There is a new sheriff in town and his name is High Limit Racing. The World of Outlaws have a legitimate competitor for the first time in years. World Racing Group and the Outlaws have gotten backlash for various reasons, whether it is because they won’t let non-outlaw drivers sell their merchandise at the tracks or because they won’t let their full-time drivers run more than four races outside of the schedule. The excitement behind High Limit is real and deserved, but it doesn’t have to be this heated battle between the two series.
Regardless of how you feel about the Outlaws, they are the closest thing we have to professional dirt racing and they are an established, successful entity. They provide their full-time drivers with an impressive points fund and tow package that can serve as a safety blanket for a down year or a season filled with bad luck. As the driver announcements come in, many are saying the Outlaws are in trouble, but I don’t see it that way. I think that both series can exist and have success, and I think High Limit will force the Outlaws to adjust in the future.
With that being said, let’s get back into the drama of where we think the unconfirmed drivers and teams will go. According to DIRTRACKR, High Limit expects to have 12 full-time drivers for the 2024 season, with the possibility of 15. 13 drivers have officially announced their plans, leaving two potential open spots on the roster. Additionally, 11 drivers have confirmed their plans to run with the Outlaws.
Current Confirmed and Unconfirmed Teams as of 12/18
Predicting the Rest
High Limit
55 – Chris Windom – Vermeer Motorsports
Update: Chris Windom and Vermeer Motorsports will be running the full High Limit schedule in 2024.
Why: Chris Windom has brought his NOS Energy Drink sponsorship along with him to team up with the Vermeer Motorsports 55 for 2024. This team is simply too large to stay at a regional level, and car chief Clinton Boyles hinted that they are almost being forced to go national with the absence of the All Stars. With NOS being the title sponsor for the Outlaws, there could be a potential conflict, but I don’t see it being an issue, especially since FloRacing broke the news about Windom and Vermeer teaming up.
13 – Justin Peck – Buch Motorsports
Why: As I was writing this, Peck confirmed that he would be joining the High Limit tour full-time. My reasoning was that one of his sponsors, Big Spring Car Wash, ceased their northeast dirt modified operation and announced they would be adding additional support for Peck and Buch Motorsports. The extra funding may have been just what the team needed to expand their schedule.
5 – Spencer Bayston – CJB Motorsports
Update: Spencer Bayston and CJB Motorsports have officially committed to the full High Limit schedule in 2024.
Why: CJB Motorsports have been longtime supporters of the Outlaws. It would not surprise me if Bayston and the team returned to Outlaw competition, but the rumor mill is telling me otherwise. As I highlighted in my World of Outlaws vs. High Limit financial breakdown, a move to High Limit makes a ton of sense for this team. They would be taking a minimal loss on tow money and points money and gain an opportunity to race at almost every big money event.
23 – Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports
Update: Garet Williamson announced that he and his newly formed Fischer Motorsports team are running a “true outlaw” schedule. They will hit as many High Limit and World of Outlaws races as possible.
Why: I am feeding into more rumors. Williamson had an up and down 2023 season, where his no. 24 team essentially disappeared before the Knoxville Nationals and left him scrambling for a new ride. He showed plenty of speed all season and has sponsorship support that could land him on a national tour. His expected team announced that they were looking for a car chief and truck driver for 2024, as they plan on racing all over the country.
7BC – Tyler Courtney – Clauson Marshall Racing
Why: I don’t see a world where Tyler Courtney is not a full-time Outlaw or High Limit driver. He is simply too well-liked and talented to be kept off a national tour. CMR already announced that Corey Day would be driving for them for the High Limit mid-week shows, but does that mean they are loyal to High Limit? Again, the NOS Energy Drink sponsorship could come into play here, but that is yet to be determined. I think it will be High Limit for Sunshine.
World of Outlaws
41 – Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing
Update: Carson Macedo and JJR have confirmed that they will return to the WoO in 2024.
Why: Carson Macedo and the JJR team have the best shot at beating David Gravel for the championship. Although the new High Limit series is exciting, a World of Outlaws championship is still one of the most prestigious honors in all of dirt racing. Plus, the Jason Johnson Classic is still apart of the Outlaws schedule.
15 – Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart Racing
Update: Donny Schatz confirmed he will be returning to the World of Outlaws.
Why: It’s just hard to imagine Schatz parting ways with the Outlaws. There has been plenty of speculation about a switch because of Tony Stewart supporting Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet. Plus, Schatz apparently removed the “forever an outlaw” t-shirts from his online store. While I wouldn’t be shocked because of those reasons, Schatz could be out for revenge after a down year.
