ParkerStore Sprint Kart Driver Claims Eighth in Jacob Memorial

Red Bluff, CA – The Les Schwab Tire Stores Red Bluff Winter Indoor Series held their first annual Gary Jacob Memorial Race last Saturday and ParkerStore driver Kyle Larson had high hopes to win the event. As a friend of the legendary motorsports journalist who passed away last summer, Larson would have liked to add the 500cc Open Intermediate trophy to his collection but an eighth place finish was all he could muster on the one lane bullring.

Larson qualified fourth quick of the 25 karts in the division and lined up third in the first heat. After contact with another kart Larson’s chain fell off, necessitating a quick pit stop. After repairs Larson restarted his ParkerStore/Grandpa George Motors/QRC Factory Kart at the tail of the field. He was able to race back to a fifth at the finish, one spot out of a transfer to the main. Larson led every lap of the B-Main to earn a transfer spot at the back of the pack of the feature race.

Before the A-Main was run Larson lined up third in the six kart-six lap dash, but spun at the start as the field continued on while Larson recovered. Larson was able to cut a straightaway disadvantage and catch the tail of the pack when the checkered appeared.

Larson lined up 13th in the A-main and had moved his way to fifth by the mid point of the 25 lapper. During a restart Larson was tapped from behind and did a quick spin and fell back to tenth. By the time the checkered flew Larson had worked his way back to eight, while Jake Park led every lap to win his first ever feature race at Red Bluff.

When it was over Larson commented, “I sure wanted to win this race. Gary Jacob was an important man in the motorsports scene in the West. He covered all kinds of racing but he really loved the action of the outlaw karts. He helped me a lot by saying many nice things about me in his articles through the years. He is really missed. When I knew I was going to the B-main I knew it would be tough to win the main. The track just wasn’t very racy all day long and it really became slippery and one groove later on. Even when I got to fifth I couldn’t get enough traction to move forward any more. Things kind of went down hill from there, but I didn’t want to quit trying. Strange things can happen here and just as soon as you think you don’t have a chance something big can happen to change the whole race.”

Race: December 16, 2006
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman
www.kylelarsonracing.com