Kyle Larson Racing
{{short description|American auto racing team}}
{{ infobox motor racing team
|name = Kyle Larson Racing
|logo = File:Kyle Larson Racing logo.png
|founded = November 2013
|base = Mooresville, North Carolina
|principal = Kyle Larson
Justin Marks
Paul Silva
|former series = World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
All Star Circuit of Champions
|drivers = Shane Stewart
Carson Macedo
|website =
|driver titles = 1 (2016 Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown)
|folded =
}}
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.
History
= Sprint cars =
In 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.{{cite web |last1=Gluck |first1=Jeff |title=Kyle Larson starts new sprint car team with Justin Marks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/11/09/kyle-larson-sprint-car-shane-stewart-justin-marks-world-of-outlaws/3483839/ |website=USA Today |access-date=January 21, 2021 |location=Tysons Corner, VA |date=November 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408120312/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/11/09/kyle-larson-sprint-car-shane-stewart-justin-marks-world-of-outlaws/3483839/ |archive-date=April 8, 2014|url-status=live}} Stewart won at Eldora Speedway in the team's second-ever start.{{cite web |last1=Fenwick |first1=Adam |title=Stewart Ready To Tackle Full Outlaw Slate |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/stewart-ready-to-tackle-full-outlaw-slate/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121175448/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/stewart-ready-to-tackle-full-outlaw-slate/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live}} In 2015, Stewart won the prestigious Kings Royal at Eldora with the team;{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Jeremy |title=Shane Stewart makes epic run to Kings Royal title as Donny Schatz runs dry |url=https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2015/07/post_757.html |website=The Patriot-News |access-date=January 18, 2021 |location=Harrisburg, PA |date=July 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024836/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2015/07/post_757.html |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url-status=live}} he went on to finish second in the World of Outlaws points standings,{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Jeremy |title=World of Outlaws money list for the 2015 Sprint Car season |url=https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2015/11/world_of_outlaws_money_list_fo.html |website=The Patriot-News |access-date=January 21, 2021 |location=Harrisburg, PA |date=November 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121025307/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2015/11/world_of_outlaws_money_list_fo.html |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url-status=live}} and during the 2015–2016 offseason was champion of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown at Cocopah Speedway.{{cite web |title='The Dude' Takes Winter Heat Finale; Stewart is the Champ |url=https://speed51.com/the-dude-takes-winter-heat-finale-stewart-is-the-champ/ |website=Speed51.com |access-date=January 18, 2021 |date=January 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405104703/https://speed51.com/the-dude-takes-winter-heat-finale-stewart-is-the-champ/ |archive-date=April 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}
After the 2017 season, Larson took full ownership of the team, renaming it Kyle Larson Racing and hiring Paul Silva as general manager.{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Matt |title=NASCAR star Kyle Larson to become sole owner of his World of Outlaws team in 2018 |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a1836701/kyle-larson-become-sole-owner-his-world-outlaws-team-2018/ |website=Autoweek |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121175848/https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a1836701/kyle-larson-become-sole-owner-his-world-outlaws-team-2018/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |date=December 8, 2017 |url-status=live}} After the 2018 season, Stewart departed to join CJB Motorsports, having won 35 times during his time driving for KLR.{{cite web |title=Shane Stewart & Kyle Larson Racing To Part Ways |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/shane-stewart-larson-parting-ways/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=January 21, 2021 |date=October 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024550/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/shane-stewart-larson-parting-ways/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url-status=live}} rookie Carson Macedo was hired as his replacement,{{cite web |title=Kyle Larson Racing Hires Carson Macedo |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/kyle-larson-racing-hires-carson-macedo/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121180143/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/kyle-larson-racing-hires-carson-macedo/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |date=October 30, 2018 |url-status=live}} and would win the World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year title at the end of the 2019 season,{{cite web |last1=Modestio |first1=Lou |title=Kyle Larson Racing to Close at Season's End |url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2020/10/25/kyle-larson-racing-to-close-at-seasons-end/114481210/ |website=The Patriot Ledger |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123163728/https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2020/10/25/kyle-larson-racing-to-close-at-seasons-end/114481210/ |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |location=Quincy, MA |date=October 25, 2020 |url-status=live}} winning five races overall during his two seasons with the team.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Nate |title=Kyle Larson Racing announces its closure after the World of Outlaws season |url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/10/23/kyle-larson-racing-closing/ |website=NBC Sports |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125052615/https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/10/23/kyle-larson-racing-closing/ |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |date=October 23, 2020 |url-status=live}}
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.
