Riverside International Speedway hosted the Kubota High Limit Racing series on Tuesday night, April 23. High Limit is a mid-week 410 winged Sprint Car racing series co-owned by five-time World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet and NASCAR champion Kyle Larson.
The exciting High Limit format has quickly gained popularity in the dirt racing world, with many WoO regulars participating. The event paid $20,000 to win. Riverside celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year, which made it a perfect place to showcase the High Limit series to the masses on FloRacing.
Unique Track for a Unique Event
Riverside International Speedway, aka “The Ditch,” was opened by C.L. Montgomery on June 10, 1950, as a venue for Midget racing. It is a quarter-mile, banked-turn dirt oval with concrete walls and a gumbo surface located in West Memphis, Arkansas, just over the Hernando Desoto or Harahan bridges from Memphis.
Now owned by Clayton and Sherry Allen, Riverside International Speedway is the oldest track in the Mid-South and one of the oldest in the nation. It may even boast the longest continuous streak of never missing a racing season for its 75 years of existence. For this reason, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The track record is 11.07 seconds, set back in 2007 by Jason Solwold.
Some of the big Sprint car names who got their start or became Riverside legends include Sammy Swindell, Bobby Davis Jr., Hooker Hood, Greg Hodnett, Jason Sides, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Tim Crawley, and Eddie Gallagher, just to name a few. Meanwhile, a few others call Riverside home who are making a bid to add their names to that list, such as Derek Hagar, Keith Hainsworth, Brian Bell, Landon Crawley, and Chase Howard.
Riverside Gumbo
Gumbo tracks are typically made up of a mixture of clay, silt, and other fine particles, which can vary in composition depending on the specific location and the materials available. When properly prepared and maintained, a gumbo track offers excellent traction and grip for racing vehicles, allowing drivers to maintain higher speeds and execute more aggressive maneuvers.
However, the sticky nature of gumbo tracks can also pose challenges for drivers, particularly as the surface becomes wet or deteriorates throughout the night. Wet gumbo can become extremely slick to the point it can be challenging to walk on. It is also prone to rutting, making it difficult for drivers to navigate the track effectively.
What really makes The Ditch different from most gumbo tracks is the makeup of its gumbo surface and how it interacts with the nearby Mississippi River. Riverside gumbo has a high concentration of clay, almost 37%, compared to most tracks, which typically have 22 to 27%.
Riverside is heavily influenced by the river, especially when it is high. The pressure created by the river pushes the water table closer to the surface. Add in the humidity in the Mid-South, and the track can change significantly from hot laps to features. With a rising river like there was this week, the High Limit race on Tuesday Night showcased just how temperamental the Riverside gumbo can be.
The Power of Kyle Larson
Anyone who doubts the star power of Kyle Larson is someone who doesn’t know racing. Watch the High Limit series or “The Greatest Dirt Tack Season Ever” on FloRacing, and you’ll get a slight idea. The talented driver endeared himself to the dirt racing world in 2020 when he returned to his roots in dirt after facing an indefinite suspension from NASCAR and being released by Ganassi Racing. Larson owned up to his mistake and did a lot of growing up that year, but he also showed the world how talented he truly was behind the wheel. Quite simply, he dominated whenever he stepped into a dirt car.
Upon NASCAR reinstatement in 2021 with the help of Hendrick Motorsports, Larson immediately proved himself to the NASCAR faithful by claiming his first championship in his first year back with the series. No doubt, Larson is the most versatile racing driver of this generation. Will he be the next Mario, A.J., or Parnelli?
With Rick Hendrick in his corner, he is afforded every opportunity to stake his claim to that title, including the ability to continue racing outside of NASCAR and a chance to compete in the Indianapolis 500 this year. Only time will tell if he will become the best ever, but he is well on his way, and dirt enthusiasts recognize his genuine love of their form of racing.
Arrival at The Ditch
We arrived at Riverside around 4:30 p.m. for the 6:00 p.m. High Limit start time. Though The Ditch has a rabid, dedicated following, you would never see the parking lot filling as quickly as it did, especially on a Tuesday night. Even track owner Clayton was out on the entry road pleading with patrons to park as tightly as possible, recognizing the influx (or crush) of cars flowing into the park. One-and-a-half hours away from hot laps, and parking was already halfway full.
As I walked through the High Limit merchandise trailers on my way to the ticket booth, they were doing a healthy business. Each of the five ticket lines was 25-30 people deep but moved relatively quickly. Once inside, it was wall-to-wall people under the grandstands, either mingling with friends or waiting for concessions.
It was a similar story in the pits. Remember, this was an hour and a half before the show actually started. Crew members were busy prepping the cars for battle as spectators scrambled to get pictures. Drivers greeted fans and signed autographs before their mandatory driver’s meeting. There was even a pit monkey (no kidding!).
High Limit Hot Laps And Qualifying
As High Limit hot laps quickly approached, we scrambled to find a good spot in general admission four rows from the top, right in the middle of the backstretch. The first few hot lap sessions were essentially glorified wheel-packing for quite a few laps. It was a greasy mess until it started drying out. As hot laps began, the times slowly sped up in time for qualifying.
Time Trial Qualifying for the High Limit series is conducted by a pill draw before the driver’s meeting, so start times are the luck of the draw. Two cars go on track simultaneously for two consecutive timed laps, and it’s exciting! The first car comes out on the track in Turn 4. When that car hits the end of the straightaway, the other car follows, so they have plenty of clear track. The clock starts as soon as the first car comes over the line.
