Clauson, Larson, Allard Continue Strong New Zealand Tour

Clauson, Larson, Allard Continue Strong New Zealand Tour

California native Bryan Clauson placed second in his #39 BCI Racing Spike/Esslinger, while Elk Grove, CA’s Kyle Larson placed third in BSL Racing’s #99 Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger at Western Springs Speedway’s 50-lap event on January 5, the finale of a three-race Midget series at Auckland, New Zealand's Western Springs Speedway. Clauson and Larson were beat to the stripe by reigning New Zealand Midget champion Michael Pickens. Chico’s Jonathan Allard, the reigning New Zealand National Sprint Car champion claimed the Sprint Car A-Main, his second consecutive feature win. Larson's next event is the 26th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 10-14.

Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cC6_-IRgDSc

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

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.