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Dice, a choose cone, a series director, and what's in the High Limit rulebook | Daily 2-22-2023
Today we'll talk about a few twists for the new High Limit Sprint Car Series, and I dove into their just released rule book so you don't have to. Let's go!
It's Wednesday, February 22nd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.
Just about 24 hours ago from when you're probably watching this video, the new High Limit Sprint Car Series from Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet and FloRacing announced a few interesting twists for their races in this first year. They will institute the choose cone for double file restarts, meaning that drivers can pick the high lane or the low lane for restarts where they go double file, which could allow guys to move up rows if there is a big preference in lanes. It's something we've seen in various short track series before, and NASCAR instituted it a few years ago. Also, they will have what they are calling the Durst Dice Roll following the night's dash. It will be first offered to the dash winner, and then if they refuse, the second place dash finisher will also have the chance. Whoever decides to participate will roll a pair of dice, and the combined total of the dice will be where they start in the feature. So from as high as second or as low as 12th. If the roll the dice and win, they'll earn additional money on top of their winnings for moving back. Winning from second will add an additional two thousand dollars, with an additional grand available for each spot they move back. So, for example, if a driver starts 12th, they'll bank an additional $12,000. Definitely some interesting additions to mix things up, and the announcement seemed to get pretty positive feedback.
As a quick refresher on High Limit, 12 mid week sprint car shows, from March 21st through October 10th. 11 races count towards the championship, with nine paying $23,000 to win, one paying $32k to win, and two paying $50,000 to win. We'll see them at Tulare, Lakeside, 34, Kokomo, Wayne County, Tri-City, Eagle, Grandview, Huset's, Lernerville, Bridgeport, and Lincoln Park. All them, except the first non-points race at Tulare, fit very nicely into the World of Outlaws schedule. So far, drivers committed to the new league include Cory Eliason, Danny Dietrich, Brent Marks, Justin Peck, Buddy Kofoid, Rico Abreu, and Kyle Larson. We also know that Alex Bowman plans to support as often as he can.
In the release from yesterday though, the series also shared it's 2023 rulebook, and there are a few things in it that I wanted to point out. I read through most of it so you don't have to. First, and I had heard this elsewhere, but industry veteran Tommie Estes will serve as the series director. Tommie was most recently the general manager for I-70 Motorsports Park in Missouri, he also previously ran Dodge City Raceway Park, and was the competition director for the ASCS for a number of years. It's a solid pickup for High Limit, and will give the series some experienced leadership. Early on the in the rulebook there is mention of membership, and drivers who are going to compete full time must agree to a quote "entrant agreement." It does provide them with three free pit passes, provisionals, and the ability to participate in the point fund. There is also something in here about a quote "Double Down Agreement" that it appears drivers must somehow qualify for. I did some searching around and I can't find anything about this, so there could potentially be more announcements coming from the series about other additions here. Drivers who do not intend on running full time are not required to fill out any of that membership paperwork. High Limit will have both an owner and driver championship, just like the World of Outlaws. Also, fire suppression systems have been a point of contention between sanctioning bodies and teams in recent months, and this rulebook just says they are quote "highly recommended" for 2023. So not required like a lot of the other series and tracks around the country.
Looking through the format for race nights, nothing crazy there, pretty traditional and basically what we saw at the first High Limit show in 2022. Two laps of qualifying, with heat races set straight up by those time trials. They'll run a dash for programs with three heats and above, and 49 cars or more will utilize non-qualifier races to add cars to the tail of heats. Very similar to the Outlaw setup. I mentioned the choose cone and double file restarts, and two minutes allowed in the work area. The points structure is different than we see with the Outlaws and All Stars. Instead of 150 points for a win, it's 100. Second gets 95, third 92, then two points less per position down to ninth. From there down through the field it's a one point difference per finishing spot. Teams outside the feature will get 60 show up points. The difference in the points per spot though shouldn't really change things. Consistency and running up front regularly will still be required, just like the other dirt racing series.
The rest of the tech stuff in the rules is the same standard stuff across sprint car racing, as you'd expect. The rules being standardized is what allows guys to easily race with different series and different tracks all around the country without needing to change their cars. There was some question about the tire rules though, and I saw Ayrton Gennetten tweeted at them asking about it. The initial posting of the book, and the link you can still find in the release does not make mention of the new sprint car tires from Hoosier. But if you click the Rule Book link in the top nav at highlimitracing.com, an updated version has been posted that does include the new tires, and they will be used as of April 1st.
One other thing I wanted to point out from the rulebook is the operating company. The book itself is copyright K&B Promotions LLC, which can only mean Kyle and Brad, makes sense. So there you go, the major bullet points from the High Limit rule book. Like I said, a few interesting tidbits in there, but most of it is pretty standard for a sprint car series these days. You can check the full thing out for yourself over at highlimitracing.com.
Around the other dirt racing shows this week, Winged Nation has Sam Hafertepe and Brian Kemenah, Open Red has Annika Koser. I get asked all the time about the sprint car sunset photo to my left, and Annika is the artist. Check out that Open Red ep for more on what she's done. All Gas No Brakes has recent episodes with Christian Hanger, Dylan Thornton, Kaden Reynolds, Jensen Ford, and Mike Nuchols. Hoogie's Garage has Jack Dover and Shawn Thomas, Dunewich on Dirt has John Ruggiero Jr., and there are new eps of The Dirt Reporters, the Dirt Nerds, Dirt Tracks and Rib Racks, and Dirt Track Confessions. To see all these shows and episodes, head over to dirtrackr.com/podcasts.
There are three shows on today's streaming schedule. Speed Sport TV has the only live action with the start of North Carolina Speedweek from Fayetteville Motor Speedway. That one features a few different classes, including late models, modifieds and legends. There is also FloRacing 24/7 and DIRTVision Now. To see the full daily streaming schedule with links to watch, visit dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
Have a good Wednesday out there, we'll see you guys tomorrow!