Gold Cup Sees ParkerStore Driver Kyle Larson Youngest To Race With World Of
Outlaws
Also Places Fifth in Pacific Sprint Invitational
Chico, California September 5-8. From the time he first strapped into a race car at the
age of seven, the goal for Kyle Larson was to race in the Gold Cup Race of Champions with
the World of Outlaws drivers. For 15 year old Larson, that reality was achieved this past
week, as he became what is thought to be the youngest driver ever in World of Outlaw
competition. Although he did not make it to Saturday night’s 40 lap feature event, he
did start the C-main and got as close as one place away from a transfer spot into the
B-main, before a slip off the backstretch edge ended his hopes of racing his way further
into the talent laden B feature.
Larson’s week in the Dave and Debbie Vertullo ParkerStore/CRV
Racing Products/Eagle Kistler began on Wednesday as round number 12 of the 360 Civil War
Series was held with the top 32 in points invited to participate in the Pacific Sprint
Invitational. Larson, seventh in points, qualified ninth quick and started fourth in his
heat, where he finished third to transfer to the A-main. He started fourth in the 30 lap
feature and, after battling back and forth for third place with series point leader Andy
Forsberg in the early stages, settled for fifth at the conclusion of the first of four
nights of Gold Cup activities.
Larson’s qualifying night for the Gold Cup was Thursday and he qualified 20th quick
of the 47 cars on hand. He started fifth in his heat and passed Outlaw veteran
Chan Kemenah to finish fourth and earn a place in his first World of Outlaws A-main. From
his 20th starting position, Larson began to inch forward on the slick bottom only
racetrack. As one of the only cars advancing Larson got as high as 16th of the 24
competitors before a spin in turn four sent the youngster to the back of the pack. Once
again he began to pass cars and got as high as 19th before going too far into turn three
and sliding off the edge of the racetrack. Soon after, contact coming out of turn four
between Danny Lasoski and Chad Kemenah sent Lasoski sliding sideways into Larson’s
path. Unable to avoid Lasoski, Larson’s right rear hit “the Dude’s”
left front, causing race ending damage to Larson’s rear suspension. Larson finished
the night scored 24th and had earned enough points to be 22nd after the first night of
competition.
As the racing moved to the finals on Saturday Larson had placed 44th of 103 total cars
earning points, which put him eighth on the C-main grid. As C-main hot laps were run after
the E-main event, Larson showed well with the fastest laps of the 16 drivers on the track,
which included Outlaw drivers Tim Kaeding, Justin Henderson, Tony Bruce, Jr., and Kerry
Madsen.
After several incidents trying to start the C-main Larson found himself on the outside of
polesitter Tim Kaeding. With the race finally underway Kaeding sped to the lead with Madsen getting under Larson going
into turn one. Larson and Robert Ballou battled for third for several laps with Larson
finally assuming command with a pass on the outside of turn two, before slamming to door
shut into turn three. Larson then ventured to the top of turn three and four and found it
to his liking as he began to close ground on second place Madsen. With only two laps left
in the 15 lap race Larson’s charge was interrupted as he slid off the backstretch
trying to negotiate his entry into turn three, stalling his car and bringing out the
yellow flag. When the checkered flag appeared Larson ended his first Gold Cup scored 13th.
“I’m very honored the World of Outlaws allowed me to race with them and I thank
John Padjen for everything he did on my behalf to get me here” said Larson at the end
of the night. “I made a couple of mistakes that affected the outcome and I wish I
could have had better results, but in an event like this you have to race hard every lap.
I’m just not the type to follow and sometimes you have to take chances to make things
happen. But this is just another learning experience for me running with the World of
Outlaws and I can’t wait to do it again. Hopefully, I’ll run with them again
when they come back out here to Tulare in October.”
Race: September 5-8, 2007
Photos Courtesy of Steve LaMothe
www.kylelarsonracing.com
