Kyle Larson claimed win 4 of 5 at Lawrenceburg Speedway during NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Indiana Midget Week. Equaling the late Bryan Clausons’ 9 series wins.
Thirty five cars took 2 timed laps on the wide banked 3/8’s mile clay oval. San Jose, California native Thomas Meseraull quickest (15.095 seconds) over the only females in the field, Kaylee Bryson, Maria Cofer. Kyle Larson and Tanner Thorson in the five fastest.
Andrew Layser, Clinton Boyles, Jason McDougal and Brady Bacon were all winners of 8-Lap heat races with the top 4 from each also qualifying direct to the 30-Lap Feature. McDougal now in the #97 Keith Kunz Motor Sport team after motor issues in his Steve Reynolds ride the previous night. Thorson slowing on track in his heat race and out for the night with his own motor issues. Thorson second is series points at the time.
Semi-Main 12-Lapper was won by last night’s winner Chris Windom followed by Cannon McIntosh, Cole Bodine, Ronnie Gardner, Brody Roa and Landon Simon all transferring to the rear of the Feature.
Before the Feature the track had slicked off and the track prep team watered and broke open the hard packed clay of the well-used race lines to revive them. Tyler Courtney paced the field for the Feature with Michael ‘Buddy’ Kofoid to his outside. Larson, Cofer, Bryson and Meseraull occupying rows 2 and 3.
Courtney found himself a car length ahead at the line and first into turn one however caught a bad hop. All of a sudden now 6-wide for 3rd in turn two he ended the first lap in forth position behind Larson.
As Meseraull set after leader Kofoid the race was halted for Layser crashing hard with contact with fence and wall. The Collegeville, Pennsylvania driver climbing out uninjured.
Kofoid restarted on lap 5 as leader but was driven under in to turn one by Meseraull. Series leader Larson then passed low on Kofoid and into 2nd.
Just as Larson tracked down Meseraull former Midget Week Champion Shane Golobic car shut down. The car heading to the work area and returning to the track but failed to reignite and retired to the pits.
The field running high on the track began to spread out into sporadic positional stouches. Larson and Kofoid within a second of Meseraull. Courtney and McDougal four and a half seconds behind.
McDougal stopped on the track with a cut tyre and went to the work area for a replacement and then to the rear of the field.
With 9 laps remaining Larson was directly behind Meseraull and slid in front briefly causing a 3-way battle for the lead with Kofoid. Then a yellow flag and a better start from ‘T-Mez’ leaving his fellow Californians to scrap for second.
But not before another caution light slowed proceedings on lap 26 offering another regrouping and passing opportunities on the slickening surface.
On the restart in turns 1 and 2 Larson slide across the track and into the lead with Meseraull forced to re-gather to launch a last effort. With 3 laps to go Meseraull go to the inside of Larson but with less momentum could not complete the pass.
Larson going on to win followed by Kofoid 2nd, Meseraull 3rd, Windom 4th and Courtney 5th. McIntosh, Bryson, Bodine, and McDougal also in the top ten.
McIntosh the hard charger of the race starting 22nd to finish in 6th place and McDougal recovering well from the rear of the field in 9 laps to place 6th.
Larson’s two young Children running to join the winner at the podium.
“Thanks for you fans coming out. I always love coming to Lawrenceburg” Larson said to the cheers of the appreciative crowd.
Indiana Midget Week concludes at Kokomo Speedway June 21st (June 22nd NZ Time).
Current Indiana Midget Week Top 10 In Points after round 5 of 6:
Kyle Larson 388
Buddy Kofoid 331
Chris Windom 323
Tanner Thorson 292
Tyler Courtney 284
Tanner Carrick 274
Justin Grant 255
Cannon McIntosh 251
Jake Neuman 223
Thomas Meseraull 221
Also competing at the track in the non-wing Sprint Cars Auckland teenager Max Guilford started his heat race on pole position and finished 3rd. Transferring directly to the Feature after slipping past a multi-car incident unscathed when a car in front had a tyre deflate. In the Feature he started inside 13th was classified as not finishing. The Feature was won by Windom.
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