Chico, CA – ParkerStore outlaw sprint kart driver Kyle Larson won three of the five main events he raced in over two days last weekend. Larson again made the six hour trek north to Medford, Oregon on Friday and came back to Chico, California on Saturday. At the Jackson County Sports Park Speedway in Medford he raced in three divisions in three different karts and garnered one win. At Cycleland Speedway near Chico he drove two karts and captured both feature events to cap a very successful weekend for the 12 year old from Elk Grove, CA.

At Medford, Larson raced in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc open intermediate divisions. He set fast time over the 250, second in the 125’s and settled for third in the open intermediate. He won the 125 heat from fourth starting, finished second in the 250 heat after starting sixth, and won the open intermediate heat from the seventh slot.

The 125 main saw Larson start his ParkerStore/QRC/Factory/Banke powered kart from seventh on the grid. Under sprinkling skies the track turned tacky fast as the green appeared and the fast track made passing very difficult as the lead group raced in freight train fashion. Outside front row starter and fellow Californian Shane Graham used his outside front row start to drive to his first ever feature event win while Larson was about the only kart to advance forward as he placed fourth in the final rundown.

With a drying track, the 250 division took to the track and Larson started eighth in the 20 lapper. He moved into fifth on the first lap and jumped to third on lap eight. On lap 17 Larson put his Predator Motors powered mount into second and set out after race leader Josh Keheley, also from California. The little leadfoot closed on Keheley’s bumper on the last lap but had to settle for second at the checkered flag.

Larson started sixth in the open intermediate division and advanced to fourth by lap two. Lap five found the yellow ParkerStore QRC kart in third and by lap 15 it was in the runner-up spot. After taking the white flag Larson tried to pass low in turn one on leader Chelsea Gamble but hit a rut in turn two. Larson recovered and gained about five kart lengths down the back straight before powering to the top of turn three where he executed an incredible pass that carried him to victory in front of the appreciative crowd.

Larson ventured four hours south to Cycleland on Saturday where he set fast time in the intermediate 125/250 division over 33 karts and qualified third fast in the field of 34 in the open intermediate kart. The 125/250 dash started Larson last of the six karts and he drove his mount to second at the finish. Larson started fourth in the Open Intermediate dash but after a bobble in turn two on lap six Larson slid to fifth, where he finished at the lap eight checkered.

The 125/250 main began with Larson in sixth, but saw him quickly use the bottom to advance to third at the end of the first lap. On lap four he passed last weeks winner, Keheley, in turn two and began to stalk leader Mason Moore. He battled Moore until lap 18 when he passed Moore in turn two, and then opened a considerable advantage over the field at the lap 25 checkered.

Larson started the Open Intermediate main in ninth and got into sixth by lap three. He moved up to fifth by lap eight and then passed two more karts on lap 10. On lap 16 he passed James Sweeney in turn two to move into second and then set his sights on leader Jake Park. A lap 19 restart saw Larson go to the high side in turn one to take the top spot from Park. He led the remaining six laps and rebounded from last week’s misfortune when his throttle cable broke while leading on the last lap.

After completing the eventful weekend of racing Larson commented, “I sure had a lot of fun the last two days, especially in Oregon, because a bunch of my California buddies were there getting ready for the All Star Tour race there in two weeks. I’m really happy for Shane Graham winning the 125 race because he said he had never even led a lap before. The Open Intermediate race at Medford was really fun because any race you win on the last lap feels good and with a few laps left I didn’t think I had a chance. At Cycleland my Open Intermediate is running so good and gets to really show the power that Grandpa Becker puts into my engine. Also, I really have to thank Robert Carrel from QRC for providing the 250 engine because that thing is so easy to use in traffic, I feel like I can get to the front every time I’m in that kart.”

Race: May 13, 2005 Medford, OR
and May 14, 2005 Chico, CA
Photo Courtesy of Jack