Kyle Larson Continues “Off-Season” In New Zealand & Australia After Gateway Dirt Nationals
News Director 
Story By: ANDREA LARSON / KYLE LARSON RACING – MOORESVILLE, NC – There’s no slowing down for NASCAR Cup Series star, Kyle Larson, this winter.
Immediately after the conclusion of this weekend’s Gateway Dirt Nationals at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo., Larson will make the long journey to New Zealand and kick off the six round United Truck Parts World Midget Series spanning across three different tracks.
He will return to the United States for the famed Chili Bowl Midget Nationals before heading down under for four events concluding with the Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic.
For the third consecutive year, Larson will be teaming up with Harley Taylor for the United Truck Parts World Midget Series in New Zealand. The series will kick off at Western Springs Speedway in Auckland on December 26 for the Boxing Day Bash followed up by Baypark Speedway in Tauranga for the 40 lap Gold Cup on December 28. It then returns to Western Springs Speedway on December 30th for the World 30 Lap Derby. Larson will start the new year at Huntly Speedway during the International Midget Series 40 Lapper, followed by two final races at Western Springs Speedway, the King of the Springs on January 3 and the World 50 Lap Classic on January 5.
In the 2012/2013 International Midget Series, Larson’s second trip to New Zealand, he impressively swept the series winning all four events. During the 2017/2018 season in New Zealand, the Elk Grove, Calif., native picked up three wins, the World 30 Lapper, King of the Springs and the World 50 Lap Classic, all coming at Western Springs Speedway. Last season, Larson finished second on Boxing Day at Western Springs, fifth at Baypark Speedway, ninth at Huntly Speedway, and won the World 30 Lapper and King of the Springs back at Western Springs.
“I am really looking forward to getting back to New Zealand next week,” said Larson. “It is a trip I look forward to every year. The fans that come out to each event are great and the racing is always exciting. Harley [Taylor] and I have had a lot of success together the past couple of years and I hope we get to continue that this season.”
Following the six events in New Zealand, Larson will head back to the United States to compete in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., before heading back down under. Starting January 22, he is set to team up with Sean and Felicity Dyson, making him teammates with his Kyle Larson Racing, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series sprint car driver, Carson Macedo, during four nights of competition across Australia.
Larson will pilot the Dyson Motorsports USA99 sprint car at Avalon Raceway in Lara, Victoria for the President’s Cup, followed by the King’s Challenge at Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier, South Australia. His tour down under will round out with the prestigious Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic at Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, Victoria. This will be the 27-year-old’s first appearance in Australia since the 2015/2016 season and his first attempt at this string of four races since 2012.
“This is something that came together just a few days ago and I can’t thank Sean [Dyson] enough for the opportunity to get back to Australia,” said Larson. “Carson has driven for Dyson Motorsports the last few seasons and they’ve always been competitive, so I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the USA99 and hopefully win my first race down under.”
Larson started his NASCAR off-season on fire, winning several USAC National Midget events, including the inaugural Hangtown 100 and the Turkey Night Grand Prix. He will now be gunning to pocket a few more prestigious victories and it all gets underway this weekend at Gateway Dirt Nationals.
