Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

There is potential for silly season to get really wild. Ever since High Limit was created the idea that Sweet could retire early and with the performance of the 49 team kinda going down and crew changes. I think it happens this year. I look for the new driver to be in the KKR 49 for WoO World Finals.

I have said before that Sweet is broke and he probably needs to get a real job.  Kahne better pull a rabbit out of a hat, because he is struggling financially also.

KKR is struggling, or Kahne is struggling?  Unless Kahne has the worst financial advisor in history, I think he is fine on a personal level.  He made money during the golden age of nascar earnings.  That doesn't mean KKR is rolling in the dough.  But I hope everyone realizes the difference.  Kinda like saying Hendrick is breaking even.  No, Hendrick Motorsports is breaking even.  (according to GM Jeff Gordon) Rick Hendrick is personally worth hundreds of millions of dollars.  

Sweet purchases Narc with Rudeen. Again, does Sweet retire after this?

With Axom leaving the KCP team does he have something else lined up? 

Where does Sheldon go? Sounds like the KCP team

Where does Eliason end up?

Donny?

Does Courtney end up back in the 7BC ride?

Bayston?

Pursley? 
Macri?

Keep It Real

I think the Sweet question has more to do with Napa & KKR. Once they leave, I am not sure how much KKR is willing to go searching for corporate sponsorship for racing for a full series. If they go off the road, I can see Sweet just doing a pick and choose type schedule versus a full on retirement. 

Dirt tracker Daily had said that the CMR/7BC ride was asking for resumes and the thought is that they could go to a 2 car team with Sunshine and Gio.

Have also hear the Sheldon to the 18 car as well although Eliason is going to be in it to finish out the year. 

17 car is still out there so it will be interesting to see who is tabbed to driver it. 

Plus there is the 14 Meyers car and I do not think anything has been made offical for 2026 yet for that car or if it will stay on tour. I thought it was said that they may sale or lease their franchise out if they decided to not go full time racing.

It makes sense long term for the 49 team to shut down/scale back and use that charter (assuming point fund is in escrow somewhere) to entice Quiring, JJR or Roth to go High Limit. The return of investment from $18m over 4 years or whatever they are promising simply won't be enough without a major set of moves from High Limit in the coming 2 years. That means team switches, track switches etc.

At the current 50 race per year clip, they would be budgeting $90k per race just to satisfy the charter point fund for 10 teams ($18m divided by 4 years and 50 races per year), that is before the race purse and all the other things that go along with a touring series. There needs to be massive growth (the sport is not likely to have another growth spurt so soon after this one) or they need to start taking what the WoO has, i.e. marquee events and teams.  

Im thinking Sweet scales back to a Pittman type schedule for "26 of only running the big events he hasn't won. As for KKR franchise I think they hire a young west coast guy Holmes, Montgomery to run full time and have 2 cars for the big shows. 

I'm not sure if it will be as soon as 2026 but I do look for Sweet to scale way back. Not for sure if KKR will have a full-time car or not. That is still TBA.

I've heard that Sunshine will indeed be back in the 7BC next season after he healsfrom his injuries and the STRONG rumor has Spire Motorsports helping Clauson-Marshall field another car for Gio next season on HL as a teammate to Courtney. Have heard that deal is all but done and will be announced soon.

Haudenschild to the KCP 18 is a very likely rumor too. It might surprise some as to what series that team will follow. 

I've also heard the Jason Meyers 14 team will scale back even more in 2026, only fielding a car for Corey Day when his schedule allows. He will run HL races and big money races.

To add a couple of rumors, not sure what happens with the CJB #5 car as Crouch has struggled mightily in that ride this season. Crouch does bring boatloads of funding with him but I could honestly see another hotshoe in that ride as well on the HL tour in 2026. Stay tuned....

Where Donny Schatz ends up is as good of a question as any. Not hearing any rumors on next year's plans. Could he run a car for his best buddy Jason Sides on the WoO tour next season with help from JVI? we shall see...

Proudly supports:

Logan Seavey, Corey Day and "Big Sexy" Brandon Overton

I thought Sweet was so broke he had to borrow lunch money.

Rumor for Axsom is he will go back to the Klaasmeyer/Petry #27 and run the full WoO schedule in 2026.

Not sure where where Cory Eliason ends up. 

Daison Pursley will be a name worth following to see IF he gets plucked from the Tom Buch #13. I've heard his name being mentioned going to the SJM #17. IF that happens, I'd presume he goes WoO racing. IF it does, who fills the TB #13 seat on HL? Ryan Timms? Eliason? Maybe Tanner Holmes?

It's shaping up to be a wild Silly Season this fall and winter no doubt!

Proudly supports:

Logan Seavey, Corey Day and "Big Sexy" Brandon Overton

Buch 13 open 

Just heard that Pursley is taking over the KKR 49 is a done deal 

Sweet going PT 

Sweet is already part time. Going from 90 shows to 50 and then only competing at 3/4 of those.

Rudeen is funding this operation, Sweet is only in it for the name; that is, no monetary investment.