Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson, 20, took American open-wheel racing by storm in his first season competing on the national level in 2011. This will be his first season competing for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.This year, Kyle opened 2012 with a podium finish at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, finishing third of 260 entrants, behind only perennial winners Kevin and Sammy Swindell.

In 2011, Kyle captured twenty-two major professional feature victories, including wins in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, all three USAC National Divisions, and in the American Sprint Car Series.

His incredible year was capped by his nomination for the 2011 SPEED TV Performer of the Year, in the company of fellow nominees Sebastian Vettel, Tony Stewart, Casey Stoner, Scott Pruett, and Dario Franchitti.

Along the way, the Elk Grove, California native replicated one of Jeff Gordon’s historic feats, sweeping the Belleville Midget Nationals – a race on one of the most treacherous, high-banked race tracks in the dirt racing world – in his first attempt. Not long after, he swept both nights of the World of Outlaws Gold Cup.

Larson also became the second driver to ever sweep the prestigious 4-Crown Nationals, winning in Silver Crown, Sprint Cars, and Midgets, at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in one night. The feat was more remarkable since Larson had never raced at Eldora before. Overall, Kyle raced in 90 events in 2011, in six different types of race cars. In addition to his 22 wins, he won Rookie of the Year honors in both the USAC National Midget and USAC Silver Crown divisions, and finished second in USAC’s National Drivers Championship.

Larson’s 2011 success is not unprecedented. In 2010, he finished 10th in the A-Main at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, nearly a month after winning the Tulsa Shootout in the same indoor facility. He also won the Calistoga Speedway track championship en route to the Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Championship
In 2007, he became the youngest Sprint Car driver ever allowed to participate in the state of California at age 14. He quickly validated his participation with a victory at Placerville Speedway (Calif.) just days after his 15th birthday. From there, the Winged Sprint Car world was his oyster: he scored victories at high car-count facilities such as Silver Dollar Speedway (Calif.) and Thunderbowl Raceway (Calif.) while also racking up multiple Rookie of the Year Awards.