(September 6th, 2017)..........The 2017 Kyle Larson's Outlaw Kart Showcase Presented by BRANDT is officially in the books and it was Sutter, CA driver Logan Seavey picking up right where he left off after last year's event; in victory lane. With the victory, Seavey becomes the first repeat winner in the event's short history. Other winners during this year's Showcase included, Mooresville, NC driver Caden Kvapil in the 250 Intermediate Class and Trail, OR youngster Trevor Grimes in the Box Stock Class.
The 50 Lap Open Main Event went green with 14-year-old driver Dawson Hammes on the front row alongside Albany, Oregon driver Bricen James. With 35 karts starting the Main Event, the first few laps saw a couple of accidents as everyone was eager to gain as many positions as possible before the field spread out. As the race wore on attrition began to take its toll on some of the drivers in the field. World of Outlaw’s driver Paul McMahan only got one lap in the books before retiring his kart to the infield early with engine troubles. Tyler Seavey was a contender in the top five early on only to have his kart slow on Lap 23 putting him out of the race as well. Other notables to encounter issues in the main event included Shane Stewart, Kyle Larson, and Matt Dibenedetto as they all retired early due to accidents. Dawson Hammes was a pleasant surprise this week as he put together a great performance that saw him lead the opening laps of the Main Event. The pressure from Logan Seavey though proved to be to much as Seavey was able to get past the youngster early on in the race. Once Seavey got up front it looked as though no one had the kart to challenge him. Colby Copeland had other ideas though in his #5RJ kart. Copeland, who was the inaugural Champion of this event, made a hard charge to the front of the field in the final ten laps. The charge by Copeland caused Seavey to get his elbows up and change up his line to protect the race lead. As the two approached slower traffic, they raced side by side at times with Seavey always coming away with the edge. As the white flag went in the air, Seavey got a little breathing room over Copeland and used it to his advantage as he drove away down the back straightaway. Logan would cross the stripe just over a half-second ahead of Copeland and would pick up the big $6,000 payday. It was a great drive for Colby Copeland after starting in the 14th position, coming up just one spot short. Early leader Dawson Hammes held strong in the top three, racing beside some of the best in the business. Hammes looks to have a bright future ahead of him if he can keep the speed he showed this week. Bricen James is always one to keep your eye on at these races. James came home fourth in his #13 kart. Whenever there is extra money on the line you are sure to see him near the front of the field. Chase Hill piloted his #1C kart into the top five after rolling off from the 18th starting position. Hill would cross the line a very respectable fifth at the conclusion of the event.
Three drivers took provisionals to start the main event. Yuba City, CA driver Landon Brooks was awarded a provisional start as the current points leader at the speedway. After starting in the 33rd position he would cross the line 14th at the conclusion of 50 Laps. The #83JR of Tanner Carrick from Lincoln, CA got a provisional as the defending Track Champion at Cycleland. Carrick got caught up in a lap one accident but rebounded to finish in the 12th spot. Sacramento, CA driver Holly Shelton was awarded the third and final provisional and she made it worthwhile. After getting caught up in an early yellow flag, she mounted a charge towards the front of the field. She climbed as high as 9th after starting 35th before dropping back to 11th at the drop of the checkered flag.
The drive of the night went to Casey McClain from Palo Cedro, CA. Casey began the night starting 7th in a Last Chance Qualifier race. The LCQ’s only took the winner to the back of the C-Main, and Casey was able to climb to the race lead quickly in his Herreid Music #30 kart. After winning the LCQ he started last in the C-Main Event and once again charged through the field to transfer to the B-Main. He was now just one race away from qualifying for the Main Event. He was able to miss a couple of accidents early on in the race which helped him to quickly gain some positions. As the race wound down he found himself racing for a transfer spot. When the white flag flew he was running in the third position, but trouble would strike as his kart slowed down the back straightaway. He was limping the kart around the track trying to make it back to the line. As the leader’s exited turn four the red flag was displayed with the checkered flag for a kart upside down in turn one. The finishing order then reverted to the final lap completed, which secured McClain as spot in the Main Event where he would start in the 30th position. The Main Event didn’t go as well as the rest of the night for the #30 kart as he was forced to retire early on Lap 36 and was scored in the 25th position. In total Casey McClain passed 49 karts throughout the night. It really got the crowd excited as they watched him work through the alphabet and into the Feature.
