LARSON RETURNS TO CYCLELAND WITH OPEN DIVISION WIN

Video Clips: Open Main 8th to 1st on first lap
Open Intermediate Main -Stuff Happens
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Chico, California – Returning to Cycleland Speedway for Outlaw Sprint Kart action a successful debut in a full midget at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona, ParkerStore driver Kyle Larson visited victory lane once again as he won the 500cc Open Division main event after jumping from eighth starting to lead every lap on his way to a dominating win. In the 500cc Open Intermediate Division another win appeared to be in sight, only to have a lapped kart spin and collect leader Tyler Schaaf and a hot pursing Larson with two laps to go. Larson restarted at the back of the field and drove to a 12th place finish.

Larson began the night by setting fast time in the Open Division over a 22 kart field. He started at the tail of the six kart-eight lap dash and drove to a fourth place finish, which placed him eighth on the A-main grid. With the track taking on a rubber down texture Larson found an opening into the middle of turn one and squirted out of turn two in second. With an outside pass of Michael Helwig exiting turn four the ParkerStore/Grandpa George Motors/QRC Factory Kart led the final 19 laps uncontested as Larson won his second Open division feature race of the Cycleland season.

In the Open Intermediates Larson qualified fifth in the large 35 kart turnout. He started outside front row of the dash and led the first lap before a flying Tyler Reddick went by on the outside during lap two, while Larson held on for second. Larson lined up sixth in the main event and moved into fourth by lap two. For the next nine laps Larson battled Alissa Giving for third in a crowd pleasing tussle. After getting by Geving with a pass in turn two Larson set sail for race long leader Dillon Silverman and Schaaf, who were ahead by nearly a straightaway. Larson quickly closed in heavy lapped traffic and got by Silverman in turn two of lap 16. Schaaf, who had gotten by Silverman a lap earlier, had Larson shadowing his every move hoping for a mistake in the high speed chess match through traffic. However, on the penultimate lap, Daniel Thorson experienced a flat left rear tire entering turn one and collected the lead duo. Silverman inherited the lead and after the restart drove the final lap to win over Geving as Larson settled for 12th at the conclusion.

After the races Larson said, “I’m pretty disappointed about the Open Intermediate finish. Schaaf was fast, but with the heavy lapped traffic we were dealing with, he was at a disadvantage being the leader. When he closed in on Thorson I thought I could get him because it looked like he was going to try to pass on the outside. But unfortunately, neither of us got the chance to race for the win. I am real glad to win the Open Main though because in the dash the kart was just skating around everywhere. But my dad and Sean Sheppard made some major changes before the main and my kart was perfect. I felt so stuck that first lap and I couldn’t believe I was leading so quickly.”

Race: June 24, 2006
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman
www.kylelarsonracing.com