Brad Sweet is putting his money where his mouth is.
The four-time World of Outlaws champion has been an outspoken proponent of increasing the financial impact for drivers and teams as sprint car racing has continued to reach new heights during the last decade.
Sweet and NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who are brothers-in-law, teamed to create the High Limit Sprint Car Series.
Last summer’s series debut was well received and served as the launching point for the 2023 campaign, which features a dozen 410 winged sprint car races that pay at least $23,023 to win. A pair of $50,000-to-win events stand out on a schedule that showcases races in 10 states.
Following the opening event — a non-points show on March 21 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. — the remaining 11 nights are points races with $30,000 earmarked for the champion.
That’s a lot of money up for grabs and all races are on either a Tuesday or a Wednesday. In theory, the High Limit Sprint Car Series shouldn’t conflict with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series or Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions schedules.
However, World Racing Group — owner of the World of Outlaws — has required its full-time drivers to sign a platinum agreement, which institutes rules regarding when and where a driver and/or team can compete outside of the World of Outlaws schedule.
“They’re not happy,” Sweet said. “They don’t have a very good interaction with me. I entered into the big-boy promoter scene. It was never anything personal, just business decisions I’m making for myself and my family. They are worried about hurting their brand, which is understandable. They are going to care about their brand, their lifestyles and their families. We’re going to push as hard as we can, too.
“Partnering with Flo and trying to fit into the ecosystem with 12 midweek races, we don’t view it as trying to hurt the Outlaws or straight up competition. They don’t like us coming into their backyard so to speak, or that their champion has stepped out on them so to speak.”
In December, the World of Outlaws announced an Exclusivity Bonus program that replaces the monthly bonus program. Essentially, teams are rewarded at the end of the year for their loyalty to the World of Outlaws. Drivers and teams can compete in up to four races outside of the World of Outlaws sanctioning without any penalty as long as they are “outside of 48 hours or a 100-mile radius on either side of a scheduled event.”
If drivers/teams choose to compete in five to eight races outside of the World of Outlaws sanctioning they will lose eligibility for the Exclusivity Bonus program but can receive the benefits of being a platinum member along with the points fund.
Sweet, who has captured the last four World of Outlaws championships, stated in the middle of December that he and the Kasey Kahne Racing team he drives for hadn’t made a final decision on their schedule.
“We’re still waiting on some clarity from the Outlaws as far as how are they’re counting the four additional races,” Sweet said. “If they’ll give us four extra that aren’t something we already had, I think that will help make our decision easier. We are looking at it from a business standpoint.
“There’s a million-to-win race (at Eldora Speedway before the Kings Royal weekend). Are they counting that as one or two or none? We just need a little more clarity to help.
“This is exactly the reason we’re in this position. The rumors swirl. There’s no transparency.”
A World Racing Group official stated in mid-January that the Capitani Classic at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, and the Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, were deemed to be grandfathered in and would not count against a driver or team in the Exclusivity Bonus program.