Auto Racing: Thorson blazing through Kart circuit

Carson Valley racer Tanner Thorson has gotten off to a quick start in the Kart season at Cycleland Speedway in Chico, Calif.

Thorson, who recently completed the sixth grade at Minden Elementary School, has competed in six races since the season began in late April and won three of those.

The season runs through late September.

He opened the season taking fourth in the trophy dash in the 250cc Intermediate class and eighth in the main event. he was the second-fastest qualifier after clocking in at 52.857 mph.

At his second race, he took first in his heat at 52.621 mph and placed fifth in the main event.

He won first race of the year on May 10, winning his heat at 53.199 mph and cruising to the main event title.

He qualified first again on May 17, coming in with a 54.859 mph, but he had to start at the back after he was penalized for a faulty transponder during qualifying. He ended up working his way up to seventh in the main event, but couldn't overcome the penalty.

Thorson took fourth in the trophy dash on May 31 and won the main event despite starting in the ninth position and won the main event on June 7 as well.

He is driving a QRC Outlaw Kart with a 250cc 4-stroke Yamaha engine this season.

Thorson's sponsors are Wheeler Screenprinting, Mastercraft Painting, Superior Auto & Collision, Browns Valley RV, Meyers Brothers Racing and Sciarroni Brothers Racing.