Kyle Larson Claims $100,000 Victory at the High Limit Invitational in Perth
Kyle Larson finally captured his first Sprint Car win in Australia at the High Limit Invitational, held at the Perth Motorplex in Western Australia. The victory was particularly sweet for Larson, as it came with a hefty $100,000 payout, approximately $61,000 in USD, marking the largest prize in Australian Sprint Car history.
Larson’s journey to the top wasn’t without its obstacles. On the second preliminary night, while leading the race, he made an error that cost him an automatic entry into the pole dash for the main event. “We had a great shot to win last night and I messed up,” Larson admitted, referring to the incident where he hit the wall while leading. Despite this setback, Larson bounced back in the heat races, starting from the pole in Heat 1 and winning the race. He then methodically worked his way through the top five positions in the main event, ultimately outdueling Australia’s James McFadden, who had swept both preliminary nights.
Reflecting on his victory, Larson said, “I felt like I needed to rebound tonight and get these guys a win because they deserved it.” Larson was driving for Australian team owner Jason Pryde, with a crew that included his longtime friend and crew chief, Trevor Canales. “Jason Pryde has great equipment,” Larson noted, adding that working with Canales made it easier to adjust to the new environment and fast track conditions.
McFadden, who had been a strong contender throughout the event, finished second after Larson passed him in the race. The Australian driver explained, “That lap car drove back by me and it stuffed my whole momentum.” McFadden admitted that he lost his rhythm, especially when the track got rough. “Kyle got by me, and at that point, he was gone,” McFadden said. Despite not winning, McFadden remained positive about the weekend, saying, “It’s nothing to hang our heads about.”
The High Limit Invitational marked the inaugural overseas event for the series, co-owned by Larson, Brad Sweet, and FloRacing. Sweet, who also raced in the event, expressed his satisfaction with how everything unfolded. “Pretty epic for an inaugural event,” Sweet said. “The fans really showed up, and the racing was phenomenal.” The event’s success is expected to boost the profile of Sprint Car racing in Australia and attract more international attention in the future.
Looking ahead, Sweet hopes the event will continue to grow, with plans for an even larger payout next year. “We want to get more star power down here,” Sweet said. The winner’s prize will increase to $110,000 in 2026, signaling the event’s potential to become a major fixture in international Sprint Car racing.
