Knoxville, Iowa - ParkerStore sprint kart driver Kyle Larson had an incredible week at the inaugural Knoxville Outlaw Dirt Kart Nationals as he became both the 500cc Open division and 125cc division champions. He capped off his final day performance by nearly catching Mason Moore before settling for second in the 250cc division. The Open division victory was the most significant achievement in the 13 year old Elk Grove, California, driver’s six year career as he carried his severely damaged kart from fourth place to a last lap three inch victory over Tyler Wolf.

Larson ran the 125cc and 250cc karts on the first qualifying day of the event that would see the finals run on the third day. The format used was the same as being used at the Knoxville Nationals for the sprint cars. First place in qualifying would be worth 200 points and drop by two while heat races would be totally inverted and reward 100 points to the winner and drop by three points per position. The preliminary features paid 200 points to the winner and dropped by two points per position. Larson set fast time in his 125cc ParkerStore/Banke Racing Works/QRC Factory Kart and qualified his 250cc Predator Motors powered kart 2nd behind Dillon Silverman. The heat races saw Larson win from the rear in each division.

The Main events were lined up with an eight kart inversion putting Larson eighth in the 125 line up and seventh in the 250 line up. In the 125 main event Larson finished third behind first time winner Kenny Allen and Colby Copeland. The 250 feature saw Larson put on a dominating display as he quickly moved to the front by lap three and drove to an easy win, in the process becoming the first driver to ever turn a sub 11 second lap at English Creek Speedway, at 10.820. By the end of the competition of the second day in these two divisions Larson had earned the pole position for the finals as he was the top point getter overall.

On the second day of competition Larson focused on driving his 500cc Open ParkerStore/Grandpa George Motors/QRC Factory Kart and qualified fifth fast. Larson started ninth in his ten kart heat and began to move forward. On lap three he did a half spin in turn four and jumped the inside berm, landing hard on his front end. Larson restarted at the back and picked off karts over the last five laps as he garnered the last transfer spot in the preliminary A-Main by finishing fourth.

During the break before the feature races it was discovered that Larson’s frame had broken while jumping the berm during the heat race. A major effort was undertaken by members of several teams to get the little hot-shoe’s mount ready in time for the main event. With his hastily welded frame Larson started sixth in the feature and on lap two he spun in turn four to bring out a yellow flag. Restarting at the back of the 20 kart field Larson proceeded to methodically pick off karts on his way to a fine fourth place finish. After the points were tallied Larson emerged eighth overall of the 60 karts on hand after the two days of competition in the Open Division.

The finals in the 125’s saw Larson lead every lap and be crowned the champion of the division. In the 250’s Larson began the race with Moore lined up outside of him. Larson took the initial lead but Moore took the lead on lap four. Larson regained the spot coming out of turn two on the next lap before Moore completed a risky slide job in turn four to take his final lead. During the middle stages of the race Moore began to increase his lead while Larson dropped to third behind Dillon Silverman. On lap 11 Larson retook second from Silverman and he began to use the bottom groove to reel in Moore. The effort came up a bit short as Moore won by a kart length over the yellow ParkerStore kart.

Larson started outside row four of the 500cc Open main and charged into fourth by lap two as Tyler Wolf led from the pole. Exiting turn four on the third lap second place AJ Kerns began to spin and collected third runner Pete Johnston, Larson and finally Austin Kerns, who flipped hard on top of Larson, severely damaging his wing, right front spindle and exhaust pipe. Despite the damage inflicted Larson was able to drive through the melee along with Johnston and AJ Kerns and maintain their places as the red was displayed for Austin Kerns. With Larson’s wing barely attached and his front end towed out several inches the ParkerStore driver restarted the race and began one of the most incredible drives ever seen in outlaw kart racing.

Johnston had moved by AJ Kerns on lap four and Larson did the same on the next lap in turn two. In turn four of the same lap Larson allowed his kart to get sideways and was hit by AJ Kerns and Brett Miller, who straightened him out so he could continue. The yellow did appear for Kerns and he restarted at the back.

As the race restarted Larson began to apply heavy pressure on Johnston and finally completed a turn four pass on lap ten. Over the last half of the race Larson and Johnston both began to reel in race long leader Wolf. With two laps remaining Larson went to the outside but was unable to gain the lead. With the pressure, Wolf began to change his line. Larson then attempted a pass on the low side but again could not move to the front. As the white lag appeared Wolf lead by about 15 yards at the flag stand. Exiting turn two Larson used all the power his Grandpa George Motor could muster and gained significantly entering turn three. In turn four Wolf made a slight bobble trying to protect the bottom while, unknowingly to Wolf, Larson had committed to the outside where he began his race winning pass. Larson made up the last two kart lengths in a drag race to the checkered flag and beat Wolf by .021 of a second, which result in a margin of victory of about three inches.

“This had to be one of the most impressive and exciting drives that I have seen in motorsports in the 35 years I have been following racing, stated John Strand with ParkerStore Racing. “When I saw the kart after the accident on lap three, I figured there was no way he could even continue. His front spindle was bent and towed out four inches, the exhaust pipe was damaged, and the wing was hanging off to the side. This kid showed everyone what he is made of, as this win was sheer driver talent. Someone tapped me on the shoulder after the race and said “That kid’s the next Tony Stewart”, and I would have to agree.”

After the races Larson said, “I can’t believe that I won the championship in the Open Division. After the wreck on lap three my dad yelled to me through the fence that the kart was a mess and to just do what I could do. I knew the wing was messed up really bad. But I didn’t know what my front end and exhaust pipe looked like. Kevin Swindell told me through the fence the kart was going to turn quicker and I would have to get used to it. As far as the handling of the kart it didn’t feel a whole lot different. I just couldn’t run the bottom because I could feel the kart was way too loose there. When I began to close in on Pete I knew I had a chance to win the race. When I finally passed him I was determined to catch Wolf. With a lap to go I didn’t really think I could make up the ground but when I saw Wolf bobble in turn four I stood on the gas as hard as I could. I wasn’t sure that I won the race but when I saw my dad, grandpa and some of my friends going wild I knew I had won. It’s still hard to believe that I won. I have to thank a lot of people who helped get this win, especially the ones who helped me repair my broken frame on Thursday. We didn’t think we would make it to the preliminary main event but with the help of Justin & Mike Reinolds, Neal, Dustin & Kyle from Tyler Reddick’s crew, my Grandpa Lary, and the expert welding of Mark Bruckenstein I was able to get back out there. Also, I’m really thankful that ParkerStore representative John Strand and his family were here to see my racing this week. It means a lot to have them here and I had a lot of fun hanging out with their son Tyler.”

Races: August 10, 11 & 12, 2005
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman