CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — After debuting with a two-day event last year, Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing is returning to Central Arizona Raceway with a bigger three-day special, creating a doubleheader weekend with High Limit’s Cactus Classic and NHRA’s Arizona Nationals.
Kyle Larson, Corey Day and Aaron Reutzel opened the season with victories last week at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. As teams head south to the Sonoran Desert, it’s Reutzel and his Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 leading the early-season championship chase over Tanner Thorson (-2), Rico Abreu (-16), Giovanni Scelzi (-24), and Tyler Courtney (-24).
Outside of the High Rollers, the storylines are plentiful with the return of six-time national champion Brad Sweet, now working with Paul Silva in Kevin Kozlowski’s W machine, and the debut of USAC Triple Crown champion Logan Seavey, driving Chad Boat’s CB Industries No. 87 in a partnership with Spire Motorsports.
THE CHASE IS ON
Three races down, only 61 to go when it comes to crowning the 2026 Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing champion. After Rick Hendrick’s “Dirt to Daytona” stars topped the first two nights in Vegas, a High Roller joined the win column on the final night of the SugarBee Blackjack Bash and assumed the title lead as the series turned to Arizona.
Runs of 10th, second and first for Aaron Reutzel and Ridge & Sons Racing was enough to leave Las Vegas with the points lead – a drastic turnaround from last year when the Clute, Texas native left the track in an ambulance. A-Aron has the advantage of returning to Central Arizona as the inaugural High Limit winner at the track last year.
Arguably the most impressive driver from the opening weekend wasn’t the man who left with the points lead, but the man right behind him. Tanner Thorson of Minden, Nevada was the only of 37 drivers to score a top-five finish in all three features in Vegas, running fifth, fourth and second. He has the Rod Gross Motorsports No. 88 a mere two points from topping the early-season charts.
The defending High Limit champion, Rico Abreu, debuted his new operation in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing, Carquest No. 24. After back-to-back seventh-place finishes, a third-place podium was a welcomed ending for the St. Helena, California native.
“Hot Sauce” Giovanni Scelzi officially opened his full-time High Limit career in the Spire Motorsports, Chili’s Grill & Bar No. 77 with a strong statement. The Fresno, California native debuted with a third-place finish backed by runs of ninth and eighth.
“Sunshine” Tyler Courtney is right behind them with the Clauson-Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink No. 7bc in the fifth spot. The Indianapolis, Indiana native battled back from a 17th-place outing on night one to record back-to-back fifth-place runs.
SONORAN SUCCESS
A pair of High Rollers, Justin Peck and Hank Davis, took advantage of a late February four-race swing for the American Sprint Car Series to gain some extra laps at Central Arizona Raceway. This weekend, we’ll find out if that haul was worth it.
Peck was especially good in Casa Grande aboard the Rudeen Racing No. 26, winning twice to go along with a runner-up finish and DNF that came while leading in pursuit of a third win.
After back-to-back 13th-place finishes to open the High Limit season, the Monrovia, Indiana native fought back with a hard-charging 23rd-to-seventh run in the Vegas finale.
Davis, outside of one DNF, finished fourth, fourth and sixth when he went to Arizona for ASCS action. The Michael Dutcher Motorsports No. 17GP pilot kicked off his High Limit season with runs of 18th-18th-17th as he battles Tanner Holmes for Rayce Rudeen Foundation Rookie of the Year honors.
OUT OF RETIREMENT
While six-time national champion Brad Sweet may have called it a career in full-time competition, he’s not quite ready to completely step away from the cockpit of a sprint car.
“The Big Cat” is planning roughly 30-40 races this year in a hybrid effort with Paul Silva’s No. 94 and Kevin Kozlowski’s W cars. The 2024 High Limit champion gets his first taste of national competition this weekend at Central Arizona Raceway after topping a NARC 410 feature at Merced (Calif.) Speedway in February.
The 40-year-old Grass Valley, California native returns as the most recent High Limit winner in Casa Grande, taking last year’s finale in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49. He ran fourth in his debut at the track the night before.
By qualifying two of the three nights, Sweet will join Rico Abreu (111), Justin Peck (108), and Brent Marks (107) as the fourth driver to start 100+ High Limit features.
NEW CONNECTION
A full-time championship contender with Giovanni Scelzi driving the Chili’s Grill & Bar No. 77, Spire Motorsports will be connected to a second entry this weekend at Central Arizona Raceway and next week at Vado Speedway Park. Forming a partnership with Chad Boat’s CB Industries team, Logan Seavey has gotten the call to wheel the Freeway Insurance No. 87.
The Sutter, California native is no stranger to Central Arizona Raceway, sweeping the Western World last October. The two-time Chili Bowl winner and USAC Triple Crown champion is expected to compete in roughly 15-20 winged sprint car events with CB Industries this season.
JOKER FUND
With 15 full-time teams on the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing roster this year, 10 return with a High Roller Club membership card already in hand while another five are competing for the “Joker Fund.”
With that, they’re chasing a top-three points finish this season or a top-eight points finish this year and next to obtain access into the High Roller Club.
Following the opening weekend, Kerry Madsen placed the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 seventh in the standings as the leading contender. Behind him, Sye Lynch and the Mosites Lynch Racing No. 42 (-18 from eighth), Hank Davis and the Michael Dutcher Motorsports No. 17GP (-40), Danny Sams III and the Randerson Racing No. 24D (-50), and Chase Randall and the Chase Randall Racing No. 9r (-54) are next in line.
NHRA IN TOWN
After joining NASCAR weekend at Las Vegas, High Limit now collides with NHRA this weekend in Phoenix. Fans can enjoy morning and afternoon action with the dragsters at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler before the evening fun turns to sprint cars at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande.
On Thursday night, J.R. Todd, Ron Capps, Maddi Gordon, Matt Hagan, and more will all be attending the Cactus Classic opener and interacting with fans. On Wednesday, a crossover between NHRA and High Limit stars will be filmed at the Firebird Motorsports Park.
