Kyle Larson (#42 Target Chevy in Cup) seemed somewhat surprised at his margin of victory Saturday night at Cocopah Speedway, where he powered to his first victory of the new year during round two of the second annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown. Larson, who was driving for Paul Silva, lapped up to 14th place and he won by more than five seconds on the three-eighths-mile oval to score the $12,000 winner’s share. It also made him the first repeat winner during seven Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown main events. Larson, who started the 30-lap feature on the outside of the front row, inherited the lead when polesitter Greg Hodnett spun on lap eight. From that point the race was all Larson, who pulled away from the field following restarts on lap nine and lap 11 en route to the triumph. Shane Stewart, who pilots a sprint car for Larson with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, advanced from sixth to second in his Larson-Marks Racing entry. Danny Lasoski, who is the defending champion of the event, used a late rally by running in the middle of the track to round out the podium after he dropped outside the top 10 in the early laps. Friday night winner Dale Blaney, finished fourth with Jason Johnson fifth.(NSSN)
