Larson Avoids Carnage, Hits Eldora Jackpot

ROSSBURG, Ohio — With a national television audience on FS1, Thursday’s Joker’s Jackpot saw plenty of theatrics, but it was a familiar face in Eldora Speedway’s victory lane.

Kyle Larson dodged the carnage and kept Paul Silva’s No. 57 pinned to the wall en route to cashing the $100,000 top prize after the crash-plagued 40-lap High Limit Racing event.

“It always means a lot to win here at Eldora in front of a packed house, especially live on FS1 tonight,” Larson said. “Just a good opportunity for all of us and all our teams to showcase our sport. There was a lot of treacherous activity out there, but you’re cool to get a win nonetheless.”

The event began in a scary way as a severe multi-car pileup tore up contenders including Buddy Kofoid, Tyler Courtney, Bill Balog, Brad Sweet, Hunter Schuerenberg and Brady Bacon on the first lap.

Courtney was transported to a local hospital for observation.

After extensive clean up, the race resumed with Rico Abreu controlling the opening 20 laps over Larson and Logan Schuchart as the lead trio danced through traffic and against the treacherous wall at “The Big E.”

The winning move of the race came after the halfway point when Larson and Abreu swapped sliders back and forth, with the deciding moment coming when Larson’s No. 57 was barely, by what seemed like inches, able to squeeze between Abreu’s No. 24 and the outside wall to secure the lead for good.

It wasn’t the final challenge for the top spot, though, as Schuchart, Carson Macedo, and Anthony Macri entered the picture to make it a five-way way for a six-figure payday.

More drama unfolded in the final stages, however, as Schuchart suffered a flat left rear and then Macedo encountered a flat left front after contact with Larson on a critical restart.

After that, Larson cruised down the final stretch and crossed the line with a 2.254-second margin of victory over Anthony Macri.

The $100,000 Joker’s Jackpot title marked his 10th career win at Eldora Speedway and ninth career win with Kubota High Limit Racing.

Macri was all smiles after a $25,000 runner-up effort after starting 11th. Abreu rounded out the podium for a $15,000 payday.

The finish:

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[2]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri[11]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel[4]; 5. 14BC-Corey Day[5]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[15]; 7. 23W-Garet Williamson[13]; 8. 21B-Brian Brown[16]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[23]; 11. 18T-Tanner Holmes[7]; 12. 21-James McFadden[6]; 13. 7S-Chris Windom[22]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 15. 2C-Cole Macedo[19]; 16. 49-Brad Sweet[14]; 17. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[20]; 18. 21H-Brady Bacon[21]; 19. 48-Danny Dietrich[17]; 20. 17GP-Tim Shaffer[24]; 21. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[18]; 22. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 23. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[10]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[12]