Larson Holds Off Schuchart For $20,000
Written by I Dig Sports
BARBERVILLE, Fla. Kyle Larson closed the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series segment of the DIRTcar Nationals with another impressive win Saturday night.
The win in anything driver left Volusia Raceway Park with a collection of Little Gators and his first Big Gator representing the mini-series point championship after besting fast-timer Logan Schuchart and defending series champion David Gravel in the 30-lap feature, the longest of the week.
Larson earned $20,000 for the victory.
While the five extra laps did not appear to change anything, the fact that the sprints ran after the 30-lap UMP modified finale did, as the modifieds used every inch of the big half-mile and left the surface black for the Outlaws, who ended the feature with bald tires.
Dash winner Tyler Courtney and Gravel led the field to green, with Gravel riding the outside banking to the lead off turn two. Courtney dropped in line second with the fourth-starting Larson third but that only lasted a lap, as Larson blew by Courtney the second time around.
A scramble behind the leaders saw Bill Balog take a hard tumble that same lap in turn four, leaving his mount badly bent with Balog, who was reported to be conscious and alert, transported to the hospital for further care.
The return to green saw Gravel initially take command again but Larson hounded him for a couple of laps, then shot by on lap five to seal his second win in as many nights. Three laps later he was lapping the back markers as Schuchart began challenging Gravel for second, finally getting the spot on lap 13.
As the lap counter approached 20, Schuchart began noticeably gaining on Larson and was closing fast amidst lapped traffic when a car slowed on lap 21 to draw the second yellow of the night.
Larson got a great start when green returned and with the lapped cars out of the way edged away from his pursuers again. But he was back in traffic again with three to go, allowing Schuchart to get close again on the last lap but not tight enough for a serious challenge.
If Id pushed the issue in traffic I might have made it but it was tough going, offered Schuchart. I was hoping hed send it in too hard and Id get in there but it didnt happen. Still, we had two podiums this week so Im leaving happy.
I could hear Logan back there but this time, the caution helped me, tipped Larson. Its nice to finally get one of the Big Gators to go with all the small ones.
Gravel, on the other hand, was a bit frustrated with third after holding the early lead. The track took rubber and the tires are bald but that was the same for everybody. I need to see what the others are doing and react. When I was leading, I didnt really know where to go and that hurt me.
Along with his podium finish, Schuchart also claimed fast time honors over Larson, with both out in Flight A.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 3. 2-David Gravel[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[10]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[1]; 6. 10-Ryan Timms[19]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 9. 71-Parker Price Miller[8]; 10. 26-Justin Peck[11]; 11. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[9]; 12. 24D-Danny Sams III[16]; 13. 48-Danny Dietrich[20]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet[14]; 15. 21-Brian Brown[7]; 16. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[25]; 17. 1A-Jacob Allen[17]; 18. 88-Austin McCarl[24]; 19. 5-Brenham Crouch[15]; 20. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[18]; 21. 7S-Chris Windom[23]; 22. 6-Zach Hampton[26]; 23. 23-Garet Williamson[21]; 24. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[27]; 25. 39M-Anthony Macri[13]; 26. 28-Conner Morrell[22]; 27. 17B-Bill Balog[3]