Kyle Larson Goes Back-to-Back Down Under at High Limit International

At this point, we need to accept that we are living in Kyle Larson’s simulation and we’re lucky enough to watch the replays.

While most of us are struggling to remember what day of the week it is during that weird limbo between Christmas and New Year’s, “Yung Money” is out in Australia doing what he does best: cashing giant checks and breaking hearts.

For the second year in a row, the 2021 Cup Series champion parked it in Victory Lane at the Perth Motorplex, snagging the High Limit International title.

And because the guy apparently hates free time, he didn’t just win a trophy; he pocketed a cool $110,000. For those keeping score at home, that is the most oversized prize purse in the history of Australian sprint car racing. Not a bad way to wrap up 2025.

1. How Larson Conquered the Clay in Perth

Driving the #1K for Jason Pryde, Larson came into the night as the defending champ, but nothing in sprint car racing is guaranteed, especially on a 3/8-mile clay oval that eats tires for breakfast. The night didn’t start with Larson out front. Buddy Kofoid, who had been fast all week, started on the pole and looked like the guy to beat early on. But giving Larson 15 laps to figure out a line is like giving a shark a drop of blood in the water. By Lap 15, Larson muscled his way past Kofoid to take the lead. From there, you’d think it was cruise control, but the Australian clay had other plans. Larson admitted later that he wasn’t even sure if he had the fastest car on the track. “I don’t know if I was the fastest at times,” he said. “But when I had to step up and hammer it, you were able to do that lead and then you make okay decisions there at the end.” Translation: He just drove better than everyone else when it mattered.

2. Heartbreak Hotel for Corey Day

If you want the “Game of Thrones” drama of the night, look no further than Corey Day. The kid was absolutely ripping the fence, trying to hunt Larson down. With just three laps to go, a caution flew for Rico Abreu (engine failure). This set up a shootout that should have been legendary. Day was right there. He was challenging. He was pushing the #1K to the absolute limit. But in dirt racing, the line between “hero” and “zero” is razor-thin. On the restart, Day hit the wall one too many times in his pursuit of glory and blew a right-rear tire. It was a gut-wrenching end to a phenomenal run. Instead of a photo finish, Larson crossed the line 0.576 seconds ahead of Dayne Kingshott, leaving Day to wonder “what if.” You have to feel for the guy, but if you come at the king, you best not miss.

3. No Rest for the Wicked: Larson Heads to Tulsa

After winning $110k in Australia, a normal human being would take a day off. Nope. Not this guy. Larson is immediately hopping on a plane to fly back to the United States to compete in the Tulsa Shootout. Because sleep is for the weak, and jet lag is just a state of mind. He’s not just going there to turn laps, either; he’s pulling double duty as “Super Dad,” as his kids are also competing in the event. He’ll be joining Kyle Busch (who is racing against his own son, Brexton) and Ty Gibbs in Tulsa. It’s absolutely manic behavior, but that’s exactly why the fans love him. The guy just wants to race, whether it’s for millions on a Sunday in the Cup Series or for a Golden Driller in Oklahoma. So, while we are all nursing our New Year’s hangovers, keep an eye on Tulsa. The guy who just conquered Australia is coming for the dirt in Oklahoma next.

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