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.
