News in the world of sprint car racing

[18degrees]

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.

[Volzfan59]

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?

[racecar dave]

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.

[18degrees]

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?

He did.

I can't see him getting any worse combining resources with TSR.

[Volzfan59]

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?

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.

[TonyK]

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.

[18degrees]

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.

[Volzfan59]

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.

[Volzfan59]

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.

[18degrees]

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.

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.