Weekend Digest - West Coast Stars Making Waves Everywhere

Compiled by Robert Haugh

West Coasters Making Waves Internationally

Elk Grove, CA’s Kyle Larson claimed wins in both of his Heat races in BSL Racing’s #99 Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger Midget at the King of the Springs event at Western Springs Speedway in New Zealand on January 2. Larson’s dominating Heat races placed him on the pole for the 40-lap feature. Larson fell to third then spun in an effort trying to regain the top spot early on, relegating him to the rear of the field. Despite racing a track tough to pass on, Larson fought from the rear in 20^th to come home sixth in the 40-lap Midget feature. West coast native Bryan Clauson picked up the the Midget victory in his #39 BCI Racing Spike/Esslinger. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ4bbRW_m_4&feature=youtu.be

After claiming second in his first start, reigning New Zealand Sprint Car champion and Chico, CA native Jonathan Allard picked up the Sprint Car win over Peter Murphy. Next up for Larson, Allard and Clauson is the 50-lap Classic on January 5. 

Photo courtesy of http://kylelarsonracing.com/

Full results available at http://springsspeedway.com/

Highlight video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uDrqZ7kKFjs

Rico Abreu placed sixth in his second Sprint Car start at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane, Australia. Abreu started in 12^th after setting the third fastest qualifying mark. The young Californian placed third in Heat 2 from seventh and fifth in Heat 4. Full results are available at http://brisbanespeedway.com.au/results.asp

Grass Valley Native Brad Sweet to Race in NASCAR Nationwide Series

Grass Valley, CA native Brad Sweet will compete in the No. 38 Great Clips in selected NASCAR Nationwide series races, splitting driving duties with Kasey Kahne in 2012. 

West Coast Brings Golden Driller Trophies Home at Tulsa Shootout 

Several West Coast racers competed in the Speedway Motors 27^th Annual Tulsa Shootout held over New Year’s weekend at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway. The West Coast nearly swept the racing, winning six of eight Golden Driller trophies. 

California’s Heath Dunkerken and Washington’s Brock Lemley were among the headliners of the event that attracted 790 competing entries from throughout the nation and beyond.

Dunkerken nabbed his first Golden Driller trophy by leading 27 of 30 laps in the headline Outlaw Micro Sprint feature, beating teammate Michael Faccinto of Hanford, CA to the stripe.

Lemley was the only driver among the eight different classes of competition to snare two victories. After leading all the way to win the 1200cc Mini Sprint (aka Midget Lites) feature, Lemley backed it up by winning the Non-Wing Outlaw A-Main.

Mitchell Faccinto, Dahne Lynn McKay and Kameron Beard each took Golden Drillers with wins in the “A” Class, Restricted “A” Class and Junior Sprints, respectively, giving the West Coast a combined six Golden Driller trophies! McKay won the Restricted “A” Class feature wire-to-wire, becoming first female to top a Micro Sprint Car championship feature event in Tulsa Shootout history.

Full results available at http://www.tulsashootout.com/news/?i=10026&clk=featureNews