Junior ParkerStore Outlaw
Grabs 75th Career Feature Win

Chico, CA - Twelve year old Kyle Larson had a big night at the season ending High Point Awards Race Saturday at Cycleland Speedway as he captured the first ever 100 lap race presented for the outlaw dirt sprint karts. The races were held prior to the banquet awarding the champions with their hardware.

The event was set up so that the race would run all green flags laps with yellow flag laps not counting. An added element was the stoppage of the race at lap 33 and lap 66 so that refueling or tire changes could be made in a safe manner on the inside of the front straightaway.

Larson qualified 4th quick out of 17 karts in the 125cc class with a lap of 11.429 that put him 4th on the grid of the straight up lineup. As the race began pole sitter Brian Southers realized he had a problem with his seat belts and pulled into the infield. At that point 2nd starter Mason Moore inherited the lead as Larson jumped into 2nd. Larson maintained his place behind Moore until on lap 20 Cole Peard got under him to take over 2nd. At the lap 33 stop, Larson pitted in 3rd for fuel and a right rear tire. All karts added fuel but many did not change tires.

After realigning the field Larson found himself in 13th place. When the race got underway again Sean Martin was the leader as Larson quickly began to move his way to the front. By lap 45 he had moved into 3rd place behind leader Martin and 2nd place Moore. On lap 50 Larson passed Moore for 2nd and set his sights on Martin. As he began to whittle away at the lead, Martin spun in turn 2 of lap 55 to hand over the top spot to Larson which he kept to the lap 66 stop.

The pit stop saw Larson’s team add fuel only and push out of pit lane as the leader. As the race restarted he settled into a comfortable groove and continued a relentless lapping process while maintaining a large lead over his nearest pursuers. He went on to win the century grind and collect the $400.00 first place payoff.

After the victory, Larson’s 75th career feature win, he stated, “My dad and I talked over our strategy for the race and decided we wouldn’t push it too hard too early. My dad told me that I would eventually wear my competition down as they wouldn’t be used to running that many laps. We also had a strategy that if I wasn’t leading at about lap 50 to 60 I would come in on a yellow, if there was one, and add fuel only so that I could go right to the front when all the other karts would need fuel at lap 66. But when Martin spun and gave me the lead we decided to pit at lap 66. After that I just kind of tried to avoid the lappers and stay out of trouble. But it sure was fun to race and win the first 100 lap race here. I feel like I could go another 100 laps.”

Larson also subbed in the Open 100 lap event. He took over the ride of Mason Moore’s 250 four stroke, piloted by Dillon Silverman, at the lap 33 break. Larson gave the open karts a good battle as he was able to keep up with the higher powered 500cc engines. He was running 8th with 3 laps to go when his right rear wheel hub began to slide over and cause the tire to make contact with the frame resulting in a flat. He exited the race but had given it everything he had. Larson showed the crowd that the 250 four stoke could compete with the open class.