Auto racing: Kyle Larson wins Capitani Classic
· Yahoo Sports
KNOXVILLE – Kyle Larson was just happy to get back behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car at Knoxville.
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After running the 360 Knoxville Nationals and the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa Speedway, Larson felt at home in winning the 14th edition of the $13,000 Avanti Windows and Doors Capitani Classic Presented by Great Southern Bank Sunday night at the Knoxville Raceway. It was a hard-fought win that saw plenty of passing in the feature event with a record 87 cars entered into Sunday night's race.
Larson closed out a busy day of racing in Iowa on a winning note. Just hours before the Capitani Classic, Larson's day at the Iowa Corn 350 came to a frustrating end finishing 33rd after getting into an accident with teammate Alex Bowman.
Larson, who started second behind Ryan Blaney in the second NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Iowa Speedway, ended the opening stage in third before John Hunter Nemechek’s car stalled on lap 149, forcing Larson’s Chevy down and into a four-wide situation. There, Bowman’s car was hit by Keselowski, knocking Larson out of the race.
Just hours later and 30 miles down the road, Larson ended the day on a much happier note holding off Rico Abreu to win the Capitani Classic for the second time. Larson finished fourth on Saturday in the 360 Knoxville Nationals.
“Was happy to get back behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car," Larson said after the Capitani Classic. "I wasn’t planning on running this, but after running 360 Nationals, I was just very grumpy just because those cars suck. They’re so slow, so I needed to feel some horsepower and had a big smile on my face."
David Gravel started in the pole position after winning the $2,500 K-1 Racegear Pole Shuffle and led early in the 25-lap main event over Brent Marks, Austin McCarl, Larson and Abreu.
On lap 10, Aaron Reutzel passed Abreu to move in the top five. One lap later, Larson found his way around McCarl to take over third.
It took until lap 14 to catch traffic, but things got interesting quickly. Larson used a move high in turn two to take second from Marks on lap 15, while Abreu moved back by Reutzel into the top five.
Larson gained slowly on Gravel and, on lap 19, entered high in turn one and came down off of turn two under the leader to take the point. On lap 18, Abreu continued his momentum, getting by McCarl for fourth, and a circuit later passed Marks for third.
On lap 21, Reutzel and McCarl passed Marks for fourth and fifth. Things were happening quickly in traffic. Abreu got by Gravel for second in close racing before Buddy Kofoid and Tyler Courtney got together, with Kofoid getting upside down.
Larson would lead the pack the last three laps to secure the win. Abreu would come home second, ahead of Gravel, Reutzel and McCarl. James McFadden, Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Parker Price-Miller and $1,000 Avanti Windows & Doors Hard-charger Donny Schatz rounded out the top ten.
“When I got to the lead, it was very difficult to run the bottom,” said Larson. “When I hit it right, it was really good, but I struggled. Once I got to the lead, I was a little too timid, and getting tight on entry. I was just making a lot of mistakes.
"When (Abreu) was close before the red, he pulled up close and I knew he had a run. It had me confused about how high to go on the restart. I saw the crumbs, and with clean air, I thought I’d have enough in the middle. It was good enough to get the job done for that three-lap shootout. I feel like no matter how much rain they get here, they always seem to find a way to get it racy."
Gravel and Brady Bacon set quick time over their respective groups. Chase Dietz, Corey Day, Courtney, Justin Peck, Abreu and McFadden won the heat races. Steven Snyder Jr. and Brock Zearfoss won the two C mains, and Kofoid and Chris Windom claimed the B mains.
Anthony Macri and Bacon were involved in a scary crash in their heat race. Both walked away. Austyn Gossel and Riley Goodno were other flip victims that were uninjured.
“I felt really good early running the bottom well,” said Gravel. “I kind of got a little stale there, and lapped traffic definitely ‘whoa-ed’ me up. I didn’t feel right there and Kyle got me. I moved to the top and felt like I was gaining on him. I thought I rolled a really good corner, and here comes Rico sliding by me. Rico’s car really came on late in that green flag run. If we didn’t have a caution, Rico may have won that race.
"It was a real strong night. Real happy with our piece. I feel like we can get better in the later part of that race. Kyle Larson and Rico Abreu are some of the best drivers in the world. It’s nothing to hang our heads about, and hopefully, it’s us three on Saturday night duking it out.”
Qualifying for the 410 Knoxville Nationals begins on Wednesday night. Hot laps begin at 6:45 p.m.