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BSL Racing top the podium for the 50 Lapper
BSL Racing top the podium for the 50 Lapper
BSL Racing
have taken out first and third place in the crown jewel of
New Zealand midget car racing, the World 50 Lap Classic,
held at Western Springs Speedway, with Michael Pickens
taking victory and 19-year old American Kyle Larson taking
the final spot on the podium.
In a format unique to
the 50 Lapper in New Zealand, qualifying was sorted by time
trials with Larson setting the second fastest time, Pickens
setting the sixth fastest time after only completing one of
his two laps before pulling to the infield, and Scott
Buckley qualifying 11th. That meant Buckley would contest
the B-dash, while Pickens and Larson would determine their
grid positions in the A-dash.
In the B-dash, Buckley
started from grid three, however he missed the set-up on the
#25 Iscar Spike Esslinger and slipped back to seventh,
meaning he would start the big 50-lap classic 15th in the 24
car field.
The A-dash feature both the #99 Lucas
Oils/Auckland SsangYong Spike Esslinger of Kyle Larson
starting from grid two, and the #1NZ Auckland SsangYong of
Michael Pickens off grid six. Larson shot straight to the
lead and held it, setting fastest lap and generally
dominating.
Meanwhile, Pickens made a superb start to
move up to fourth by the end of the opening lap, then up to
second by the end of the next lap to chase Larson home,
securing a BSL Racing washout of the front row.
The 50
Lapper got underway and Pickens made the best start, going
straight to the bottom of the race track and moving away
while Larson got involved in a battle for second with fellow
American Bryan Clauson. Buckley again struggled with set-up
before a spin on lap 30 saw his race finish early.
Larson eventually made a mistake, jumping the cushion
and was forced to settle for third, while Pickens fought off
a late-race charge from Clauson to hold on for his third
victory in the 50 Lapper, to go with his historic dead heat
in the same race last year.
The BSL Racing team now
turn their attention to the final round of the International
Midget series, the 30 Lap World Derby, on Saturday
night.
ends
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