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“Young Money” Kyle Larson: The New Parnelli Jones?

HAMMOND, IN: If you’ve been around motorsports long enough, you’ve seen some amazing things. In my lifetime, for example, I’ve been lucky enough to see Tony Bettenhausen, Jim Clark, Parnelli, A.J., the Unsers, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart in action. Now comes Kyle “Young Money” Larson. And. Trust me, this is as good as it gets.

    [Photo courtesy kylelarsonracing,com]

Kyle Larson. Wow. At age 20, the Elk Grove, California resident has already accomplished more than most drivers are able to do in a lifetime. Very few racers in history can claim to have scored victories in all of USAC’s divisions, as well as World of Outlaws winged sprint cars and NASCAR stock cars, but “Young Money” really makes it look easy, and he did it all in the same calender year! Right off hand, I can only think of one other race driver who was such an immediate front-runner and winner; a racer who immediately stamped himself as “the guy” to beat for as long as he cared to compete. In other words: a natural.

His name was Parnelli Jones.

In 1960 when Parnelli began competing on the national stage, it became quickly obvious that he had something very special in the talent department. Jones was immediately competitive in EVERY type of race car he sat in. It didn’t seem to matter if he was unfamiliar with the race track, the race car or the crew; Parnelli always seemed to be able to put himself in contention to win. It was, well, almost supernatural.

Just like Kyle Larson.

There’s something intangible about a truly great racer. Not to oversimplify, but they just seem to find a way to be faster and get to the finish before everyone else. In addition, the guys who become legends in the sport seem to have a special flair running in traffic. They say that Wilber Shaw and Bill Vukovich had “the gift”. Al Unser Sr. had it. Steve Kinser still has it, as does Tony Stewart.

Just like Kyle Larson.

In the past few seasons, Larson’s list of victories has been well documented. As mentioned previously, “Young Money” moved into the world of NASCAR this season, and, amazingly, has already visited Victory Lane with no previous stock car experience. But, to me, this accomplishment pales in comparison to Larson’s victory in night one of the 2012 Knoxville Nationals. As a rookie, no less! I mean: this kid had only run Knoxville Raceway one other time. Without a wing! Stuff like this is not supposed to happen. Kind of like last year, when Kyle swept the Eldora 4-Crown Nationals, having never run the track before! He did the same thing winning the Silver Crown event at the DuQuoin mile, as well as the Belleville Nationals midget race. Rookies are not supposed to be contenders to win these events the first time out. But, in the case of Kyle Larson, the inconceivable becomes possible, and the sky is obviously the limit.

Is there any chance that the “new Parnelli” might build his legend in the world of open wheel racing? Probably not, as Larson immerses himself deeper and deeper into Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR driver development program.

Pity. I, for one, am ready for a new Parnelli Jones in the Indy 500!

Thanks to kylelarsonracing,com for the photos and the career stats below:

2011 Midgets, Non-Wing Sprints Cars, Silver Crown, Winged Sprint Cars (410 & 360) & Outlaw Sprint Karts:

22 Feature Wins – 11 Midgets, 3 Nonwing Sprint Cars, 6 Winged Sprint cars/2 Silver Crown
Also 2 Feature wins in Outlaw Karts (24 total wins)
USAC Point Standings:
National Driver Championship: 2nd
National Midget Series: 3rd
National Pavement Series: 2nd
National Silver Crown Series: 3rd

Nominee for 2011 SPEED Performer of the Year

2011 Motor Sports Press Association Open Wheel/Oval Track Driver of the Year

First Team AARWBA (American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association)

Voted first ever driver to win the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame “Wild Card” in all 3 sprint car divisions: Non wing, 360 winged, and 410 winged

Midget Madness “Top Gun Driver of the Year”

Turkey Night Grand Prix “Rookie of the Race”

Eldora Speedway 4 Crown Champion – wins in all 3 divisions: USAC Midget, USAC Sprint Car & USAC Silver Crown

World of Outlaw Gold Cup Race of Champion, Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA (youngest to win GC)

1st USAC Driver to win in each division in 2011 –
Midget, Sprint Car & Silver Crown Car

USAC Silver Crown Ted Horn Memorial 100, DuQuoin, IL

Ultimate Challenge USAC Non Wing 410 Sprint Car Feature Winner – Oskaloosa, IA

Belleville Midget Nationals Champion

Two USAC National Midget Feature Wins

American Sprint Car Series National 360 Feature Winner – Hanford, CA

American Sprint Car Series Northwest Regional 360 Speedweek Champion

Fast Time Qualifier in First Pavement Attempt-
USAC Silver Crown, Nonwing Sprint Car, Midget
New track record at Indianapolis Speedrome: 11.622 (old record May 26, 2005 Nick Bohanon 11.714)

Lakeport Speedway 500cc Outlaw Karts Perpetual Trophy Champion

2010 Sprint Cars (410 & 360), Midgets & Outlaw Sprint Karts:
Golden State Challenge 410
Sprint Car Series Champion –
King of California
Calistoga Speedway Champion
Cotton Classic 410 Sprint Car
Champion
Ocean Speedway Taco Bravo 360 Sprint Car
Series – Runner up
9 Main Event Wins (to date)
Chili Bowl – 10th in A Main
Tulsa Shootout – 1st in A Main Outlaw Karts Golden Driller

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