Tag: Elk Grove

Paul McMahan from Elk Grove gets a Win in the World of Outlaws

McMahan Tames Charlotte from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.

Paul McMahan from Elk Grove, California got his first win of the season in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and he did it with car owner, Kasey Kahne, in attendance. Kasey, the driver of the No. 4 Red Bull Toyota was in Charlotte to race in the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup race and took time out to watch his sprint car teams race at the Dirt Track at Charlotte. Paul qualified first, winning his 5th quick time of the year. Bobby and Sean McMahan, Paul’s brother and nephew, compete in the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series, traveling around California.

The following is a media release from the World of Outlaws.

CONCORD, N.C. — May 28, 2011 — Paul McMahan had no idea what his 2011 racing plans were when he took off for a vacation in Cancun, Mexico, last fall. McMahan had filled in for injured Cody Darrah at Kasey Kahne Racing in 2010, even putting the car in victory lane at the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. McMahan called Kahne and inquired about his future with the team.

“I called Kasey and asked him what the plan was for 2011 and he told me to give him a few weeks,” said a smiling and relieved McMahan. “Dennis (Roth) called me three weeks later and told me to call Kasey. When I did, he told me that he had found a ride for me.”

With Kahne looking on Saturday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, McMahan wheeled his #83 HR Cattle Maxim into victory lane in the Circle K NOS Energy Drink Outlaw Showdown at the Dirt Track at Charlotte. Heavy rains had delayed the event 24 hours, but as the ‘Greatest Show on Dirt,’ took to the speedway, McMahan was at the top nearly all night. A California native who resides near Nashville, McMahan set quick time for the fifth time on the season, which leads all drivers, and used the momentum to steer himself into a third-place starting position in the A-main.

Paul McMahan from Elk Grove, CA on the track in Las Vegas. Photo by Steve LaMothe.
Paul McMahan from Elk Grove, CA on the track in Las Vegas. Photo by Steve LaMothe.

Sammy Swindell, of Germantown, Tenn., started the A-main on the pole and led the first 14 laps until a restart bunched up the field and gave McMahan his shot. The two drivers raced feverishly and at one point made contact down the front stretch as the green flag flew.

“Sammy slid up into me a little bit and tried to block me but I was going to hold me ground,” said McMahan. “I wasn’t going to give an inch and I guess the old saying goes, “Rubbin’s Racin’.”

While Kasey Kahne Racing got to victory lane with McMahan, two of the four machines entered in to the nights events experienced trouble. Kevin Gobrecht a Rookie of the Year candidate and Cody Darrah experienced motor issues. The #49 of Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA also experienced an overheating motor after losing a left rear tire.

Early race leader Sammy Swindell was running second to McMahan until a flat left rear tire sent him into the pit area. When the Big Game Treestands crew arrived to change the tire, they discovered the front brake lines were broken which left Swindell with no brakes.

The Tony Stewart Racing tandem of Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz came home second and third respectively. According to Schatz, the race track lent itself to some great racing and tested the drivers stamina.

“We raced pretty hard tonight, there’s no doubt about that,” said the four time champion from Fargo, N.D. “The track widened out really well and we were just flat out the entire time. It was an extremely fast race track tonight.”

2010 Champion Jason Meyers from Clovis, CA came home fourth with Mechanicsburg Penn. native Lucas Wolfe rounding out the top-5. NASCAR star Tony Stewart made it around series points leader Joey Saldana to finish 10th on the night. Kinser cut into Saldana’s lead once again and now trails the Brownsburg, Ind. native by only nine points.

As always, our thanks to Steve LaMothe from Steve’s Racing Photos for the use of his photos.

Kyle Larson from Elk Grove, CA races with the World of Outlaws

Here is a press release from Kyle Larson Racing about Kyle’s experiences racing with the World of Outlaws at Merced Speedway on Friday night and Calistoga Speedway on Saturday night.

Kyle Larson #99 from Elk Grove on the track at Calistoga Speedway. Photo courtesy of stevesracingphotos.com.
Kyle Larson #99 from Elk Grove on the track at Calistoga Speedway. Photo courtesy of stevesracingphotos.com.

Merced and Calistoga, California. April 1 and 2, 2011. Overcoming disastrous qualifying efforts each night in last weekend’s World of Outlaws doubleheader at Merced and Calistoga Speedways, 2010 King of California Kyle Larson made amends by racing to top ten finishes in both feature events. Highlighting the pair of races was the 18 year olds highest ever WoO placing of third at the legendary Calistoga half mile, topping his sixth place finish at last year’s Gold Cup Race of Champions at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway.

