The new High Limit Sprint Car Series choose cone was a hot topic following the Lakeside Speedway season opener. Some liked it, some didn’t. But the majority of feedback felt positive. For the first time in sprint car racing history, the High Limit Series rolled out their new rules for 2023 that featured the choose cone with drivers having the option of choosing the inside or outside lane for restarts. 

“There’s some positivity in it, there was just some confusion,” said High Limit Series co-promoter Brad Sweet on the High Limit Room Podcast. 

“We definitely need to have a different looking cone,” said NASCAR star and series co-promoter Kyle Larson. “I think it was good, I think it will take a few nights to get used to it. Naturally when you see a cone on the front stretch you think it’s a restart cone and you go to the right of it. It caught people off guard. I think we need something that doesn’t look like a cone and stands out.”

VIDEO: Brad Sweet and Kyle Larson's comments on choose cone | High Limit Room Podcast 

“I had a few drivers that said it worked out great and they really liked it, I had drivers that said it was the dumbest thing they were a part of,” Sweet said with a laugh. “I think once everyone gets it, it's the way of the future. I was part of when sprint car racing went to double file restarts and at first it was so confusing, now we can get lined up so fast. We need to space out and have better communication.”

David Gravel agreed on his latest Youtube Vlog saying, “The choose cone definitely adds another layer of excitement for the fans. I think it will be a positive thing. I made a mistake one time on a restart and picked the wrong line, which really benefited Gio (Scelzi). We’ll see how the High Limit thing transpires.”

Zeb Wise liked it so much, he told the Loudpedal podcast on FloRacing he’d like to see it in more series. 

“I think it should be in every series.” Wise said. “I personally don’t think it should just be in the feature, I think they should do it all night. I think it opens doors and puts everything in the driver's hands. I much rather roll back into the pit area and tell my team I screwed up and picked the wrong lane. Rather than telling them we could have done this if we had the top.”

VIDEO: Zeb Wise Talking High Limit Choose Cone on Episode 108 of Loudpedal Podcast on FloRacing

Sweet and Larson disagreed with Wise on using the ‘Choose Cone’ the entire night. 

“Just doing it for the main event is good,” said Larson. “Could you imagine? The heat races would have been a mess,” joked Sweet. 

“I think more often than not once people get the hang of it, the restarts are going to work out in their favor more often than not,” Larson said. “At least more than the normal double file restart right now. Your running position and your order is more in your fate. I think we need more communication and more preparation and we will be good.”

Larson speaks from experience, admitting his spotter in the NASCAR Cup Series does help him a lot. Sprint cars don’t have spotters, so it’s up to the drivers to know where they are running, and to give themselves enough space to choose themselves. 

“In sprint car racing everything happens faster,” said Sweet. “ We don’t have a clutch, so you can’t slow down. We don't have a spotter, so you have to count yourself. I think it will get better. It’s cool, it’s different and that’s what we’re trying to do at High Limit.”