TULARE, Calif. — With Las Vegas within the rear-view mirror, Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing went southbound on Interstate 15 and set their sights on California this week – bringing three reveals to 3 completely different tracks over 4 days.
All of it begins Wednesday, March 19 with a return to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway, the place Kyle Larson topped Brad Candy and Rico Abreu in a wild one when the collection debuted on the observe again in August. After that, a pair of first-time tracks take heart stage on the weekend with Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway donning a brand new configuration on Friday, March 21 after which then “Southern California Residence of Main League Dash Automobile Racing, Perris Auto Speedway, internet hosting a race on Saturday, March 22.
This marks the primary of two journeys to California this 12 months with a summer season swing following the Knoxville Nationals bringing groups out for races at Tulare and Placerville Speedway after which the historic 71st working of the Gold Cup Race of Champions, a $100,071-to-win extravaganza at Chico’s Silver Greenback Speedway on Aug. 21-23.
After an eccentric season opener in “The Leisure Capital of the World,” let’s have a look at what’s on the desk as we go to “The Golden State” this week:
THE HENDRICK BOYS
Corey Day and Kyle Larson – who’re mentor and prodigy on the pavement aspect of the game at Hendrick Motorsports – are fierce opponents after they come to have enjoyable on the filth. After ending 1-2 with Day besting Larson within the season-opener at Las Vegas, the 2 stars are set to race of their dwelling state for one evening solely this week when Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing rolls into Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway on Wednesday.
The always-electric Thunderbowl is a private favourite for each the 19-year-old child from Clovis, California, Day, and the 32-year-old native of Elk Grove, California, Larson. Every have triumphed a number of occasions in Tulare and each names ceaselessly reside on the historic listing of Trophy Cup champions.
As issues stand proper now on the Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing all-time wins listing, Day owns eight-career victories in his Jason Meyers Racing No. 14BC with Larson proper on his tail at seven scores in his Silva Motorsports No. 57.
DE FACTO POINTS
With Corey Day and Kyle Larson not on the full-time path, the de facto level lead belongs to the reigning Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing champions, the Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Elements No. 49 workforce. After failing to make the Sprint, Brad Candy did what he does higher than nearly anybody within the nation, salvaging his evening, with an Eleventh-to-third run to land on the rostrum.
Shortly behind the KKR camp in factors after the opening evening is the Clauson-Marshall Racing No. 7BC pushed by Tyler Courney (-3 factors), the Rudeen Racing No. 26 pushed by Justin Peck (-9 factors), the Murray-Marks Motorsports No. 19 pushed by Brent Marks (-11 factors), and Rico Abreu’s No. 24 (-15 factors).
Within the Rayce Rudeen Basis Rookie of the 12 months chase, Floridian Danny Sams III jumped out to the early benefit forward of Texan Chase Randall (-2 factors), Oklahoman Daison Pursley (-4 factors), and Pennsylvanian Sye Lynch (-12 factors).
NEW TRACKS ON TOUR
Whereas Tulare is kind of acquainted to nearly all opponents on Wednesday – solely rookies Danny Sams III and Sye Lynch have by no means raced the Thunderbowl earlier than – the weekend will probably be a complete completely different story. Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway and Perris Auto Speedway would be the second and third of 15 venues internet hosting their first-ever Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing occasion in 2025.
Friday’s cease on the newly minted Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway gives probably the most newness with solely 4 of the 14 Excessive Rollers having ever competed on property, these being Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney, Spencer Bayston, and Tanner Thorson. The ability has hosted a number of NARC 410 Dash Automobile Sequence occasions over the previous few years with notable winners together with Tim Kaeding, Corey Day, Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi, and Cory Eliason.
On Saturday, “The PAS” – Perris Auto Speedway – welcomes Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing for the primary time. An iconic observe for non-wing racers, this southern California half-mile is not any stranger to wings having held 22 World of Outlaws occasions since 1996. Excessive Rollers Aaron Reutzel, with the Outlaws, and Tanner Thorson, on the 2015 Turkey Night time Grand Prix with the USAC Nationwide Midgets, are each earlier winners at Perris. Solely six full-timers will probably be chopping their first laps at Perris with all 4 rookies (Danny Sams III, Chase Randall, Daison Pursley, Sye Lynch) becoming a member of Brenham Crouch and Justin Peck in making their PAS debut.
CALI CLIQUE
Virtually 40 Dash Automobiles are anticipated on Wednesday at Tulare and we must always see one other 30-plus come Friday at Kern and Saturday at Perris, which means the stout, homegrown California locals can have loads of probabilities to earn a nationwide win in opposition to Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing.
One of the vital notable locals is Aromas, California’s Justin Sanders, who’s tied with Spencer Bayston for probably the most podiums (5) in Excessive Restrict historical past and not using a win. Aboard the Demo Mittry No. 2X, the reigning NARC 410 champion has three probabilities this week to lastly put that stat away and declare his first-career win in opposition to a nationwide collection.
Whenever you discuss Californians anticipated to contend in opposition to the nationwide stars, you could point out Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi and Fremont’s Shane Golobic. Past them, it’s nonetheless a protracted, lengthy listing of names price mentioning together with Tim Kaeding, Landon Brooks, Dominic Gorden, D.J. Netto, Dylan Bloomfield, Ryan Bernal, Tanner Holmes within the Tarlton automotive, Kaleb Montgomery, Likelihood Grasty and extra.
FIGHTING FOR A FRANCHISE
In a landmark announcement final Thursday, Kubota Excessive Restrict Racing unveiled a Franchise System which can go into impact in 2026 and pay race groups as much as $18 million over 4 seasons. Resulting from their championship end in 2024, Kasey Kahne Racing (No. 49), Clauson-Marshall Racing (No. 7BC), Rico Abreu Racing (No. 24), and Murray-Marks Motorsports (No. 19) have already earned the primary 4 of 10 franchises.
Which means in 2025, seven returning groups will battle for the following six franchises. Within the hunt for these priceless six spots is Jason Meyers Racing (No. 14), Buch Motorsports (No. 13), CJB Motorsports (No. 5), Ridge & Sons Racing (No. 87), Rod Gross Motorsports (No. 88), Rudeen Racing (No. 26), and Kasey Kahne Racing (No. 9). Who claims a franchise by the tip of the season will probably be determined by the common level end of these groups from 2024-’25 standings.