With the World of Outlaws sanctioning a race at Merced Speedway for the first time ever on Friday night, 33 cars appeared to do battle on the tight little bullring. Larson’s attempt in qualifying resulted in 25th quick time and set up an uphill climb for the night. When he left his heat race early due to handling issues, his chances of making the feature race looked bleak. However, with a “get up on the wheel” struggle with Cody Darrah for the last transfer spot into the main event, Larson survived to become the final entrant into the headliner.

As Sammy Swindell jumped into the lead from third starting on the opening lap Larson showed that he was ready to race also. While Swindell led in furious action Larson steadily moved forward from 21st. By the quarter mark of the 40 lap distance the Elk Grove, California driver had advanced the Stadelhofer Construction/ Peppermill Casino and Resort mount into 16th. When second place Joey Saldana and the lapped car of Justin Sanders brought out the yellow after contact on the 19th circuit, Larson sat 14th.

A lap later fifth place Kerry Madsen brought out the caution and moved Larson to 13th. When the green flag reappeared Larson came to life with a double pass in turn two of Jac Haudenschild and Craig Dollansky. A lap later Lucas Wolfe became his next victim as Larson made his first appearance into the top ten. On lap 25 Larson made a quick outside pass of Steve Kinser in turns one and two to make it into ninth. While Swindell raced on to capture his second WoO feature of the year Larson chased Jason Meyers to the finish and settled for ninth.

After Larson’s sponsor and Calistoga resident, Rich Stadelhofer, and crew, worked all week to use heavy equipment to blend and shape badly needed new clay into the surface, 25 teams trekked to the scenic Napa Valley for the first test of the newly configured track. The local connection provided Larson no advantage as he timed in 23rd fast, putting himself behind the eight ball once again.

However, this time in his heat race, Larson made a beautiful outside pass of Madsen in turn three and four to avoid another trip to the semi feature. As the 24 car field gridded for the 25 lap main Larson once again lined up 21st with an even more daunting task ahead of him for a top finish.

Kyle Larson of Elk Grove being interviewed after the race at Calistoga Speedway. Photo courtesy of stevesracingphotos.com.
Kyle Larson of Elk Grove being interviewed after the race at Calistoga Speedway. Photo courtesy of stevesracingphotos.com.

As Chad Kemenah led the first two tours before Saldana took over Larson steadily moved forward once again. By lap eight Jason Sides was the new leader. Larson made quick work of Tim Kaeding and Meyers after a lap nine restart and worked his way into 15th. A lap later Larson leaped past Bill Rose, Kraig Kinser, and Wolfe to move into the top dozen. In another lap a falling Kemenah fell to the surging Larson. When Larson got by Haudenschild as seventh running Swindell slowed to bring out the yellow on lap 14, the youngster cracked the top ten for the first time in ninth.

Two laps later Larson drove around the outside of Steve Kinser in turns one and two to move into eighth. When Haudenschild flipped to bring out the red on the same lap a fuel stop was ordered. Seventh place Darrah was not ready when the call was made to fire engines and he was penalized one position behind Larson on the restart. As Larson closed on Donny Schatz after the restart the four time WoO champion rolled to a stop on the frontstretch on lap 17, moving the #99 car to sixth.

On the next restart fifth running Jonathan Allard got loose in turn three and came to a stop as Larson slipped into the top five. On the lap 18 restart Larson got by fourth place Paul McMahan and closed on Saldana, who trailed Dollansky as Sides still led. On lap 20 Larson moved past Saldana into third but the Red Bull driver retook the spot a lap later. After a yellow that involved Rose, Jason Statler, and Swindell on lap 22, Dollansky drove around Sides for the lead as Larson did the same to Saldana to retake third.

While Dollansky held Sides at bay Larson gradually raced away from Saldana over the course of the last four laps. Unfortunately for Dollansky his fuel starved mount coughed over the last half lap and a surprised Sides raced by in a very exciting finish in front of the capacity crowd. Larson couldn’t quite capitalize on Dollansky’s misfortune, but still raced to a satisfying third place finish.

“If I can ever qualify I might have a shot at winning one of these things,” Larson said when interviewed on the frontstretch after the race. “I seem to get hard charger every time I’m out here. This is the greatest feeling I’ve ever had to finish up on the podium with these Outlaw guys. I really think I can hang with them out here. I just need the opportunity to tour with them because I think I can give them a run for their money every night.”

Larson’s racing efforts are sponsored by Stadelhofer Construction, Peppermill ~ Resort ~ Spa Casino ~ Reno, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Simpson Race Products, Abreu Vineyards, JW Web Design, Kaeding Performance, Safety Solutions and All Star Performance.

For more information and news on 18-year-old Kyle Larson visit his website at www.kylelarsonracing.com.

Photos Courtesy of Steve’s Racing Photos