Giovanni Scelzi wins 2023 High Limit Sprint Car Series opener, Kyle Larson finishes fifth

Assuming the lead from Rico Abreu when that driver suffered a flat tire with five laps remaining in the 31-lapper, Giovanni Scelzi won the season opener at Lakeside Speedway and pocketed $50,000. Scelzi survived a late-race restart for a debris caution.

Abreu’s flat tire came after he dominated the opening of the race. He was unable to restart, relegating him to 22nd in the field.

Scelzi beat Carson Macedo to the checkers by .419 seconds. Macedo marched through the field from his 22nd-place starting position after advancing through the B Main, making him the hard charger of the night.

Tyler Courtney finished third, David Gravel fourth and Larson rounded out the top five.

Other notables in the field included Donny Schatz (eighth), Brad Sweet (12th), Michael “Buddy” Kofoid (15th) and Brady Bacon (21st). Kasey Kahne finished sixth in the B-Main and failed to advance into the feature.

MORE: Combined Sprint Car Series Schedule

The High Limit Sprint Car Series was developed by NASCAR’s Larson and four-time defending World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion Sweet as a way to encourage mid-week racing with lucrative payouts. With an entry list of more than 55 drivers looking to make the 27-car field, it fulfilled its role.