LARSON NOT TO BE DENIED IN CYCLELAND OPEN FEATURE
Videos Clips:  Open Intermediate Trophy Dash  Open Trophy Dash
Open Main  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
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Chico, CA – ParkerStore Outlaw Sprint Kart driver Kyle Larson raced to his first ever 500cc Open division win at Cycleland Speedway as he ran down 2003 track champion Daniel Becker with four laps to go. A third place finish in the 500cc Open Intermediate division was the only race of the evening he completed in that the 13 year old from Elk Grove, California did not win as he also captured both divisions trophy dashes.

Larson qualified second of 24 entries in the Open Intermediate division to earn the fifth starting spot in the six kart eight lap trophy dash. He quickly sliced through the field, took the lead on the second lap and won to transfer to fifth on the grid in the A-Main lineup.

Polesitter Dillon Silverman took the lead at the drop of the green flag as Larson jumped into third behind Josh Keheley. On lap four Larson passed Keheley in turn one as Keith Bloom, sub driving for an absent Brian Southers, followed past the next lap. Bloom got underneath Larson on the eighth lap as Silverman held about a straightaway lead. As Silverman began to enter lapped traffic, Larson and Bloom started to slowly close ground. Bloom and Larson began to wage a classic high speed battle through traffic for several laps but Silverman held his advantage over the pair. When the yellow appeared on lap18 the three leaders held a half lap advantage on fourth place Mason Moore. When the green reappeared Silverman had a several lapped kart cushion over Bloom and Larson and was able to drive away to a two second win as Larson closely trailed Bloom at the lap 20 finish.

Even with the third place finish in the Intermediate division Larson was able to secure the point lead after two consecutive weeks of being deadlocked with Moore. He now leads the point battle by a mere three points after three events.

In the Open Division Larson qualified fifth of the 29 entries and started outside the front row of the trophy dash. Polesitter Bloom, sub driving for absent Colby Copeland in this division, took the lead with Becker slipping into second ahead of Larson entering turn one. Coming out of turn four Larson took over second and on the next lap went around Bloom in turn four to take over the lead that he would expand to the finish.

Polesitter Michael Helwig led at the start of the A-Main as Larson moved his ParkerStore/Motors by Grandpa George/QRC Factory Kart into third on the first lap. Sixth starting Becker also got a good start and jumped to second. He passed Helwig for the lead on the third lap and Larson did the same two laps later to get into second. Over the next 11 laps Becker and Larson pulled away from the talent laden field. As Becker committed to the bottom of the lightning fast racetrack Larson made attempts each lap high and low. Finally, on lap 17 Larson drove around Becker in turn four and dove to the bottom of turn one to repel any attempt by Becker to take back the top spot. Over the last three laps Larson extended his lead and won by ¾ of a second over the veteran Becker as Helwig held on for third. Larson was able to move into third in the point standings trailing Becker by 20 and Tyler McCain by nine.

When asked to comment at the end of the night Larson said, “This has to be one of my best memories in outlaw kart racing so far. I’ve won Open division races before, including the Knoxville Nationals last year, but this is my first at Cycleland, so this is really special. Once the dashes came up the track was perfect, just the way I like it, with a wide bottom groove and a cushion on top. My ParkerStore QRC Factory Kart was fast wherever I put it and it felt really comfortable. In the Open Main I really had to work Daniel over but I knew if I could just stay close I could eventually get by. He made a little bobble in turn four and that allowed me to make the winning pass. I knew he wanted to run the bottom so I crossed over in front of him to take the low line and was able to pull away after that. In the Open Intermediate Main Dillon just had that covered. When he got to lapped traffic I thought for sure Keith and I would run him down, but he made all the right moves and deserved to get the win.”

Race: May 20, 2006
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman
www.kylelarsonracing.com