“I always look up to guys like Tony Stewart, who will continue to race other forms of racing, and the kind of model my career after his a little bit.” Those were Kyle Larson’s words about his idol, who has worked through it all—NASCAR, Sprint Cars, IndyCars, you name it. While his admiration for Tony Stewart is one thing, the recent merger on the bay in the High Limit Racing scene has the potential to switch up the landscape around Larson fast. Can the 33-year-old then dominate next season?

To those who know both of them, a partnership between Rico Abreu and Tony Stewart always felt like it was coming. And there are so many big storylines wrapped up. Rico Abreu will drive for Tony Stewart Racing next season. And Tony Stewart Racing is moving from World of Outlaws to High Limit. RAR’s (Rico Abreu Racing) infrastructure will become the new TSR. Finally, TSR is leasing the RAR High Limit charter (franchise). What is more, it is a combination of 13 years of friendship between Rico and Stewart. But what does this mean for Abreu’s all-time rival?

Kyle Larson and Rico Abreu have built one of the fiercest rivalries in dirt racing. Larson dominated the inaugural High Limit Sprint Car Series, won multiple times, and claimed the 2023 title despite Abreu’s late-season charge. Since then, Abreu has repeatedly challenged Larson head-to-head, snatching marquee victories like the 2025 360 Knoxville Nationals and several High Limit races. Rico also won one head-to-head in the Texas Stockyard Stampede, which contributes to the growing tension and respect between the two drivers.

The recent development is about want and not need. In the immediate wake of TSR parting ways with the legendary Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart was looking for a driver, someone who could truly justify the continued existence of the program. And who better than Abreu?

While Rico leads the standings with nine wins, 30 top tens, and 40 features, with Brad Sweet 25 points back, Kyle Larson remains a top contender, having established a reputation for dominating early race pace, qualifying, and winning streaks, but has been challenged more frequently in later parts of the season. Further, the rivalry could take a dramatic turn in 2026 with Abreu joining forces with Stewart, and ensuring he enters races with even stronger equipment to fight Larson.

Rico, conversely, could use a foundation that allows him to focus more on race craft and less on resource acquisition. Stewart already has built-in partners; what he really wanted was a driver who could slide into the championship-winning, crown jewel-contending legacy that Schatz left behind. And Abreu finally made the call: “I called him and ran the idea by him that we could bring my entire team with me and run it under the TSR banner, showed him my infrastructure. I pitched him on how the personality of TSR and Rico Abreu Racing could work together. He said he would think about it.”

Abreu added, “For me, it’s just the chance to race for championships and crown jewels with one of the most successful teams in the modern history of the sport. It’s about having all the resources and to get the job done behind the wheel.”

While TSR will retain some of its infrastructure, Rico will bring over crew chief Ricky Warner, who had spearheaded 10 World of Outlaws championships and 10 Knoxville Nationals with Schatz before joining RAR in 2022. Car chief Zack Middlebrookes and tire specialist Brady Forbrook will also leap to the new-look TSR, which will now carry No. 24, a number that was the subject of some back-and-forth. Stewart wanted his trademark No. 14, while Rico felt much of his identity was tied to the No. 24. So instead, it will be a No. 24, but with enough familiar “Smoke” font.

The timing is interesting because Abreu is the current High Limit driver and owner’s championship leader. He has won nine races on the tour and 16 overall Winged 410 victories in 56 starts. This is a career season for Rico, and one could argue that he doesn’t have to join forces with Tony Stewart. Yet this partnership also weighed heavily on the big picture, the evolving goals of High Limit, what it could become, and what both Rico and Tony Stewart wanted to be.

But amid all this good news, Tony Stewart has finally updated the racing world on his recent NHRA injury amid his wife’s eyeing a championship with Tony Stewart Racing.

Tony Stewart reveals memory lapse after a harrowing wreck

Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has broken his silence on social media following a wild, high-speed crash with Doug Kalitta during the second round of the ‘Countdown to the Championship’ at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. The crash unfolded just after Kalitta delivered a blistering 335 MPH pass to win the round. As the veteran crossed the finish line, disaster struck: Kalitta’s front left tire exploded, sending his car violently into Stewart’s lane.

The impact was jarring. Fans were left on edge as word spread that Tony’s throat didn’t remember the crash at all. Speaking with FOX Sports 1, Stewart pulled no punches. He said, “I don’t have a damn clue, honestly. I honestly don’t remember any of it. The first thing I remember, they’re waking me up here. Not sure what happened, but it appears to have been pretty massive… So, just confused. I got one hell of a headache and banged my left hand up. But I’ve been through sprint car crashes way worse than this, I’m pretty sure. We’re good. We’re good. We’re fine. I promise we’re fine.”

Even after such a dramatic wreck, Tony Stewart remains defiant, bruised, but unshaken, and has confirmed that he will be back behind the wheel for the 4-Wide Carolina Nationals in North Carolina, taking place from September 18-21. In the meantime, we hope Stewart recovers quickly.