Chico, CA – Cycleland Speedway, Outlaw Sprint Karting’s fastest track, opened its 2005 season Saturday night with the Jim Shirley Memorial race, and ParkerStore driver Kyle Larson earned his 88th career victory as he won the 125/250cc intermediate division feature event. He also competed in the 500cc Open Intermediate Division and led the first 16 laps before a water hose disconnected ending his hopes for a sweep.

Larson set third fast time in the 125/250cc division before winning the third heat from the pole. The finish lined him third in the straight up A-Main lineup based on finishing positions in the heats. Larson ran his QRC Factory/Predator Motor 250cc powered kart for the first time this season and powered by outside front row starter Jason Mittry on the start and settled into second behind Red Bluff Box Stock Champion and overall Driver of the Year Chase Hill. Hill led the first eight laps until catching a gaggle of lapped karts in turn one. The first backmarker, Stephanie Vannaz spun directly in front of the leaders, which also included Larson and third place Mason Moore. Hill and Larson made first contact with the lapper, but Larson was able to take a glancing blow while Moore plowed hard into the disabled Hill and Vannaz. Hill was able to restart but Moore exited the race with rear end damage. After the restart Larson deftly maneuvered his kart thru considerable lapped traffic and took the checkered over impressive box stock graduates Mittry and Jacob Miller.

Larson set fast time in the open intermediate division with the only 10 second lap recorded on the day (10.948) as he outdid the top open division time as well. Larson started on the pole of the first heat and led every lap to earn the pole position in the A-Main. Larson got the jump on outside front row starter Colby Copeland and quickly moved to a sizable lead in his Grandpa George powered machine. On a lap 10 restart, fourth starter James Sweeney moved into second and was closing the gap on Larson each lap. As the duo entered turn one on the 16th lap Larson led by about two kart lengths over Sweeney and it appeared a classic battle would be waged to the finish. However, Larson’s kart spewed coolant in turn two and he spun to a stop, ending his chances for another win. The jubilant Sweeney went on to garner his first ever win at Cycleland Speedway.

At the night end Larson commented “I’m sure glad to be back racing at Cycleland. I love the speed here and it sure is fun to run around the top using the cushion. I’m really happy how the 250 ran tonight in the main because we were having some clutch problems in qualifying and the heat but Clarence Marshall with Predator Motors cleared that up and it was awesome in the main. I was sorry to see Hill not get away from that wreck we were in because I wanted to race him for the win. Up to then I was just tailing him and kind of waiting for lapped traffic to make my move. But I can tell Hill is going to be tough now that he’s moved up a division. My open kart was also feeling real good tonight and it is too bad that I couldn’t race Sweeney for the win. It would have been fun because everyone says he was closing on the bottom and I was just kind of cruising on the top. If I would have seen him I think I could have picked it up to give him a battle for those last four laps but we’ll never know. I’m really looking forward to the All Star Tour race here next week and really want to have a good showing in the Open division and close some ground on the point leaders.”

Race: April 16, 2005