Corey Tucker and Bryan Clauson, has been a big boost to my career. I am so fortunate to have him take an interest in my racing career and I appreciate everything he has done to get me to where I am now.”
The schedule will see Larson open the season in the Stadelhofer Construction/ Kaeding Performance Center Maxim powered by Ron Shaver engines at the unsanctioned Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico on March 12th and 13th. After that the complete Golden State Challenge Series slate for 410 sprint cars will be contested by the 2009 Rookie of the Year, who finished fifth in last year’s title chase. The first event of the 24 race GSC tour will take place at Placerville Speedway on March 27th.
The GSC series is this year highlighted by a recently announced Speedweek that will begin June 11th in Chico and continue northward the next night with a stop at Medford’s Southern Oregon Speedway. Two nights later teams will converge at the well prepared Cottage Grove Speedway, before heading Tuesday night to Lebanon, Oregon and the series’ first ever visit to Willamette Speedway. On Thursday, June 17th, the unsanctioned 39th annual three day Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Washington will commence with drivers from around the United States and Canada vying to take home the $25,000 first prize on Saturday night.
Other highlights of the GSC schedule will see the return of the series to Kings Speedway in Hanford after a couple year hiatus. Also, Marysville Raceway Park is back in the fold after a several year absence. Besides Placerville and Silver Dollar Speedways, tracks also returning to hold events are Calistoga, Antioch, Petaluma, Tulare, Santa Maria, and Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway.
In addition to the aforementioned races Larson will also compete for BK Motorsports at the USAC/CRA non winged doubleheader at Calistoga Speedway over Labor Day weekend. The next weekend will see Larson taking on the best in winged sprint car racing when the World of Outlaw regulars come to Chico for the 56th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions. 360 sprint car events will take place in October at Chico for the Fall Nationals and at Tulare for the Trophy Cup. An additional Taco Bravo Series 360 race is slated at Santa Maria Speedway on Friday April 30, a night prior to the GSC’s first visit to the track on May 1st.
Although the bulk of Larson’s schedule is set with the BK Motorsports team, he is looking to fill out many other open dates that are available. 360 openings are Watsonville’s Friday night Taco Bravo Series and a handful of Civil War races. Several winged and non winged 410 dates are vacant also. For anyone that might be interested in the services of this rising talent please check out his current schedule at www.kylelarsonracing.com.
- Kyle Larson Racing on Jan 25, 2010
- Article Date: 1/25/2010