Kyle Larson had never raced in the Dakotas before. Though this was not enough to hold the hottest driver on dirt back from back to back World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series wins. When you’re hot, you’re hot!
The 28 year old Californian peddled his Paul Silva wrenched Finley Farms #57 to victory on Friday Night at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. He started off by setting quick time in qualifying, finishing 2nd in his heat race. This put him in the Dash where he drew a 6 marble for the short 8-Lap race yet managed to knock several spots off to finish 2nd to David Gravel who also bested Larson in his heat.
Second in the Dash meant 2nd on the grid for the 40-Laps Feature at the quarter mile high banked track with Gravel to his inside. Larson led early and found the tail of the field by lap 6.
Series Champion and Brother-in-law to Larson, Brad Sweet, continued his run of bad luck and collected a stricken car which slowed the race for a double file restart. Logan Schuchart started alongside but Larson again had the early pace with another caution light brining the field together behind him.
With 4 laps remaining Schuchart was within pouncing distance as Larson got baulked in traffic. With lapped cars high and low, side by side Schuchart kept his momentum as Larson waited on traffic. Schuchart clipping the back of Larson’s car sending him across the corner of the infield between an infield tyre and a track vehicle.
Schuchart now crossing the line 1st with 3 to go and Larson recovering however it looked to be too late when out of nowhere Larson hit his marks just right in turns 1 & 2 and Schuchart less precise allowed Larson to his bumper with the option to return the favour on the last bend of the last lap.
Schuchart sent it in hard and low then drifted high to cover. Larson went in hard and fast on the high side. Seeing Schuchart coming Larson turned the car down the banking and under and ahead of Schuchart for the win as the crowd unconsciously rose to their feet in excitement.
Schuchart 2nd, Donny Schatz from 7th to finish 3rd, Gravel 4th and Sweet 6th after restarting last.
Saturday was the series competed at Red River Valley Speedway in West Faro at the 3/8 mile semi-banked track. Larson was 6th quickest, 0.258 slower than quick time Parker Price-Miller.
Larson was 2nd in his heat to Australian James McFadden and 4th in the Dash which gave him a start inside the 2nd row for the 30-Lap Feature. Sheldon Haudenschild was on pole with Carson Macedo, driving the Kyle Larson Racing #2 and McFadden in the Kasey Kahne Racing #9 in 3rd.
Macedo took the initial led as Haudenschild and Larson fought for 2nd until Haudenschild tagged the wall stealing his momentum and giving Larson the position. Sweet, from 5th got by Haudenschild the past Larson. By this time Macedo was within grasp of Sweet and Larson who both made it past with Larson ending up in the top spot by the half-way point.
Sweet wasn’t done though and the pair went side by side with Sweet taking the lead when the yellow flags waved for a spinning car. At the 10 to go single file restart Both Sweet and Larson searched the track for the fastest line with Larson afforded a look at the leader’s lines.
Larson slipped by on the high side on the back straight with 6 laps to go and on to win and continue his hot streak. Sweet held on to 2nd with Haudenschild 3rd, Kerry Madsen 4th and McFadden 5th.
Larson’s phenomenal run has including wins in Midget and Winged Sprint Cars has the chance to extend to the USAC Silver Crown Series at the Indiana Sate Fairgrounds dirt mile for the Hoosier Hundred on Sunday.
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For live and on demand footage of the USAC Silver Crown Series visit https://www.floracing.com/