Beyond the West Coast: West Coast Racers Making International Waves

Beyond the West Coast: West Coast Racers Making International Waves

By Robert Haugh

West Coast racers have long made waves in the International Sprint Car and Midget circles, and 2011-2012 is no different.

Larson, Allard, Coons Fare Well in New Zealand

19-yard-old Kyle Larson, of Elk Grove, CA made the best of his debut in New Zealand, winning his first International Midget race in his inaugural start in New Zealand. Starting seventh in the 25-lap feature, Larson passed New Zealand’s Midget champion Michael Pickens to capture the triumph in the opening round of the Crowne Plaza International Midget series, held on Boxing night (December 26) at Western Springs Speedway.

Western Springs’ Web site says Larson “quickly moved forward and by half distance had engaged in a battle royale with current national midget champion Michael Pickens, the pair swapping the lead on just about every corner.”

Photo courtesy of Kyle Larson's Facebook page

Defending International midget series champion Jerry Coons Jr., of Tuscon, Arizona finished fourth. Larson in the Midget here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AoOssk7PFI&feature=youtu.be

Chico’s Jonathan Allard, the reigning New Zealand Sprint Car Champion won Round two of the Porter Group/Hydraulink International Sprint Car series, moving into the lead and never looking back in the 30-lap Sprint car feature.

Follow Larson, Coons and Allard’s New Zealand forays at http://springsspeedway.com/

Both are scheduled to race at Western Springs Speedway on December 31^st with the World 30-lap Derby.

A highlight video of the Sprints and Midgets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SKb7UrKvwXM

Rico Abreu Scores Top Five in Archerfield Debut

St. Helena, CA 19-year-old Rico Abreu opened his International Sprint Car racing slate with a solid fifth place finish, winning “himself a legion of fans in the process,” according to the Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway’s Web site.

Abreu placed fifth in in Round 7 of the KRE Race Engines Sprintcar Track Championship on Boxing Night, December 26 at 
 Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane, Australia.

Abreu, likely the shortest man to ever wheel a Sprint Car is piloting the specially-modified #USA89 Kaedings Performance/Abreu Vineyards Maxim. Abreu impressed the Australian fans by clocking impressive 11.405 laps in his first look at the track (second fast only to Donny Schatz’s 11.375s).

The next event for Abreu at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway will be night two of the annual Summer Of Speed schedule on Sunday night January 1 with Round 8 of the KRE Race Engines Sprint Car Track Championship. Follow Abreu’s “Down Under” adventures at http://www.brisbanespeedway.com.au/default.asp

Tony Hunt to Compete in South Africa

Elsewhere, reigning and eight-time USAC champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA will try to add to an international win to his resume, as he will compete at Ultimate Raceway in Vereeniging, South Africa on January 7. Hunt will be one of two Americans traveling to compete in winged 410 sprints on the quarter-mile paved oval track as part of the “Ultimate Sprint Car Series”.  Visit www.tonyhunt.com for more information.