Kyle Larson warns against NASCAR-style playoffs creeping into High Limit Racing: “Fans don’t have to worry about that”

Kyle Larson remains steadfast in avoiding a NASCAR-style playoff format for High Limit Racing. On the latest episode of High Limit Room, Larson admitted that the winner-take-all format is 'not the fairest way' to go racing.

HLR recently concluded its season with a new title-winner in Rico Abreu. The 33-year-old had a dominant 13-win season, including a win in the finale at Texas Motor Speedway.

The triumph placed his team, Rico Abreu Racing, in the top spot of HLR's new franchise model. The charter-like system was introduced earlier this year, where the top-5 teams from 2024 form the initial takers, while the remaining five are decided by their average finishes in 2024 and 2025. The ten teams will have a share in the $18 million payout over four years, starting from 2026.

With the system having similarities to NASCAR's charter system, Larson was asked about a potential transition into a playoff format.

"I would hope, and I’m pretty certain, that will never happen in sprint car racing. Like, even the late model playoff that they have, I think, is better than what we have in NASCAR, but still it’s not like, I don’t know. It’s not fair. Or not the fairest way. To me, it doesn’t even really add that much excitement at all to a dirt season," Kyle Larson said(via On3.com) “So, no. No, there will be no playoff or winner-take-all sort of thing. Hopefully, I think, even in NASCAR, I hope we’re done with the winner-take-all, it sounds like. So, yeah, fans don’t have to worry about that. I don’t want to keep going on because I’ll get myself in trouble talking,” he added.

Kyle Larson's HLR co-owner, Brad Sweet, finished second in the 2025 driver standings. Sweet won the title in 2024, while Larson claimed the inaugural season in 2023.

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"It's not way different": Kyle Larson sceptical of NASCAR's horsepower bump in 2026

NASCAR is slated for a horsepower increase to 750 hp in 2026. It's a noticeable bump from the current baseline of 670 hp. However, Kyle Larson believes it doesn't make much of a difference.

"I hope you (media) guys don't promote the sh*t out of it like it's going to fix everything, because it's not way different," Larson said in an interview with The Athletic's Jeff Gluck.

The new rule is scheduled only for road courses and ovals under 1.5 miles. If the project produces a valuable outcome, NASCAR will consider extending it to 1.5-mile tracks as well.

Nonetheless, Larson isn't the only sceptic around. Dale Earnhardt Jr. also claims there won't be a 'major difference' to the racing product. He did say that a double-header with 750 hp may prove him wrong.

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Edited by Vignesh Kanna