Red Bluff, California – ParkerStore Outlaw Sprint Kart driver Kyle Larson sped to a second place finish Saturday November 5th inside the Pauline Davis Pavilion at the Tehama County Fairgrounds. In doing so Larson jumped from fifth to third in the 500cc Open Intermediate point standings and closed to within 22 of point leader Mason Moore after four rounds of the 14 race winter series.

Larson started the day with second quick time to Moore, whose 8.606 lap just nipped Larson by seven thousandths of a second while topping the 23 karts in the division. Larson started fourth in the second heat and got by second place Kenny McArthur in turn two and leader Michael Forslund in turn four to lead all eight laps and get his first heat race win of the Red Bluff campaign. Larson lined up fifth in the six kart six lap trophy dash and advanced to a third place finish behind Garrett Mills and Keith Bloom.

Larson’s ParkerStore/Grandpa George Motors/QRC Factory Kart began the feature event inside row two as Jake Park started on the pole with Bloom outside of him. At the drop of the green Bloom got the advantage going into turn one as Larson fell in behind Park. As Bloom began to gradually pull away Larson was applying heavy pressure to Park hoping for an opening on the little bullring. Finally, on lap 12 Larson got past Park in turn 3 and began to pursue Bloom. Larson closed a nearly straightaway gap when the yellow appeared on lap 17, setting up a shootout to the finish. Bloom maintained the lead to the finish as Larson crossed the stripe a kart length behind with Park in third while Moore settled for sixth.

When it was all over Larson said, “After last weeks race here (spinning out while leading, finishing eighth) it feels good to get another top finish. The competition is so tough here and this is a difficult track to pass on. Even when I got into second and began to close on Keither, I knew it would be another thing to actually get by him. I was more concerned with just getting a good finish because that is the key to winning championships at Red Bluff. Luck plays such a big part here that everybody eventually has a bad night. If I can keep getting top threes and stay away from the bad nights the points race should continue to be interesting.”

Race: November 5, 2005
Photos Courtesy of Jack Waterman
www.kylelarsonracing.com