MASHANTUCKET – When Dave Gargaro Jr. heard that NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series driver Kyle Larson would be racing in a charity event at Monza World Class Karting at Foxwoods Resort Casino he immediately circled the date on his calendar as a can’t miss event.
Thursday at Foxwoods, Gargaro was one 40 people who showed up at the Monza World Class Karting facility to take a shot at beating Larson.
“I was pretty pumped,” said Gargaro, who is a regular visitor to the karting facility and competes in the Sportsman division at Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway. “I was definitely the first one hto take work off to come here and go racing.”
The event at Monza was organized by New Hampshire Motor Speedway as a fundraiser for the New Hampshire chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and a promotion for the Monster Energy Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on July 21.
Drivers who entered the competition competed in preliminary events to get the chance to race in the finals against Larson. Fourteen drivers went up against Larson in the finals to see who could turn the fastest lap during an eight minute session on track. Gargaro, who estimated he has visited the karting facility about 40 times since it opened last year, ended up on top in the finals. Larson was seventh of the fourteen in the final race.
“They kind of put him at a disadvantage because he’s never raced here before,” Gargaro said. “I wanted to get a good run with him. We ended up racing for a little while out there. It was a good battle. It was worth all the money in the world to be able to experience racing against somebody at the top level.”
Larson also visited the Top Golf Swing Suite at Foxwoods and held a Q&A session with fans at the karting facility.
“It’s fun … getting to do things kind of local to a region of the country, wherever you’re at,” Larson said. “But any time you can get me in my environment, in a car, it’s … fun. … This is a cool facility. I’d like to be able to check it all out.”
Larson was accompanied by New Hampshire Motor Speedway executive vice president and general manager David McGrath, Speedway Motorsports Inc. president and corporate executive officers Marcus Smith and Jason Guyot, senior vice president of resort operations at Foxwoods.
“You know it’s always a blast to be involved in these media days and certainly today was even sweeter with the involvement of Speedway Children’s Charities and raising money for a good cause,” McGrath said. “It’s always a blast to get out there and dabble with a [Monster Energy Cup Series] driver. We’re just excited that Kyle had the time to come on up and help up us promote the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.”
Larson also competed in an eight-minute Media Race, topping the field in that event. Kyle Rickey of Motor Racing Network bested the 18 media members in the event.
Dave used to compete in the 42 car for me at the NLWSB . Dave won 2 track championships and is a nice young man. Glad to see him have fun with my favorite NASCAR driver. Kyle we thank him for sharing and raising money for the kids. Dave can really wheel a car and wish he had a shot in the SK Lights . If Someone wants a talented driver with soft hands and out car on the trailer week in and week out find him . Thanks also to foxwoods for a great event.
Puts the car on the trailer .