MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The news hit earlier this week that Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet and the High Limit Racing Series have purchased the All Star Circuit of Champions from Tony Stewart.
While the transaction has been expected for some time, the confirmation creates more questions than answers. And, of course, all of that leads to speculation, which leads to rumors and untruths.
Don’t believe me? Check out some of the social media posts on this topic.
It remains to be seen if the new combined series will continue under the High Limit or All Star banner and it’s pretty clear it will operate as a competitor to the World of Outlaws, one of the most enduring brands in motorsports history.
More than likely some of the top World of Outlaws racers will gravitate to the Larson-Sweet led organization. Others will remain loyal to the World of Outlaws and we’ll go down a familiar path with two prominent sprint car series.
This previously occurred in 1989 with the United Sprint Ass’n and in 2006 with the National Sprint Tour. Both times (and for different reasons) the sport was reunited under the World of Outlaws banner the following season.
Things are a little different this time.
Dirt-track racing is at the height of its popularity and there may be room for two series, especially if somehow the best of the best still get together for the crown-jewel events.
That said, there’s more money involved this time with the emergence of streaming revenue. High Limit is aligned with FloRacing in streaming circles, while the World Racing Group owns both the World of Outlaws and DIRTVision, which streams its races.
Teams have clamored for years that they are not getting their share of the streaming revenue and no one (race track operators included) outside of the hierarchy of the streaming companies seems to know exactly how much money is generated from streaming races.
Distrust has always been part of the motorsports game and racers, track operators and fans are skeptical by nature.
Everyone wants their share and thinks someone else is getting more than they are.
Despite 45 years in the game, the World of Outlaws still lacks the trust of many of the sport’s stakeholders. It’s not an unfamiliar song in racing. NASCAR has been at the top of American motorsports for 75 years, but it still battles for the respect and trust of its racers and fan base.
Here’s where the High Limit group is in a unique situation.
The dirt-racing world as a whole has tremendous love, respect and trust in Kyle Larson. Sweet is also well-respected for his love of the sport and enthusiasm to get his hands dirty, and he also benefits from having Larson as his brother-in-law. Together, the two have a lot of clout with the fans and the racers.
Most truly believe Larson is “one of them” and he has their best interest at heart. Meanwhile, the World of Outlaws is seen as “The Man,” who has been holding them back for years. Whether or not that’s the case is open for debate.
Larson and Sweet maintain they have the best interest and the growth of the sport in mind. That’s great, and we’re in the middle (or is it the end?) of a tremendous growth curve for dirt racing, so the time is right to push the sport forward.
But does that mean World Racing Group and the World of Outlaws doesn’t have the best interest of the sport in mind? Afterall, this is the organization that has brought the sport to where it is today. No one can deny the steady growth of winged sprint car racing over the past 15 years, and it’s all happened under WRG leadership.
While the possibility remains the two organizations could play nice with each other, it seems unlikely. In the end, this is about money. While High Limit will look to sweeten the pot for its racers, the reaction by WRG will likely be to protect its turf.
Both sides will need to be careful along the way as the track operators and the fans will have an important role in how things play out. Lobbying, public relations and spin will be important.
It’s a familiar road and it will be interesting to see over the coming weeks, who turns right and who turns left.