=Midget cars=
File:Kyle Larson leads at 2020 Chili Bowl.jpg
File:Kyle Larson winning at 2020 Chili Bowl.jpg
In addition to its sprint car team, KLR fielded a No. 1K midget car for Larson to drive in selected events.{{cite web |title=Lucas Oil Backing Kyle Larson's Midget Entry |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-midgets/lucas-oil-backing-kyle-larsons-midget-entry/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121180645/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-midgets/lucas-oil-backing-kyle-larsons-midget-entry/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |date=November 19, 2019 |url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Seelman |first1=Jacob |title=Self-Owned Midget For Larson At Chili Bowl |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-midgets/self-owned-midget-for-larson-at-chili-bowl/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123211412/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-midgets/self-owned-midget-for-larson-at-chili-bowl/ |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |date=November 4, 2019 |url-status=live}} Larson won the Turkey Night Grand Prix for his fifth win in six starts with the team,{{cite web |last1=Seelman |first1=Jacob |title=Larson Storms To Third Turkey Night Victory |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/usac/larson-storms-to-third-turkey-night-victory/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804113731/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/usac/larson-storms-to-third-turkey-night-victory/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |date=November 30, 2019 |url-status=live}} and after reaching the feature of the Chili Bowl Nationals eight times in twelve attempts without a victory,{{cite web |last1=Spencer |first1=Lee |title=Kyle Larson to field his own equipment at Chili Bowl Nationals |url=http://racinboysscoop.com/news/news.asp?NewsID=51348 |website=Racin' Boys |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123210435/http://racinboysscoop.com/news/news.asp?NewsID=51348 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |date=November 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Kyle Larson finally wins elusive Chili Bowl in 13th try |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2020/01/19/kyle-larson-finally-wins-elusive-chili-bowl-in-13th-try/41028911/ |website=USA Today |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121112739/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2020/01/19/kyle-larson-finally-wins-elusive-chili-bowl-in-13th-try/41028911/ |archive-date=January 21, 2020 |location=McLean, VA |date=January 19, 2020 |url-status=live}} Larson won the event in 2020,{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Dustin |title=Kyle Larson scores first Chili Bowl Nationals victory |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/01/19/kyle-larson-christopher-bell-chili-bowl-nascar/ |website=NBC Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127165824/https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/01/19/kyle-larson-christopher-bell-chili-bowl-nascar/ |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |date=January 19, 2020 |url-status=live}} his first year running for his own team.{{cite web |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Chase |title=Kyle Larson wins second qualifying night at Chili Bowl; Christopher Bell earns Race of Champions win |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/01/15/kyle-larson-wins-second-qualifying-night-chili-bowl-christopher-bell-race-of-champions/ |website=NASCAR.com |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123210959/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/01/15/kyle-larson-wins-second-qualifying-night-chili-bowl-christopher-bell-race-of-champions/ |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |date=January 15, 2020 |url-status=live}} Returning in 2021 with his own team once again,{{cite web |title=Larson Wins Chili Bowl Night 2 |url=https://www.mrn.com/2021/01/13/kyle-larson-scores-seventh-preliminary-chili-bowl-win/ |website=Motor Racing Network |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115142518/https://www.mrn.com/2021/01/13/kyle-larson-scores-seventh-preliminary-chili-bowl-win/ |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |date=January 13, 2021 |url-status=live}} Larson won again in 2021, scoring back to back victories in the prestigious race.{{cite web |last1=Seelman |first1=Jacob |title=A Second Helping Of Chili For Kyle Larson |url=https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-midgets/a-second-helping-of-chili-for-kyle-larson/?linkId=100000028620638 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123212651/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-midgets/a-second-helping-of-chili-for-kyle-larson/?linkId=100000028620638 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |date=January 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:2013 establishments in North Carolina
Category:2020 disestablishments in North Carolina
Category:Auto racing teams disestablished in 2020
Category:Auto racing teams established in 2013
Category:American auto racing teams
Category:Companies disestablished due to the COVID-19 pandemic