Kyle Larson Racing, originally Larson Marks Racing, is an American sprint car and midget car racing team owned by NASCAR driver Kyle Larson. Fielding cars for Shane Stewart and later Carson Macedo, the team won over 40 sprint car races across multiple series between 2014 and 2020; Larson himself has won multiple crown jewel midget races driving for the team.
 | |
| Founded | November 2013 |
|---|---|
| Base | Mooresville, North Carolina |
| Team principal(s) | Kyle Larson Justin Marks Paul Silva |
| Former series | World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series All Star Circuit of Champions |
| Noted drivers | Shane Stewart Carson Macedo |
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (2016 Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown) |
History
editSprint cars
editIn November 2013 the formation of Larson Marks Racing, co-owned by Kyle Larson and Justin Marks, was announced; the team hired Shane Stewart to drive it's No. 2 sprint car, primarily in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, for a partial season in 2014 with a move to full-time WoO competition in 2015.[1] Stewart won at Eldora Speedway in the team's second-ever start.[2] In 2015, Stewart won the prestigious Kings Royal at Eldora with the team;[3] he went on to finish second in the World of Outlaws points standings,[4] and during the 2015–2016 offseason was champion of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown at Cocopah Speedway.[5]
After the 2017 season, Larson took full ownership of the team, renaming it Kyle Larson Racing and hiring Paul Silva as general manager.[6] After the 2018 season, Stewart departed to join CJB Motorsports, having won 35 times during his time driving for KLR.[7] rookie Carson Macedo was hired as his replacement,[8] and would win the World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year title at the end of the 2019 season,[9] winning five races overall during his two seasons with the team.[10]
In October 2020, it was announced that Kyle Larson Racing's sprint car team would be closing operations at the end of the 2020 racing season; Larson cited difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic as one reason for the closure.[10]
Midget cars
edit
In addition to its sprint car team, KLR fielded a No. 1K midget car for Larson to drive in selected events.[11] The team began running in the summer of 2019, and planned to run an "off-season" schedule of prestigious races that winter, including the Turkey Night Grand Prix and Chili Bowl Nationals.[12] Larson won the Turkey Night Grand Prix for his fifth win in six starts with the team,[13] and after reaching the feature of the Chili Bowl Nationals eight times in twelve attempts without a victory,[14][15] Larson won the event in 2020,[16][15] his first year running for his own team.[17] Returning in 2021 with his own team once again,[18] Larson won again in 2021, scoring back to back victories in the prestigious race.[19]
References
edit- ^ Gluck, Jeff (November 9, 2013). "Kyle Larson starts new sprint car team with Justin Marks". USA Today. Tysons Corner, VA. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ Fenwick, Adam (November 29, 2014). "Stewart Ready To Tackle Full Outlaw Slate". Speed Sport. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ Elliott, Jeremy (July 19, 2015). "Shane Stewart makes epic run to Kings Royal title as Donny Schatz runs dry". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Elliott, Jeremy (November 11, 2015). "World of Outlaws money list for the 2015 Sprint Car season". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "'The Dude' Takes Winter Heat Finale; Stewart is the Champ". Speed51.com. January 10, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Weaver, Matt (December 8, 2017). "NASCAR star Kyle Larson to become sole owner of his World of Outlaws team in 2018". Autoweek. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Shane Stewart & Kyle Larson Racing To Part Ways". Speed Sport. October 24, 2018. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Kyle Larson Racing Hires Carson Macedo". Speed Sport. October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ Modestio, Lou (October 25, 2020). "Kyle Larson Racing to Close at Season's End". The Patriot Ledger. Quincy, MA. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Ryan, Nate (October 23, 2020). "Kyle Larson Racing announces its closure after the World of Outlaws season". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Lucas Oil Backing Kyle Larson's Midget Entry". Speed Sport. November 19, 2019. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ Seelman, Jacob (November 4, 2019). "Self-Owned Midget For Larson At Chili Bowl". Speed Sport. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Seelman, Jacob (November 30, 2019). "Larson Storms To Third Turkey Night Victory". Speed Sport. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Spencer, Lee (November 3, 2019). "Kyle Larson to field his own equipment at Chili Bowl Nationals". Racin' Boys. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Kyle Larson finally wins elusive Chili Bowl in 13th try". USA Today. McLean, VA. January 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Long, Dustin (January 19, 2020). "Kyle Larson scores first Chili Bowl Nationals victory". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020.
- ^ Wilhelm, Chase (January 15, 2020). "Kyle Larson wins second qualifying night at Chili Bowl; Christopher Bell earns Race of Champions win". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ "Larson Wins Chili Bowl Night 2". Motor Racing Network. January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Seelman, Jacob (January 17, 2021). "A Second Helping Of Chili For Kyle Larson". Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.