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SARVER, Pa. — Kyle Larson earned his second consecutive Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup triumph for a $25,000 top prize in All Star Circuit of Champions competition at Lernerville Speedway.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion secured his eventual Silver Cup victory from the front row, driving past race-long leader and Roth Motorsports ace, Buddy Kofoid, on lap 19 of 30.
The series win bumps Larson’s career total to 29, including two this season.
As noted, Larson was forced to battle by Kofoid for the Lernerville victory, keeping pace with his fellow California native for the first 18 laps before pouncing the following circuit. Larson closed in on Kofoid’s tail tank by lap 16, racing nose to tail with the Roth Motorsports No. 83jr for the next two laps before utilizing a slingshot move into turn one on lap 19.
Larson led the rest of the way.
Brent Marks, who started fifth, finished second, followed by Justin Peck, Buddy Kofoid and Tim Shaffer.
A very late-race battle for second saw Marks and Kofoid exchange positions on multiple occasions including back-to-back sliders on laps 28 and 29. The final lap would see Marks and Peck each sneak past Kofoid.
There were two cautions during the 30-lap contest, one of which on the opening circuit forcing a complete restart; caution lights would return again on lap nine.
“I love coming here,” Larson said. “Buddy [Kofoid] actually got away from me a little more than I would have liked on that last restart. It kinda made me nervous, but I was able to focus on my line and build momentum to close in. Once I got the lead, I was able to move and search around. It was really slick. I think the track actually got better for me as the race went on. Things started to clean off and I was able to really build some momentum.”
The finish:
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