Tarlton Rebounds from Last Lap Crash: Finishes 2^nd with GSC

  By Gary Costa

  Watsonville, CA – Hanford, CA – (June 25 – 26, 2010) – Defending Ocean Speedway Sprint Car champion and current points leader, Tommy Tarlton was running solidly in the second position during Taco Bravo Series Sprint Car action at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, CA. However, disaster would strike the driver of the Corporate America Lending, Tarlton & Son, Inc. No. 21 on the white flag lap in the 30-lap feature. As Tommy was heading into turn-one, a wreck occurred directly in front of him blocking his path. With no where to go, Tommy became a victim of circumstance, which put an end to his strong run.

  Tommy was scored with an 11^th place finish, but was able to hold on to the points lead in the Ocean Sprint Car Series over Kyle Larson by twelve-points. Earlier in the evening, Tarlton turned in the eighth-quickest qualifying lap by whipping around the 1/4-mile dirt oval at 11.864 seconds. Tommy got his elbows up and charged from his fifth starting spot in the eight-lap heat race, and romped his way to victory in exciting fashion.

Saturday, the Tarlton Motorsports team would drop a 410 bullet in the Paul Baines wrenched Maxim, and compete with the Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series at Giant Chevrolet Speedway in Hanford, CA. The car was fast once again. Tommy went out and drilled the 3/8-mile dirt oval in qualifying, turning 13.593 seconds, which was good enough for fifth-quick. Tommy finished third in his heat race, putting him in the all-important dash, where he finished second. The dash comprises the first four-rows of the 30-lap feature, thus, making his second place finish crucial.

  Tarlton would share the front-row with Jonathan Allard. When the 22-car starting field took the green flag, the fight was on. Allard got the jump on the tricky surface with Tommy in tow. In the early stages of the race, the veteran shoe dropped to fifth, but began to search for the quickest way around the slick 3/8-mile speedway, and he found it. Tommy was able to “rim-ride” himself back into third, and then set his eyes on the first and second place cars of Tim Kaeding and Kyle Larson.

  On the white flag lap, Larson’s motor began to stumble, and the red flag would come out for an upside down car. The second place running car of Larson would not be able to continue, which moved Tommy into second. Tarlton ended up finishing the race in second, for the second strait event.

  Catch Friday’s Taco Bravo Series race here: http://vimeo.com/12969229

  Tommy will take this weekend off and pick back up with the Golden State Challenge Series on July 10 at Santa Maria Speedway.

  Tarlton Motorsports thanks: The Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Ridgeline Framing, Corporate American Lending, Shark Racing Engines, Matt & Glass, M & S Motorsports, Sharp Insurance, Elite Racing, BG Products, Pro Signs, VMAC, Kaeding Performance, Pro Shocks, Sander Engineering, Astro Titanium, Simpson, BR Motorsports, Willwood, and Brown & Miller Racing Solutions for their continued support.