‘Sunshine’ sparkles in first Kings Royal double feature

In a first-ever Kings Royal double feature on Saturday, Tyler ‘Sunshine’ Courtney won the first of the two crown jewel features. The second one Saturday night belonged to Kyle Larson. Both cashed in with $175,000-to-win victories in dirt sprint car racing’s richest event.

They weren’t the only ones that won big. The winner’s share of Saturday’s 50/50 drawing took home $88,518.

The 2020 Kings Royal was postponed last season and rescheduled for Friday, which was then pushed to Saturday because of weather.

Courtney, nicknamed ‘Sunshine’ by the late Bryan Clauson for his bright personality, added to his rising star status in the winged-sprint car world by winning the 38th Kings Royal. Courtney, making his Kings Royal feature debut, was brought to tears by the crowd – as well as that payday.

Roughly 25,000 spectators cheered as Indiana’s Courtney beat David Gravel by 0.582 seconds. Pennsylvania’s Danny Dietrich (also competing in his first KR feature) inherited second (and $20,000) after Connecticut’s Gravel was disqualified for coming up light at the scales.

The fans repeated their chorus of cheers as Courtney rolled off the scales and into the track for his victory lane celebration and coronation as King Tyler XXXVIII.

“That really got me. That got my tears flowing a little bit,” the 27-year-old Courtney said. “I had to soak them back in before I got to the top of the wing (in victory lane).

“I don’t even think I’ve won over $12,000 before, let alone a crown jewel event like this.”

Larson, 28, made a sprint car name for himself back in 2011 by winning all three USAC features at the 4-Crown Nationals in his first-ever visit to Eldora. He joined Troy’s Jack Hewitt as the only drivers to sweep the USAC features. And just like Courtney, Saturday’s victory came in Larson’s first Kings Royal feature appearance.

Larson’s day was in jeopardy after flipping in the last-chance race during the afternoon action. The California driver missed the feature and nearly the rest of the two shows. With no back-up car his crew managed to get it race ready again. Larson said he made a few mental notes watching drivers in the first feature.

“It’s just awesome to win a crown jewel,” said Larson, who goes for another win today when the NASCAR Cup Series visits New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I was just mad at myself earlier today. Honestly, I think it was really good for me to watch that feature. I was able to learn a lot and how the good guys were getting around the track. I watched Gravel, how he was working the middle and drove to the front. I heard his engine. I could hear how much he was peddling it. That’s basically what I tried to simulate there in the feature. It got me to the front and ultimately got the win.”

There were four lead changes in the second race. Courtney led laps 1-11, Australia’s James McFadden 12-15, Courtney 16-18, McFadden 19, and finally Larson clicked off the final 21 laps for a 0.415-second victory over Sheldon Haudenschild.

Courtney’s victory was his 11th overall at Eldora, but first in a winged-sprint car. He’s in his first full-season of winged racing after a successful run in USAC. He was the 2018 national sprint car series champ, 2019 midget series champ and has 29 career USAC sprint car wins.

As for his skyrocketing winged career, Courtney leads the All Star Circuit of Champions points standings with a series-high five wins. He also won the Ohio Sprint Speedweeks in June. Saturday was also his first win with the World of Outlaws.

Courtney inherited the lead when California’s Brad Sweet, who led laps 2-19, pitted with a flat right rear tire. He never lost the lead in the 40-lap feature. Gravel threw the biggest scare at Courtney on lap 39. Gravel nearly pulled even on Courtney’s outside coming out of Turn 4 but didn’t have the momentum to complete the pass.

Just like kids who dream of hitting the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Courtney said sprint car drivers think about holding on for that win coming out of Turn 4.

“Don’t screw up. Honestly, I was way more calm than I thought I ever would be,” Courtney said taking the lead. “You play these situations in your head. … As race car drive you run those situation leading the Kings Royal.”

Both drivers celebrating by climbing on top of their winged sprint cars in victory lane. Courtney gave an emphatic yell before hopping down and giving car owner Tim Clauson, Bryan’s dad, an emotional hug. Larson – forever known as King Kyle XXXVII in the winged sprint world – celebrated with his son, Owen. Both then took their places on Eldora’s fabled oversized wooden throne decked out in the traditional red cape, crown and scepter.

“Tyler is one of my best friends. He was in my wedding,” Larson told FloRacing. “It gives me chills I get to share the crown with him through next year. I wish I could stay up all night and party with him, but have another race I have to go run tomorrow. We’ll find our time to party it up and celebrate our wins.”