Also finishes 2nd in Open Division

Medford, OR ~ ParkerStore driver Kyle Larson had another big weekend as he participated in the prestigious All Star Outlaw Kart Tour race at the Southern Oregon Speedway in the Jackson County Motorsports Park in Medford, Oregon. Larson captured another victory in the 125/250 division and got his best ever All Star Outlaw Kart Tour finish in the Open division with a 2nd place finish in the main event.

Larson set fast time in the 125/250 division in a 35 kart field and won the 1st heat to transfer to the Garth Moore Insurance and Financial Services Dash for Cash event that lined up the first two rows of the A-main. Larson drew the 2nd starting spot and finished there behind pole sitter Jonny Lentz. The pair started in the front row of the A-main and Larson gunned his ParkerStore/Predator Motors/QRC Factory kart into the lead as the green flag appeared. Larson was never headed as he built a comfortable lead while rain drops began to fall amid a spectacular lightning and thunder display in the eastern skies. The officials decided to display the checkered flag after 13 laps with Larson earning his 96th career feature event win. The ParkerStore pilot also took over the All Star Tour point lead from the winner of the opening Tour event at Lakeport Speedway, Mason Moore.

In the Open 500cc division Larson was 2nd quick qualifier out of 61 traveling teams. He won the 2nd heat from the pole and drew the 3rd starting slot in the Garth Moore Insurance & Financial Services Dash for Cash. In this division there were six heat winners and they would determine the first three rows of the Open A-main event.

As the dash began, pole sitter Alec Kerns and fellow front row starter Tyler Wolf got together coming out of turn four to necessitate a restart with Larson inheriting the pole position. Outside pole starter Joe Weststeyn took the lead at the start while Larson pressured him throughout the six lap event. Weststeyn went on to win the race meaning Larson would start outside of him in the A-main event.

At the start of the feature Weststeyn grabbed the lead over Larson into turn one. Weststeyn held a tenuous lead over Larson as the ParkerStore pilot used every line of the racetrack to attempt to get by. As Larson was waging his battle at the front third and fourth place drivers, John Bunch and Pistol Pete Johnston, were closing in. By lap 10 of the 30 lapper Larson needed every ounce of his Grandpa George Becker powerplant to fend off the pursuing pair. On lap 13 Bunch spun to bring out a yellow. After the restart Larson was able to maintain the runner-up position behind Weststeyn and finished ahead of the opening All Star Tour winner, Johnston. Larson also leaped from 15th to second in the point standings, 31 points behind Johnston.

After the night was done Larson remarked, “I really couldn’t have asked for a better night. I was able to win the 125/250 race and also get the point lead, so that worked out good for us. In the Opens I gave Joe Weststeyn everything I had and he was able to hold me off. Then Bunch and Johnston really started to push me and I didn’t know if I could hold them off but I did, so I feel real good about that. And to move from 15th to second in points is almost unbelievable, but a lot of the guys ahead of me had problems tonight. With everything that went my way today, I’m really looking forward to the next Tour race at Cycleland on June 10.”

Race: May 27, 2005
Photo Courtesy of Jack Waterman