Amid the thrill and spectacle of racing events, what often gets sidelined is the enormous cost. Apart from a racer’s talent, the finances invested in the equipment, crew, and infrastructure also determine the outcome of a race. NASCAR’s nationwide series can afford to make it financially viable for the participating drivers and teams. But Kyle Larson knew that the dirt and sprint race tracks tell a different story.

On a one-man mission to popularize sprint races, Larson refused to stop at the High Limit Sprint Racing series he launched this year. With the acquisition of Tony Stewart’s All-Star Circuit, Hendrick Motorsports’ championship contender is about to start a revolution.

Kyle Larson will carry forward the enticing High Limit Sprint Racing factor into the All-Star circuit

Young racers dream of a NASCAR debut but most languish on their local dirt or sprint tracks all their lives. Even the thought of a single NASCAR race is unaffordable for an average American, which is why family legacy is commonplace on top-tier teams. And yet, drivers put their entire lives and earnings on the line for that opportunity. Other than the prestige of a NASCAR win, the revenue involved would also be considered worth the struggle. The inaugural Cup race of this season reserved a hefty purse of millions of dollars.

On the other hand, even the most reputable dirt or sprint race events incur prize money of a few thousand at most. Not only does this discourage the younger generation from venturing into the sport, but it also makes livelihood difficult for the existing racers living from paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. Championship 4 contenders Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell boycotted the highly criticized Chilli Bowls Midget Nationals this year for restricting the prize money to $10,000.

Instead, the #5 driver teamed up with World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet to launch their own mid-week High Limit Sprint Racing series to bolster the inadequate incentives earned through the weekend WoO races. The premier season had an 11-race schedule with competitive prize money ranging from $22,000 to $50,000. Tony Stewart’s All-Star Circuit was the next logical step in the revival of Larson’s racing roots. But would the HMS star be able to fund a more expansive schedule along the same lines? Larson had an answer ready in an interview with Frontstretch.

After qualifying 5th for the playoff race at the Martinsville Speedway, Larson declared, “Our goal is to definitely raise the purses so I think anytime you buy something you want to make it better or more lucrative for the teams and stuff so yeah that’s our goal. I think there’s more risk for sure on our end with a much larger schedule that we’ll hopefully have but again Brad [Sweet] and I and everybody involved in the High Limit want the best for the sprint car racing and I think our goal is to definitely put it there.” 

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The former owner, Tony Stewart, expressed his opinions on the #5 driver’s capabilities.

Tony Stewart champions Kyle Larson’s’sustainable’ future for sprint racing

4X championship and team owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, Tony Stewart, took over the leadership of the All-Star circuit in 2015. After eight years of bearing the sprint racing torch, the Hall of Famer wished to pass it along to someone equally passionate about the preservation and growth of sprint racing in the country. And he could not imagine anyone better suited to the role than Kyle Larson. 

As reported by Floracing.com, Stewart said, “The time is right to pass the torch to Kyle and Brad [Sweet]. I have had many conversations with them both on their overall vision for 410 racing and I am confident that with their leadership, the sport will continue to thrive into the foreseeable future.” Larson’s brother-in-law and business partner, Brad Sweet further detailed Larson’s vision in front of the Athletic’s Jeff Gluck.

“The drivers are risking their lives out there, and they need to get compensated for it if the money is there. We would like to build a series that’s way more sustainable and transparent for everybody.” Perhaps this would propel the non-NASCAR series to up their game and loosen their purse strings for future entrants. A cultural change is brewing and Kyle Larson is setting the trend one sprint racing series at a time.

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