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Larson Celebrates 19th Birthday With POWRi Win At Osborn
Also takes fourth at McCool Junction

McCool Junction, Nebraska and Osborn, Missouri. July 30 and 31, 2011. Kyle Larson celebrated his19th birthday on Sunday night with his fifth midget win of the season as the POWRi Lucas Oil Midget Series closed out the Speedway Motors Money Midget Week. Larson, piloting the Keith Kunz Motorsports Bullet Chassis powered by Toyota, led the 30 lap event from the pole and drove unchallenged to the $3000.00 win on the high banked third mile US 36 Raceway.

“This is a heck of a birthday present,” said Larson in victory lane ceremonies. “Keith gave me a great car and I knew after hot laps that we were going to be the car to beat. I was wide open with that Toyota power and these Bullet Chassis work really well. I cant thank my guys enough for all the hard work they put in. Hopefully we can carry this momentum to the Belleville Nationals next week.”

Larson used the draw passing point format that the POWRi series utilizes for heat race lineups to his advantage as he raced from eighth to second in the 10 lap event. The result of the sprint forward gave Larson the highest passing point tally of the 22 cars entered and earned him the pole position for the feature event.

With the unfurling of the green flag Larson sped away from outside front row starter Chris DeShon, while Jerry Coons, Jr. and Bryan Clauson also gave chase. As Larson pulled away to a healthy lead in the early going, the action was intense behind as DeShon fought to hold off Coons, Jr. and Clauson

Following a lap five caution period, Coons, Jr. and Clauson swarmed past DeShon to move into second and third. The pair tried to keep up with Larson but it was to no avail as the birthday boy continued to set a torrid pace. As Larson got into lapped traffic near the mid point of the race Clauson pulled to the infield, out of the event.

Over the last half of the race Larson distanced himself from his pursuers as he continued to slice through lapped cars. When the final yellow flag appeared on lap 24 Larson had four cars between himself and Coons Jr. Underway for the final time, Larson settled into a steady rythym that easily carried him to the checkered flag. Coons Jr, Zach Daum, and Brad Kuhn trailed at the finish.

On the evening prior, Larson competed at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Nebraska in the second race of a two night affair. The $10,000.00 to win event, the Cornhusker Midget Challenge, which the United States Auto Club drivers such as Larson had to skip due to prior commitments in Indiana on Friday, had locked in the top four finishers from the first night.

With the draw passing point format in effect once again, the best Larson could hope to start in the feature event was fifth. When he drew the pole for his heat race that possibility was a scenario that could not play out. However, he did go on to win the heat and place himself in the 10th starting slot in the 24 car grid. As first night victor Kuhn led all 35 laps to sweep the event Larson drove forward to a fourth place finish in the final rundown.



Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Toyota Racing Development, Bullet Chassis, IWX Motor Freight, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa Casino ~ Reno, Simpson Race Products, RJ’s Race Graphics, Abreu Vineyards, JW Web Design, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions and All Star Performance.

For more information and news on Kyle Larson visit his website at www.kylelarsonracing.com


Videos:

Heat 1

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Main Event

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