Tanner Thorson heard what was said and saw what was posted. The doubts fueled him, and they will continue to do so in 2025 as he returns for a second full-time campaign driving the Rod Gross Motorsports No. 88 with Kubota High Limit Racing.

It was Christmas Eve in 2023 when the news broke that Thorson would take the next step in his career and become a High Roller with the support of Rod and Nancy Gross, coming on the heels of a successful period of his life spent in the USAC ranks racing Midgets and Non-Wing Sprint Cars.

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The transition to winged racing wasn’t a sudden dive into the deep end for Thorson, having dabbled in the disciple several different times over the last decade with seven previous winged wins on his resume. The move to compete full-time on the national scale with a new team was a challenging new element, though; and it brought the critics out in the comment section.

They said he couldn’t compete. They said he wouldn’t last. They only motivated him even more.

Not only did Thorson make it to the Championship Banquet in the Fort Worth Stockyards come October, but he also nearly finished top-10 in the standings of a stout 16-team field of full-timers.

He came out of the gates swinging with a runner-up finish to Kyle Larson in the 2024 season opener at East Bay Raceway Park. He returned to the podium again in April at Riverside International Speedway with another runner-up to Corey Day, which propelled him to an eighth-place result in the Midweek Money Series standings.

The hallmark moment of his debut year with Kubota High Limit Racing came at the 70th Gold Cup Race of Champions. In his Friday night preliminary at Silver Dollar Speedway, Thorson went toe-to-toe with longtime friend Rico Abreu in a green-to-checkered thriller through lap traffic. The Minden, NV native led the final few laps to score a sensational win and enjoyed an emotional victory lane at one of the most prestigious races in the sport.

Heading into 2025, the Rod Gross Motorsports team has a new look with partners JST Motorsports, SmithTi, and Factory Kahne donning the black and blue No. 88. The biggest change for Tanner himself is the addition of baby girl Blakelee Thorson to the family, who wife Shaylee delivered in September.

Supporting Thorson on the road this year is a pair of crew members with deep ties to the sport. Fourth-generation racer Brinton Marvel – following in the footsteps of great-grandfather Bill, grandfather Brad, and father Justin – is back for a second season as Car Chief for his best friend. New to the team in 2025 is the addition of TJ Nichols as Tire Specialist, a Missourian who grew up in the sport as a cousin to the late, great Jesse Hockett.

Among the 35 tracks scheduled on the 60-race tour, Thorson will make his debut at nine: Central Arizona Speedway (AZ) on March 28-29, Route 66 Motor Speedway (TX) on April 4, Dodge City Raceway Park (KS) on April 5, Texarkana 67 Speedway (AR) on April 30, 81 Speedway (KS) on May 7, Ransomville Speedway (NY) on May 16, 141 Speedway (WI) June 3, Red Cedar Speedway (WI) on June 4, and Florence Speedway on July 11-12.

On the flip side, Thorson has also visited victory lane at another nine tracks on the 2025 schedule. Those places including his return dates include Perris Auto Speedway (CA) on March 22, Tri-City Speedway (IL) on May 10, Kokomo Speedway (IN) on May 12, Lucas Oil Speedway (MO) on June 27-28 & October 15, Lernerville Speedway (PA) on July 22 & September 12-13, Placerville Speedway (CA) on August 16, Silver Dollar Speedway (CA) on August 21-23, Bridgeport Speedway (NJ) on September 27, Path Valley Speedway Park (PA) on September 28.

Thorson’s 2025 campaign with Kubota High Limit Racing will begin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a two-day event on March 13 and 15. The 60-race tour will conclude with All-In Championship Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway on October 17 and 18. Tickets for select events are now available here.

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If you cannot join Kubota High Limit Racing at the track, you can watch every lap of every race live on FloRacing, the exclusive broadcast partner of Kubota High Limit Racing.

Watch DIRT Season 2 Presented by NOS Energy Drink

DIRT II: A Season With High Limit Racing presented by NOS Energy Drink goes under the hood of Kubota High Limit Racing’s first full season, giving fans an inside look at Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Corey Day and more as they battle it out for dirt supremacy. Watch each live premiere exclusively on FloRacing beginning with the first episode on March 13 at 6:30 p.m. CT. For the full DIRT Season 2 release schedule, click here. To watch the trailer and each episode as it becomes available, click here.