Kyle Larson’s racing roots are deeply tied to dirt tracks, where he first discovered his love for speed and competition. Growing up in Elk Grove, California, Larson started racing outlaw karts at age seven and quickly moved into sprint cars and midgets. His fearless driving earned him the nickname “Yung Money” and multiple wins in prestigious dirt events like the Chili Bowl Nationals and Knoxville Nationals. Even as a NASCAR star, Larson regularly returns to dirt racing to stay sharp and connected to his roots. But is it because of his love for dirt, or his being the co-founder of Kubota High Limit Racing?

There was an official release in late 2024 that said the Cup Series Champion and co-founder will compete in both nights of The Stockyard Stampede competition at The Dirt Track, along with the May 4 NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on the 1.5-mile oval. And that’s exactly what happened! Kyle Larson looked to carry his NASCAR momentum onto the dirt this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway’s Kubota High Limit Racing series. But despite his experience and passion, a sprint car veteran handed him an upset loss. The result proved that dirt racing’s unpredictability spares no one, not even a driver of Larson’s caliber.

Sprint veteran outduels Kyle Larson as Texas dirt track delivers a show

The Texas Motor Speedway dirt track was alive with anticipation as the Kubota High Limit Racing series capped off its Stockyard Stampede weekend. All eyes were on Kyle Larson, who had just celebrated a NASCAR Xfinity Series win earlier in the day and started from the pole in the sprint car feature. Larson’s double-duty attempt drew plenty of buzz, with fans eager to see if he could sweep both events. But fate had other plans.

On the initial start, Rico Abreu powered around Yung Money and seized control of the race, never looking back. The California native led every lap in flag-to-flag fashion, capturing his first High Limit win of the 2025 season. Larson, despite his best efforts, couldn’t reel Abreu in and finished 1.020 seconds behind in the runner-up spot. It was a strong showing, but not quite the dominant dirt performance many expected from the Cup Series #5 HMS driver. Brad Sweet, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and Corey Day rounded out the top five. Sweet, in particular, continued to show why he’s a perennial threat in sprint car racing. Spencer Bayston was the night’s biggest mover, charging from 14th to eighth and showcasing the depth of talent in the field. But this is not the first time Abreu outshone the Cup series champ!

If we take the 2022 Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Hodnett Cup at Grandview Speedway, then Kyle Larson is in a much better place! After drawing the pole position, Rico Abreu, the former NASCAR Truck Series driver, fought off Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, and NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell to win the $10,000 prize. “It’s really special. This place just never disappoints, and it’s cool to be No. 1 here,” Abreu said, after collecting his third Speedweek series victory. But, here was Larson? Well, he finished the race last!

The entire race had only one red flag, which came on Lap 14. And it was for Kyle Larson, who had his car’s rear end break while coming around Turn 3, causing his No. 57 winged 410 sprint car to tip on its side. As dangerous as it sounds, that ended his night at the event, finishing 24th. Larson had won four of the last five Speedweek races at Grandview before the 2022 season, but those didn’t count for him to be able to lift the cup. But this 2025 race surely opened the audience to something to learn from the grassroots level of racing.

It showcased dirt track skill and strategy. Larson’s pole start gave him early hope, but Abreu’s relentless pace up front proved too much to overcome. The result was a thrilling, fast-paced feature that kept fans on their feet from green to checkered. With the High Limit season heating up, the question now is: Can Larson bounce back and reclaim his dirt track dominance? Or will Abreu’s Texas triumph spark a new rivalry at the top?

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Larson now eyes victory in the Texas Cup Series showdown

With the dirt race behind him, Kyle Larson quickly shifted his focus to the high banks of Texas Motor Speedway, where the NASCAR Cup Series main event awaits. Larson will roll off fourth on Sunday with a qualifying time of 28.210 seconds. The grid is tightly packed with just 0.035 seconds separating Larson from pole-sitter Carson Hocevar, who qualified with a time of 28.175 seconds.

The fourth place sets Kyle Larson up well at a track where starting up front is a major advantage, given Texas’s unique, challenging layout and the premium on clean air. Larson’s weekend in Texas has already been eventful. On Saturday, he captured his second Xfinity Series win of the season. Larson impressively charged from seventh to first in double overtime and showcased his ability to adapt across racing disciplines. That victory marked his second career Xfinity win at Texas and reinforced his reputation for excelling at 1.5-mile tracks.

In the Cup Series, Larson’s Texas résumé is equally impressive. He won the 2021 race dominantly and also took the All-Star Race at the venue that same year. Since joining Hendrick Motorsports, he’s averaged a top-10 finish at Texas, consistently running up front and leading laps. Hendrick Motorsports has been the team to beat at Texas. The team has claimed three of the last four points-paying races at the track.

With a front-row seat to the action, Larson is poised to capitalize on his momentum and experience. The big question: Can he convert his strong qualifying effort and recent Xfinity win into another Cup victory at Texas, or will the unpredictable nature of the Lone Star State’s toughest oval throw another curveball his way after the High Limit Racing result?

We will let time speak for itself, but what do you think? Do let us know in the comments below.