Chico, CA – ParkerStore Outlaw Sprint Kart driver Kyle Larson ventured north of the
California border to race at Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford, Oregon before returning
the next day for point race number 14 at Cycleland Speedway near Chico. Larson raced in
the 500cc Open and Open Intermediate divisions at both race tracks and garnered finishes
between second and seventh in the four A-mains contested.
At
Southern Oregon Larson qualified fast time in the 23 kart Open Division and second of the
11 karts in the Open Intermediates. He swept both heat races and also won the Open
Intermediate trophy dash before finishing 3rd in the Open dash. On a very narrow
rubberdown racetrack hindered by high temperatures, Larson started third in the Open
Intermediate main. While running third on a lap four restart the second place kart of
Leslee Pierson bogged causing fourth running Kenny Allen to get into Larson, causing both
to stall. Larson restarted at the back and was able to drive back to fourth at the finish
as Stephanie Rotarius drove to the win.
Larson started fourth in the Open Main and fell into line there during the early stages of
the race. He drove by David Hibbard on lap 3 and set out for second place Jake Park. He
disposed of Park on lap 14 and then began to close a straightaway gap on leader Pierson.
When the lap 20 checkered appeared Larson had closed to a kart length behind Pierson but
the effort fell short and the ParkerStore/Grandpa George Motors/QRC Factory Kart settled
for second.
The next evening at Cycleland Larson swept fast time over 29 Open Intermediates and 23
Open division drivers. He started sixth in both eight lap dashes and won the Open Intermediate
event and finished third in the Opens. Larson started fifth in the 22 kart Open
Intermediate feature and advanced to third at the finish, while Alissa Geving, daughter of
former Sprint Car racer Gary Geving, drove to her first ever win at Cycleland Speedway.
Larson started eighth in the Open division main and had advanced to as high as fifth by
the mid point of the race. But he eventually fell back to seventh at the finish as Sprint
Car Champion Sean Becker raced to his second consecutive win. Larson’s finish was
good enough to close ground on point leader Tyler Wolf, slicing a 13 point gap to six with
four point races to go.
At the conclusion of Cycleland’s races Larson said” I’m just fortunate that
I was able to be here tonight. We had our tow vehicle break down coming back from Oregon.
I was able to toss my kart and a few things I needed into Keith Bloom’s trailer and get to the racetrack while my parents
waited to get another truck from my sponsor Benny Brown’s Corning Ford. With the help
of Benny and Clarence Reddick my parents were able to get to the track just as I was
getting ready to qualify. I can’t thank the Bloom’s, the Reddick’s and
Benny Brown enough for helping us get to the track. Sean Sheppard got my kart set up
perfectly and I set fast time in both divisions. We missed the setup a little bit in the
Open main but got the kart much better for the Open Intermediate race. My good friend
Alissa ran a really strong race and I’m glad to see her get her first 500cc win. She
has improved so much over the last year. Just a couple of weeks ago she was very sick and
in the hospital for a few days and she really deserves to have this win.”
Races: August 18 & 19, 2006
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman
www.kylelarsonracing.com
