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 20th 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.
Rico Abreu placed
sixth in his second Sprint Car start at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway in
Brisbane, Australia. Abreu started in 12th 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 27th 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.