83 – Buddy Kofoid – Roth Motorsports
Why: I am not sure that committing to a series will work with Kofoid’s schedule. He might have commitments with Toyota that have yet to be announced. I originally had James McFadden as a full-time Outlaw in the Roth car but some rumors and speculation have led me to believe that it might just be Kofoid in 2024. If that is the case, then I still think the Roth no. 83 will be a full-time Outlaw. With an $83,000 to win Dennis Roth Classic on the Outlaws schedule, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Roth cars are not in attendance.
On The Fence
19 – Brent Marks – Murray-Marks Motorsports
Update: Brent Marks will run the full High Limit schedule in 2024.
Why: Marks would be a huge addition to either national series. He’s done it all before, but has found massive success running a “true outlaw” schedule more recently. The added support from a points fund and tow package would be helpful for his teams success, but is going out on the road something that Marks wants to do at this point in his career?
9P/TBA – Parker Price-Miller – TBA
Update: Parker Price-Miller has committed to the full High Limit schedule in 2024. He will drive his family-owned no. 9P.
Why: I have seen a couple rumors floating around about PPM possibly teaming up with an old All Star team to go full-time High Limit racing. A couple options exist, including the Lane Racing no. 4, the Grove Racing no. 45 and the possibly non-existent Sam McGhee no. 11. A PPM combination with one of these teams could be strong and Parker has plenty of experience on the road.
True Outlaw / Pick and Choose
39M – Anthony Macri – Macri Motorsports
Why: It wouldn’t surprise me to see Macri commit to the High Limit series. I would be willing be bet he does commit to the mid-week series. A full 60-race national schedule with a big west coast swing at tracks that Macri has never seen is what is keeping me from believing he will become a full-timer.
TBA – James McFadden – Roth Motorsports / TBA
Why: I don’t think it is even confirmed that McFadden will be back in the Roth Motorsports no. 83 for 2024. I read somewhere that McFadden, who is currently racing back home in Australia, was unsure of his 2024 plans. If it is not going to be with Roth Motorsports, then with who? The Crouch Motorsports no. 11 car (see below) is a top-notch ride that still hasn’t announced a driver yet. I could see it being JMAC on a “true outlaw” schedule.
15H – Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Hills Racing
Why: Hafertepe Jr. ran 87 races in 2023, tying Danny Dietrich and Buddy Kofoid for the most. He has traditionally ran a “true outlaw” schedule and I think it will remain the same in 2024. With High Limit’s roster shaping up nicely, it would seem more logical for Hafertepe to pick and choose where he wants to race.
20G – Noah Gass – Ran-No-Gass LLC
Update: Noah Gass will be returning to the World of Outlaws full-time in 2024.
Why: It wouldn’t surprise me if Gass returned for another season with the Outlaws, but I feel like it would have already been announced if that were the case. Gass struggled last season, and could be looking for a new schedule to change up the vibes. A locally-centric, pick and choose schedule could be good for Gass, as we have seen him run well on tracks he enjoys.
17B – Bill Balog – B2 Motorsports
Update: Bill Balog will be running the full World of Outlaws schedule in 2024.
Why: Balog had a great season in 2023 after struggling with the All Stars in 2022. His nine wins in 54 starts landed him in the top 25 rated drivers in 2023. Committing to a schedule that requires much more travel is probably not in the cards for Balog, so I think we will see him run a similar schedule to 2023.
What is Going on?
11 – Crouch Motorsports – Crouch Motorsports
*update* Brad Alexander, a CMS employee, confirmed that the no. 11 team is still operational. No plans or driver announcements have been made yet.
Why: The lack of rumors and information coming out of the Crouch Motorsports camp is a little odd. When they parted ways with Cory Eliason, they stated that they would be announcing plans for the team at a later date. With Brenham Crouch ramping up his schedule, does this mean we will not be seeing the no. 11? I could see them filling the seat for major events, but it seems unlikely that they would commit to a tour, especially with the lack of available drivers on the market that make sense.
5T – Ryan Timms – Western Flyer XPress LLC
Why: It is still unclear if Timms plans on running another year in a KKM midget. If he plans on going full-time in a 410, then I think we see him commit to one of the national series. The rising star has proven he can compete with the best, but can he put a full season together of consistent points races?
21 – Cole Macedo – Tarlton Racing
Why: We have not head much from Cole or the Tarlton team about their 2024 plans. They ran a pretty aggressive schedule during the second half of 2023. It seems likely that we will see them run a similar schedule in 2024, but I did hear his name pop up as someone to watch out for.
TBA – Justin Sanders – TBA
Why: Sanders has a ride in California for NARC410 competition, but we saw a lot more of him last season in the Swindell no. 39 and Macri no. 39M. He didn’t pick up a win, but he constantly battled with some of the best drivers in the country on a nightly basis and I think it was enough to earn him an opportunity. I just don’t know what that opportunity looks like for 2024.
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