Silly season for sprint cars started pretty early this year, with Gio Scelzi abruptly leaving the #18 KCP ride, Donny Schatz getting let go from the #15 TSR ride, Kasey Kahne parking the KKR #9, Sheldon Haudenschild announcing his departure from the #17 SMR ride, Rico Abreu joining TSR, and SMR firing several crew members the day after the team won the National Open at Williams Grove. Along with an unusually high number of drivers being injured and knocked out of competition in July and August.
To continue this on, in the last few days Brad Sweet announced his retirement from full time driving, and SMR tabbed Spencer Bayston to drive the #17 with NOS sponsorship continuing. And Haudenschild is rumored to be all but sewn up to drive the KCP car.
And i am sure there will be more to come... where (if anywhere) will Schatz touch down? Who will Jason Meyers tab to drive the #14? What is the fate of Kasey Kahne Racing?
Stay tuned if you care and this type of stuff interests you, i will update as things get announced.
Even though their performance had fallen off, the whole Schatz TSR thing surprised me quite a bit. Then TSR and Rico partnered up. Didn't really see that happening as I thought Rico liked doing his own thing. Didn't he win the High Limit Championship as a driver and as a car owner?
It is not only the sprints. Super latemodels changing drivers along with the big block mods. Silly season starts we will see who shows up in Florida driving for who.
Quote from: Volzfan59 on October 20, 2025, 10:39:11 PMEven though their performance had fallen off, the whole Schatz TSR thing surprised me quite a bit. Then TSR and Rico partnered up. Didn't really see that happening as I thought Rico liked doing his own thing. Didn't he win the High Limit Championship as a driver and as a car owner?
He did.
I can't see him getting any worse combining resources with TSR.
Quote from: 18degrees on October 21, 2025, 12:20:24 PMQuote from: Volzfan59 on October 20, 2025, 10:39:11 PMEven though their performance had fallen off, the whole Schatz TSR thing surprised me quite a bit. Then TSR and Rico partnered up. Didn't really see that happening as I thought Rico liked doing his own thing. Didn't he win the High Limit Championship as a driver and as a car owner?
He did.
I can't see him getting any worse combining resources with TSR.
Me either. Rico's going to be an even bigger force to be reckoned with in 2026.
I read that Rico still has his "say" even though he's joining with TSR. Joining being the key word. Business speak so sometimes tough to understand exactly what they mean.
Newest piece of news is that Daison Pursley is tabbed to drive the KKR #9 with NAPA sponsorship. It was a pretty poorly kept secret. Not sure who is going to drive the #13 he drove this year in High Limit, haven't heard any rumors about that.
Pursley is confirmed for High Limit again this year, as expected, and sounds like the #49 will be dusted off and ran when Brad Sweet feels like it.
I saw the Pursley news on the Dirt Tracker Daily podcast. He mentioned the 13 car and threw out a few names but I don't remember who they were. Maybe he'll touch on it again today.
Looks like Gio Scelzi will be running a sprint car owned by Spire Motorsports. Same Spire that has two or three teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, a C.A.R.S Tour asphalt late model team and at least one dirt late model for Carson Holcevar (sp?) to race at the dome.
Quote from: Volzfan59 on October 29, 2025, 12:35:15 PMLooks like Gio Scelzi will be running a sprint car owned by Spire Motorsports. Same Spire that has two or three teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, a C.A.R.S Tour asphalt late model team and at least one dirt late model for Carson Holcevar (sp?) to race at the dome.
Hocevar ;)
Spire has had some sort of relationship with Spire for a little while now, the name has been on the front wing of the 7BC for a while now.
Quote from: Volzfan59 on October 29, 2025, 10:02:24 AMI saw the Pursley news on the Dirt Tracker Daily podcast. He mentioned the 13 car and threw out a few names but I don't remember who they were. Maybe he'll touch on it again today.
Today it was announced that Tanner Holmes is gonna drive the 13 starting with the World Finals in Charlotte and likely following High Limit full time in 2026.
This is good news, Holmes is a stud behind the wheel.
Quote from: Volzfan59 on October 29, 2025, 12:35:15 PMLooks like Gio Scelzi will be running a sprint car owned by Spire Motorsports. Same Spire that has two or three teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, a C.A.R.S Tour asphalt late model team and at least one dirt late model for Carson Holcevar (sp?) to race at the dome.
High Limit announced their advanced payout system and the cars guaranteed spots- their top 10- and Jason Meyers sold his to Spire/CMR. So that should shore things up for a second 7bc car for Scelzi, but it makes me scratch my head about Meyers' team and racing plans for 2026.
Dave, What's the deal with David Gravel (sp?)? I was watching Dirt Tracker live the other day while eating lunch, they said that some fans are turning on him. Never really said why. Is it just jealousy?
Quote from: Volzfan59 on November 14, 2025, 05:20:49 PMDave, What's the deal with David Gravel (sp?)? I was watching Dirt Tracker live the other day while eating lunch, they said that some fans are turning on him. Never really said why. Is it just jealousy?
It's likely a combination of things. He doesn't seem to be the most likable driver out there... earlier this year at Eldora he got pissed at Larson for racing him hard for a position, said something about "why did he race me like that, he knows i do this for a living". Stuff like that. Plus his level of consistency over the last 2 seasons can put people off. Personally i don't like to see domination, and i've seen Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser, Donny Schatz, Brad Sweet and now Gravel. You also have his detractors that say the only reason he won the last 2 titles is because Sweet didn't run against him every night.
Personally i don't care for him but appreciate his skill behind the wheel. Like all the drivers i mentioned who i witnessed dominating the series.