Brad Sweet will return to competition on a part-time basis in 2026, teaming with veteran crew chief Paul Silva for 30-40 races tentatively this season, first reported by Jeremy Elliott of SprintCarUnlimited.com.
Sweet stepped away from full-time competition following the 2025 season after a long and decorated tenure driving for Kasey Kahne Racing from 2008-25, a stretch that included six national championships and cemented his status as one of the most successful drivers of his era. While no longer running a full schedule, the Grass Valley, Calif., native will remain a regular presence in marquee events this season.
The agreement with Silva makes him the second part-time driver within the California-based operation alongside brother-in-law Kyle Larson, who typically makes 25-30 starts of his own in the team’s No. 57. Sweet will also compete in the Kevin Kozlowski-owned No. W during select West Coast-based events, with Silva serving as crew chief on that entry as well.
Several of sprint car racing’s marquee events are included in Sweet’s tentative schedule. Among them are the Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 12-15, along with Kings Royal week at Eldora Speedway on July 15-18, both part of Sweet’s agreement with Silva.
Sweet’s season is slated to begin March 26 in the NARC King of the West opener at Merced Speedway, where he will pilot Kozlowski’s No. W. His first races with Silva’s No. 94 will come earlier in the calendar, March 19-21, during Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition at Central Arizona Raceway.
When Sweet announced his retirement in October, he didn't signal the end of his driving career, but kept the door open for an opportunity such as this.
Since 2021, Sweet — a 106-time national touring winner with 92 victories on the World of Outlaws and 14 on High Limit Racing — has increasingly shifted his focus toward leadership roles within the sport.
He has taken over promotorship duties at Silver Dollar Speedway, co-created High Limit Racing alongside brother-in-law Larson and most recently acquired the Northern Auto Racing Club — the West Coast’s premier sprint car sanctioning body. That purchase was completed in September in partnership with car owner and Skagit Speedway owner Kevin Rudeen.