David Gravel will stay on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series tour next season.
The driver of the No. 2 Big Game Motorsports sprint car made the announcement on his YouTube channel on Thursday night while discussing whether he would return to the Outlaws or venture to High Limit Racing.
“I felt like there’s a lot of good options next year, a lot of unprecedented options,” Gravel said. “It’s a tough decision, but I feel like you’ve got to do what’s best for you and run the series that you think gives you the best opportunity make a living and that fits your mold.”
The 31-year-old made it clear that the most important goal on his list — and the lead objective for Big Game Motorsports team owner Tod Quiring — is to win a World of Outlaws championship. Gravel has finished second in the standings the last three years.
“It’s a very prestigious thing, and I think right now, it’s where we want to be,” Gravel said. “Obviously Brad (Sweet) and Kyle (Larson) are building something really big, and I think it is going to be a competitor to the Outlaws, but they still have a lot to prove.”
Five-time Outlaw champion Sweet and two-time Knoxville Nationals winner Kyle Larson co-own High Limit Racing.
Meanwhile, Gravel has dedicated 10 years to running the World of Outlaws full time, and he still has a personal stake in his future on the tour. In addition to winning a championship, Gravel wants to reach 100 wins. He currently has 88.
“We’re committed to the World of Outlaws right now. I feel like we have a great nucleus of drivers, whether Brad (Sweet) is there or not,” Gravel said. “I still have stuff to prove.”
According to the Connecticut native, overall travel, trips to the West Coast and time off were three items that also factored into his decision.
“The Outlaws have changed their schedule a little bit this year. With no more All Stars, the High Limit schedule it going to be super unorthodox and nothing that we’ve seen yet,” Gravel said.
However, Gravel also mentioned that he’s interested in seeing what Sweet and Larson are able to do with High Limit Racing in the next year or so, and how it will affect sprint car racing as a whole.
“He (Sweet) has promoted events, has his own race track — it’s a very unique opportunity, and for him, a no-brainer in the business department. You can’t blame Brad for what he’s doing, but it’s going to be a weird year,” Gravel said. “Obviously, drivers and teams will be split up. The High Limit series will be in places the Outlaws used to be.
“I’m really interested in seeing the High Limit schedule, because we’ve obviously got our four freebies. So we’re going see where those land for us. Obviously we want to chase the most money possible.”
The World of Outlaws allows full-time drivers to compete in four non-Outlaw events with no restrictions, provided that those races are outside 48 hours or a 100-mile radius before or after a World of Outlaws event.
On his YouTube livestream, Gravel also announced that he will race the Chili Bowl Nationals in January for RMS Racing.
He did not race the Chili Bowl this year.