‘Adapt or Die’: World of Outlaws Must Change

*The following is an opinion piece from the author on the World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing and not reflective of Cloud Media Company’s entire viewpoint*

EAGLE, Neb. — The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series’ refusal to acknowledge Kyle Larson’s upstart High Limit Racing is not just petty — it’s absurd. With half its drivers, including stars like Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, racing in both series, the Outlaws’ cold shoulder to High Limit is a disservice to fans and the sport. Last night’s $55,555-to-win Eagle Nationals, won by Kofoid, proved the two series can coexist and thrive. It’s time for the Outlaws to stop snubbing High Limit and collaborate to grow sprint car racing.

At Eagle Raceway on June 10, Kofoid, a World of Outlaws regular with Roth Motorsports, dominated the High Limit feature, fending off Corey Day and Anthony Macri to claim the richest one-day sprint car purse of 2025. Posts on X from @HighLimitRacing celebrated Kofoid’s win, noting his battle with Day and a single-file restart with five laps to go. Yet, the Outlaws’ coverage, while congratulating Kofoid, barely mentioned High Limit, treating it like a dirty word. This isn’t competition; it’s childish.

The overlap is undeniable. Drivers like Brad Sweet, a six-time Outlaws champion and High Limit co-founder, Kasey Kahne, and Rico Abreu seamlessly race both circuits. High Limit’s 60-race schedule dovetails with the Outlaws’ 90-night grind, with minimal clashes. Fans on X, like one user posting, “WoO and High Limit drivers racing together makes every event better,” crave this crossover. The Outlaws’ rule limiting full-time drivers to four non-WoO races for bonus points feels outdated when Kofoid can win big with High Limit one night and chase Outlaws points the next.

High Limit’s rise isn’t a threat — it’s a catalyst. Its $23,000-to-win purses dwarf the Outlaws’ standard $10,000, pushing both to raise stakes. The Outlaws have responded with bigger payouts and better safety, proof that rivalry sparks progress. Larson’s December 2024 merger proposal could unify schedules, creating a super-series to rival NASCAR’s mainstream pull, especially with better digital and television coverage than many of NASCAR’s current partners (looking at you, Fox).

Rico Abreu (24) takes the checkered flag to win the feature at the World of Outlaws sprint car event Friday, June 6, 2025, at the Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

Ignoring High Limit won’t make it disappear; it only dims the Outlaws’ shine and its overall standing with racing enthusiasts.

As the great Brad Pitt once said in a certain baseball movie…

Adapt or die.

Fans at Eagle didn’t care about series politics — they roared for Kofoid’s high-line heroics. The sport wins when David Gravel duels Sweet or Kofoid outruns Day, not when one series pretends the other doesn’t exist. The Outlaws, with 47 years of legacy, should lead the charge. Acknowledge High Limit’s drivers, promote joint events, and build a future where both thrive. The dirt’s ready — stop racing against each other and unite two incredible series for the better good of the sport.

Watch Corey Day’s massive Tuesday flip here.

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