After two nights of rain delays, High Limit Sprint Car Racing finally kicked off its 2025 season at the Las Vegas Dirt Track on Saturday night. The long-awaited season opener didn’t disappoint, delivering intense battles, tire issues, and a dramatic finish that saw Corey Day take home the $25,000 payday.
Qualifying & Heat Races
Daryn Pittman, filling in for Christopher Bell, topped Group B and the overall charts with a 14.234-second lap. In Group A, Kyle Larson set the pace with a 14.286.
The heat races went mostly to plan, with pole sitters dominating:
• Rico Abreu took Heat 1 from pole.
• Austin McCarl won Heat 2 after leading flag to flag.
• Tyler Courtney controlled Heat 3 from the front row.
• Brian Brown was the only exception, grabbing Heat 4 after passing Brad Sweet from second.
Dash Drama & a Scary Moment
The Dash inversion set up an interesting lineup, but Daryn Pittman quickly took advantage, winning after starting second. Corey Day moved from third to second, while Austin McCarl, who started on pole, settled for third.
However, the biggest moment came with Aaron Reutzel, who was running well until a rock or dirt clod flew through his visor, forcing him out of the race and into an ambulance. Thankfully, he was okay, but it was a sign of the track’s rough conditions that would continue to play a role all night.
A Feature Chaos: Cautions, Carnage, and Fuel Drama
The Kubota A-Main was filled with non-stop action, spanning nearly 70 laps instead of the scheduled 30 due to constant cautions. The track’s loose dirt and scattered rocks shredded tires and damaged cars, leading to an attrition-heavy race.
Daryn Pittman looked dominant, leading most of the event from the pole. However, with five laps to go, fuel became a major issue—Pittman and nearly half the field ran out of gas. High Limit officials made the rare call to throw a caution to allow teams to refuel, but Pittman never made it back out, ending what had been a stellar run.
With Pittman out, Corey Day, who had battled both Kyle Larson and Rico Abreu throughout the race, took command and held on through the final laps to secure his biggest win yet.
Final Results & Notable Runs
• 1st – Corey Day (Started 2nd) – Held off a fierce charge for his first High Limit victory of 2025.
• 2nd – Kyle Larson (Started 4th) – Battled for the lead but ultimately settled for runner-up.
• 3rd – Brad Sweet (Started 11th) – Came alive late, nearly stealing second from Larson.
• 4th – Tyler Courtney (Started 5th) – Strong, consistent run near the front.
• 5th – Brady Bacon (Started 10th) – Solid drive into the top five.
• 7th – Justin Peck (Started 22nd) – Hard charger of the night, gaining 15 positions.
• 9th – Dominic Scelzi (Started 19th) – Another strong climb through the field.
• 16th – Chase Randall (Started 26th) – Took a provisional and made a decent run forward.
Final Thoughts
As a fan, it was an exciting way to start the season, especially with Corey Day outdueling some of the biggest names in sprint car racing. However, the track conditions were rough, with rocks causing damaged tires, broken cars, and even injuries. Hopefully, this isn’t a recurring issue throughout the season.
Seeing Daryn Pittman back behind the wheel was a great moment, and he proved he still has speed, but the fuel miscalculation cost him what could have been a huge win. Meanwhile, Brad Sweet picking up early points is a familiar sight, setting the stage for another potential championship run.
Overall, the 2025 High Limit season opener had everything—chaos, drama, and a young driver proving he belongs at the top. Next up, the series moves forward, into Tulare, California, with drivers looking to build momentum and teams hoping for cleaner racing conditions.
