Sweet Starts 2024 Continuing Winning Ways
Brad Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team returned to action for the 2024 season in spectacular fashion, winning at the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida.
Four nights of racing began on Wednesday with the Big Cat showcasing his skills right from the start. The Kasey Kahne Racing driver qualified fourth in Flight A with a blistering time of 13.513 seconds. He continued the momentum in his heat race, securing a second-place finish and guaranteeing him a spot in the Fast Pass Dash. Sweet dominated the dash, picking up the win after starting on the pole. In the first main event o f 2024, the NAPA No. 49 machine proved unstoppable for 25 laps, earning the win and solidifying Sweet’s status as a giant of the sprint car world.
On Thursday night, however, a different story unfolded for the five-time champion. Sweet qualified fifth in Flight B, posting a solid time of 13.430 seconds, but his heat race presented a challenge. He started third but slipped to fourth, relegating him to a 14th-place starting position in the feature. He ultimately finished 15th, determined to bounce back on Friday night.
On Friday, the NAPA team hit the reset button and prepared for another shot at a win. Sweet posted a time of 13.359 seconds in qualifying, securing the third spot in Flight B and setting a strong tone for the evening. During heat race action, competitor David Gravel ran Sweet up the track, forcing him over the cushion and into the brakes of the No. 49 machine. He regained momentum, though, and ultimately finished third after starting second. Friday’s feature race truly highlighted Sweet’s racing prowess as he battled his way through the field from a 10th-place start to finish on the podium in third.
On the final night of the DIRTcar Nationals, the NAPA No. 49 team had one last shot at a $20,000 payday. The Big Cat hit the charts at 13.452 seconds in qualifying, placing him fifth. In his heat race, Sweet charged from third to second, placing him in the dash. Although he did not advance from his eighth-place starting spot in the dash, Sweet continued undeterred into the feature race. He stood out among the fierce competition, climbing from an eighth-place starting spot to another podium finish of third. Sweet and the NAPA team ended the weekend third in overall event points.
Next up for the Sweet and the No. 49 team is the start of the High Limit Racing season at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa.
Start / Finish:
Wednesday, Feb. 7: 1 / 1
Thursday, Feb. 8: 14 /15
Friday, Feb. 9: 10 / 3
Saturday, Feb. 10: 8 / 3
Next Race: Monday, February 12, East Bay Raceway Park, Tampa, FL
How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing
NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt
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Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), based in Mooresville, NC, was formed in 2005 and employs more than ten people dedicated to sprint car racing. The organization competes full-time in High Limit Racing and is led by team owner and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne. For the 2026 season, KKR fields the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9, driven full-time by Daison Pursley in High Limit Racing. KKR has 7 World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing Championships (Daryn Pittman in ’13 and Brad Sweet in ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ’23 & ’24). Since its inception, KKR has earned 295+ national dirt car victories, solidifying its status as one of the most successful teams in modern sprint car racing.