“It’s quite a bit different than NASCAR, obviously.” Kyle Larson said these words about High Limit Racing, a sprint car racing series that he co-owns. Well, of course, you can easily observe the differences. Contrary to NASCAR’s heavy stock cars taking left turns on oval tracks, HLR’s high-powered, open-wheel cars rip around dirt tracks while going sideways. Yet Larson is widening the existing rift.

NASCAR is in the midst of a lawsuit against Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Last year, the team co-owned by the NBA legend, 23XI Racing, along with Front Row Motorsports, took the sport to court over its ‘monopolistic’ charter system. So, as Kyle Larson implemented a similar system, he also took care to change its external look.

Kyle Larson takes note of current affairs

Fairly speaking, NASCAR’s reputation has taken a rap recently. In September 2024, the sport’s executives released a time-constrained charter deal – and two race teams refused to sign it. Michael Jordan led this twin-team delegation in the courtroom thereafter. Despite initial hurdles, both 23XI Racing and FRM were granted security for the 2025 Cup Series season while pursuing their lawsuit. Since the law has so far tilted in Jordan’s favor, the general public raised their eyebrows at NASCAR. Kyle Larson took note of that, as he has his own racing series’ reputation to manage.

Started in 2022, Kubota High Limit Racing has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. The progress is visible – from 11 races in 2023, HLR will host 61 races in the 2025 season. Full-time sprint car stars like co-owner Brad Sweet, Tanner Thorson, Rico Abreu, and Tyler Courtney will battle it out on 15 new racetracks. As HLR has grown, so has its format. Kyle Larson recently unveiled a ‘franchise system’ – as opposed to NASCAR’s ‘charter system’ – to accommodate the blooming potential of his sport.

Journalist Adam Stern updated on X: “@HighLimitRacing is announcing details about its charter system, which it is now calling a “franchise system” amid NASCAR’s anti-trust lawsuit. 🔲 High Limit will start with 10 franchises, which will be permanent and compete for around $18 million in total from ’26 through ’29.” High Limit Racing will distribute up to $18 million in total value over the next four years. Starting in 2026, the prize will be $3.9 million. This would shoot up to a little over $5 million by 2029.

According to HLR’s website, the purpose of this endeavor is to “create a sustainable business model for its race teams.” The article also specified the manner in which Kyle Larson’s series will award the first ‘franchises’ to race teams. “As the five-highest finishers in the 2024 championship standings, the first five franchises currently belong to Kasey Kahne Racing (No. 49), Clauson-Marshall Racing (No. 7BC), Rico Abreu Racing (No. 24), Roth Motorsports (No. 83), and Murray-Marks Motorsports (No. 19). Five more franchises will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2025 Kubota High Limit Racing season.”

With the term ‘franchise’, Kyle Larson is taking care to deviate from NASCAR’s line of thought. And he is matching his series’ growth with an onslaught of NASCAR stars.

Drawing from NASCAR’s star-studded grid

NASCAR’s charter system may not be attractive for Kyle Larson. However, the sport’s talented drivers certainly are for the HLR co-owner. The Sprint Car Series will kick off its 2025 schedule this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The winner in Thursday’s opener will get a $10,000 paycheck, while the victory on Saturday will land a whopping $25,000. Accordingly, Larson has attracted some big names from the NASCAR Cup Series.

That roster includes Christopher Bell, who stunned us all last week with a three-peat victory, a feat unheard of in the Next-Gen era. What’s more?, Bell has locked heads with Kyle Larson in dirt racing several times – both now own three Chili Bowl wins each. Bell’s teammate, Ty Gibbs, will also make his sprint car racing debut as part of his expanded dirt schedule for 2025, which started with the Chili Bowl Nationals in January.

Clearly, things are falling into place for High Limit Racing, as its growth seems boundless. Kyle Larson puts that on the tireless efforts of his brother-in-law and co-owner of HLR, Brad Sweet. “Honestly, building the schedule, I would say is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, thing to do with having a series. Brad Sweet, that’s pretty much his thing. He’s worked really, really hard on it the past two years. It’s been tough because there are already so many big races already in place. So, you’re kinda trying to logistically work around all of that.”

Kyle Larson’s series is rising without any ‘High Limits’. As his series soars, Larson also proved that he can do it without taking inspiration from NASCAR, as the lawsuit continues to simmer across the Cup Series grid.