It can be like watching a tennis match trying to keep up with two cars on track at opposite ends of the track while also checking the scoreboard to see the lap times. It is fast and furious. As soon as those two go off in Turn 3, the next two are already entering in Turn 4. It is an extremely efficient way to conduct time trials. At the end of qualifying, Brad Sweet stood in pole position with an 11.266 lap, and Corey Day was a tenth behind with an 11.379 lap. Local Brian Bell took Third with an 11.512 lap.
Heat Races
High Limit heat races are eight laps and are used to set the field for the features. The top 2 get a shot at the Dash to determine their starting positions within the first four rows of the A-main. Positions 3 through 5 occupy rows 5 through 10. Everyone else goes to the B Feature, where the top 4 transfer to the back of the field in the A Feature.
High Limit Heat 1
In TJ Forged Heat 1, Tim Crawley from Benton, Arkansas, came out of retirement for this race and walked away the winner. Brent Marks moved up from P4 to finish in Second, while Chris Windom started Third and ended there. Brenham Crouch and local Derek Hagar rounded out the transfer positions.
High Limit Heat 2
In DMI Heat 2, fan-favorite Kyle Larson started on the pole and took the top spot, with Cole Macedo giving chase. “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney moved up one position to round out the top three. Local Dale Howard moved up two spots to take Fourth, leaving ex-NASCAR standout Casey Kahne as the last transfer.
High Limit Heat 3
In BR Motorsports Heat 3, local racer Brian Bell started on the pole and looked very racy but couldn’t hold off Spencer Bayston for the top spot. We missed why Brad Sweet started Fourth after his top qualifying time, but he also finished there, with Cap Henry starting and staying in Third. Cory Eliason nipped ahead of Zeb Wise for the final transfer spot.
High Limit Heat 4
In Winters Performance Heat 4, Tanner Thorsen looked very strong finishing First, while local(ish) phenom Landon Crawley swapped places with James McFadden to finish Second and Third, respectively. Corey Day started Fourth and finished there, while local Howard Moore jumped up a position to claim the final transfer.
The Dash
The Dash was a seven-lap affair that set the starting positions for the top eight cars in the A feature. Starting positions for The Dash were determined by a Wheel of Fortune-type wheel spin. When they hit the track, the top four finished in their starting positions, with Corey Day taking the pole, Tyler Courtney outside pole, Brad Sweet in Third, and Tanner Thorsen Fourth. Tim Crawley started Fifth but spun in Turn 4. Spencer Bayston moved up a spot to take his place to finish Fifth, while Kyle Larson moved up from Eighth to Sixth, and Brent Marks stayed in Seventh.
So the top eight for the 35-lap feature was set with Corey Day on the pole, “Sunshine” on the outside, Brad Sweet and Tanner Thorsen in row 2, Spencer Bayston and Kyle Larson in row 3, and Brent Marks and Tim Crawley in row 4.
High Limit B Feature
The B feature was 12 laps, with the top 4 transferring to the A Feature. High Rollers Brady Bacon and Zeb Wise started on the front row. Jacob Allen and local Ernie Ainsworth made up the second row. Some High Rollers found themselves in the B Main with an uphill battle to make the show, including Rico Abreau, Parker Price-Miller, and Justin Peck.
At the drop of the green flag, Bacon’s right rear made contact with Wise’s left front, and around went Zeb, breaking the front suspension. He would need to use a provisional for the A Feature. Locals Sammy Swindell and Chase Howard had car trouble and dropped out after a couple of laps, while Bacon ran away with it. In a 360, Ainsworth couldn’t stay in the top 4 and dropped to Seventh. Meanwhile, Ayden Gatewood and Kevin Newton ended up Third and Fourth behind Jacob Allen to transfer. Four High Rollers had to use a provisional for the A Feature, including Wise, Peck, Abreu, and Price-Miller. That meant 28 cars would be on track for the big race!
High Limit A Feature
The Kubota High Limit A Feature saw hotshoe Corey Day on the pole, with Tyler Courtney outside of him. Brad Sweet and Tanner Thorsen made up row 2, and Spencer Bayston and Kyle Larson were in row 3. Tim Crawley (P8) and Brian Bell (P10) were the top two local starters.
Unfortunately, it would not be a good night for either of those two men. Crawley tore down the fence in Turn 1 on lap 2 but was unhurt. A few laps later, Brian Bell was able to walk away from a similar crash after leaving the ballpark in Turn 3 in a similar crash. Derek Hagar was the top finishing local in Tenth.
Corey Day matched his strong performance from the previous High Limit race, taking the checkered. However, it wasn’t easy; Thorsen, Courtney, and Sweet hounded him. Larson charged up to Third from Sixth, running the high line, but climbed the wall and flipped with 14 laps to go.
Day looked impressive, holding off all comers. Meanwhile, Thorsen is turning things around after finishing a close Second. Courtney held on for Third.
Call It A Night
It was a terrific night at Riverside International Speedway for the High Limit Racing series that almost didn’t happen. This was a rescheduled event from a rainout just two weeks prior. Fans didn’t care as they filled the stands of the historic track. It was a great way to celebrate its 75th anniversary, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Support your local track, friends!!
