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Gold Cup Sees ParkerStore Driver Kyle Larson Youngest To Race With World Of Outlaws
Also Places Fifth in Pacific Sprint Invitational
Chico, California September 5 - 8. From the time he first strapped into a race car at the age of seven, the goal for Kyle Larson was to race in the Gold Cup Race of Champions with the World of Outlaws drivers. For 15 year old Larson, that reality was achieved this past week, as he became what is thought to be the youngest driver ever in World of Outlaw competition. Although he did not make it to Saturday night’s 40 lap feature event, he did start the C-main and got as close as one place away from a transfer spot into the B-main, before a slip off the backstretch edge ended his hopes of racing his way further into the talent laden B feature.
Larson’s week in the Dave and Debbie Vertullo ParkerStore/CRV Racing Products/Eagle Kistler began on Wednesday as round number 12 of the 360 Civil War Series was held with the top 32 in points invited to participate in the Pacific Sprint Invitational. Larson, seventh in points, qualified ninth quick and started fourth in his heat, where he finished third to transfer to the A-main. He started fourth in the 30 lap feature and, after battling back and forth for third place with series point leader Andy Forsberg in the early stages, settled for fifth at the conclusion of the first of four nights of Gold Cup activities.
Larson’s qualifying night for the Gold Cup was Thursday and he qualified 20th quick of the 47 cars on hand. He started fifth in his heat and passed Outlaw veteran Chan Kemenah to finish fourth and earn a place in his first World of Outlaws A-main. From his 20th starting position, Larson began to inch forward on the slick bottom only racetrack. As one of the only cars advancing Larson got as high as 16th of the 24 competitors before a spin in turn four sent the youngster to the back of the pack. Once again he began to pass cars and got as high as 19th before going too far into turn three and sliding off the edge of the racetrack. Soon after, contact coming out of turn four between Danny Lasoski and Chad Kemenah sent Lasoski sliding sideways into Larson’s path. Unable to avoid Lasoski, Larson’s right rear hit “the Dude’s” left front, causing race ending damage to Larson’s rear suspension. Larson finished the night scored 24th and had earned enough points to be 22nd after the first night of competition.
As the racing moved to the finals on Saturday Larson had placed 44th of 103 total cars earning points, which put him eighth on the C-main grid. As C-main hot laps were run after the E-main event, Larson showed well with the fastest laps of the 16 drivers on the track, which included Outlaw drivers Tim Kaeding, Justin Henderson, Tony Bruce, Jr., and Kerry Madsen.
After several incidents trying to start the C-main Larson found himself on the outside of polesitter Tim Kaeding. With the race finally underway Kaeding sped to the lead with Madsen getting under Larson going into turn one. Larson and Robert Ballou battled for third for several laps with Larson finally assuming command with a pass on the outside of turn two, before slamming to door shut into turn three. Larson then ventured to the top of turn three and four and found it to his liking as he began to close ground on second place Madsen. With only two laps left in the 15 lap race Larson’s charge was interrupted as he slid off the backstretch trying to negotiate his entry into turn three, stalling his car and bringing out the yellow flag. When the checkered flag appeared Larson ended his first Gold Cup scored 13th.
“I’m very honored the World of Outlaws allowed me to race with them and I thank John Padjen for everything he did on my behalf to get me here” said Larson at the end of the night. “I made a couple of mistakes that affected the outcome and I wish I could have had better results, but in an event like this you have to race hard every lap. I’m just not the type to follow and sometimes you have to take chances to make things happen. But this is just another learning experience for me running with the World of Outlaws and I can’t wait to do it again. Hopefully, I’ll run with them again when they come back out here to Tulare in October.”
Check out www.kylelarsonracing.com for videos and photos.
Race: September 5-8, 2007
Photos Courtesy of Steve LaMothe
www.kylelarsonracing.com
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