The 250 Intermediate Main Event saw Mooresville, NC driver Caden Kvapil put on a clinic in his #35K kart. Kvapil would lead all 25 Laps of the Main Event nearly unchallenged. It was the young drivers first trip out west to race at the Cycleland Speedway and he made the most of it by picking up one of the biggest wins of his young career. Preston Carr would cross the line in the second position in his RFC Karts #46 machine. Carr, who won the Outlaw Kart Showcase in the Box Stock class last season gave it all he had to catch Kvapil but couldn’t quite get the job done. Tucson, AZ driver Jaidan Curfman-Levy put together the best race of his career at Cycleland. Curfman-Levy had never recorded a top five finish at Cycleland before this year’s Showcase. He kept his nose clean all race long and crossed the line in the third position for his first career top five at Cycleland Speedway in the biggest race of the season. Carsen Perkins rebounded from an early race accident to finish fourth. Perkins looked like he had a kart good enough to compete with Kvapil for the win but just ran out of time on his charge back to the front. Trace Adams had an all around great weekend in his SGC #3 kart. Adams crossed the stripe in the fifth position at the end of the race.
In the Box Stock Main Event we saw Trevor Grimes surprise the field and pick up the biggest win of his career. Grimes passed Rylinn Renaud on the outside of the racetrack late in the going and was able to hold the top spot to pick up the win. Rylinn Renaud, who already has 13 wins at Cycleland this season would finish a bittersweet second. Yuba City, CA hotshoe Seth Standley is another driver who has been a frontrunner all season long at the speedway. He would cross the stripe third in the Standley Bros. Hot Rods #25 kart. Myrtle Creek, OR driver Natalie Richard would come home in the fourth position. While Geyserville, CA driver Jennifer Osborne piloted her #10 kart to a fifth place finish.
The 2017 Kyle Larson’s Outlaw Kart Showcase Presented by BRANDT was an all around success once again. The slight format changes this season made the racing extremely exciting each time the karts hit the track. It was great to see drivers like Kyle Larson, Matt Dibenedetto, and Brad Sweet all return to the track where they cut their teeth as kids and mix it up with the current stars of the Cycleland Speedway. This event gets better and better with each passing year and we are already looking forward to next year’s Outlaw Kart Showcase. None of this would be possible without the great team putting on the event each year, and the sponsors who come on board to help support not only this race but the continued growth of outlaw kart racing across the country.
Official partners of Kyle Larson’s Outlaw Kart Showcase Presented by BRANDT include: BRANDT, ENEOS, Abreu Vineyards, Bianchi Farms, NASCAR, iRacing, DC Solar, QRC Factory Karts, Red Bluff Yamaha, Priority Aviation, Swimming Pool Perfections, Bundy Built Motorsports, Ron Gorby’s Howard Johnson Lima, Ohio, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sonoma Raceway, Sacramento Kings, Elk Grove Ford, All Star Performance, Oakley, Howard Tarter for the David Tarter Memorial, Chuck Wolf Sand and Gravel for the Tyler Wolf Memorial, Chico Truck and RV, Finley Farms, Probilt Construction, Straight Up Performance, Northstar Concrete Pumping, Garth Moore Insurance and Financial Services, Randall Race Parts, Kaeding Performance, Kevin Sharrah Designs, Roseville Precision, AIC Amerikote Coatings, Fast Four Media, Light Up The World Beverages, College Cyclery, MANCAMP Motorsports, Tillack Enterprises, Arizona Open Wheel Racing Museum, Lary’s Good Time Garage, and MAJ1K Motorsports.
Visit the official showcase website at: http://www.outlawkartshowcase.com