HUNTLY, New Zealand – Kyle Larson kicked off the new year with a resounding bang on Wednesday by surging to his first win of the United Truck Parts Int’l Midget Series season.

Larson rolled to victory in a 40-lap main event at Huntly Int’l Speedway after passing fellow American Zach Daum inside of five laps to go.

Daum appeared to be in the driver’s seat for a win, but a late yellow after 35 caution-free laps gave Larson – who started sixth in the feature – a chance to strike.

Once Larson got out front there was no stopping him, as he drove away to secure the victory and left Daum to settle for second. Hayden Williams completed the podium.

Brock Maskovich crossed the line in fourth and Aaron Hodgson was fifth, with another American in 2018 USAC National Midget Series champion Logan Seavey coming in sixth.

Hayden Guptill, Matthew McCutcheon, Jeremy Webb and Kaidon Brown were the balance of the top-10 finishers.

American Chris Windom crossed the line 12th, while New Zealand midget kingpin Michael Pickens was 14th as the last driver on the lead lap.

Teenage sensation Zeb Wise and reigning USAC National Midget Series champion Tyler Courtney failed to finish the main event.

The finish:

Kyle Larson, Zach Daum, Hayden Williams, Brock Maskovich, Aaron Hodgson, Logan Seavey, Hayden Guptill, Matthew McCutcheon, Jeremy Webb, Kaidon Brown, Peter Hunnibell, Chris Windom, Breyton Davison, Michael Pickens, Travis Mills, Hamish Dobbyn, David Pellow, Zeb Wise, Tyler Courtney, Robert Heard, Ryan O’Connor.