Friday night at Eldora Speedway was supposed to be about Rico Abreu’s dominant run. Instead, the spotlight shifted to the backstretch, where Kyle Larson and David Gravel clashed on and off the track after a brutal fight for third place in “The Knight Before” feature.

The 30-lap World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race had Abreu out front all night, but behind him, tensions flared. Larson and Gravel traded moves and contact in the final laps, with Larson ultimately edging Gravel for the final podium spot. The two collided during the closing stretch, and as soon as the checkered flag fell, a heated exchange followed. Track officials escorted both drivers to the World of Outlaws command center. Post-race, both were called for assessment, as an insider updated on X: “Both Kyle Larson and David Gravel have been escorted to the World of Outlaws command center.” 

The dust-up wasn’t without history. Gravel has long carried the frustration of 2020, when Larson’s suspension opened the door for a potential NASCAR seat, only for Larson’s return to close it just as quickly. The rivalry simmered further that same year at the Knoxville Nationals, where Gravel beat Larson to the win. Eldora added another chapter, and this time, it spilled into the open. After the race, Larson joked on X, “Just @DavidGravel and I ironing out the details of his 2027 High Limit contract tonight on the backstretch at Eldora… 😂” But Gravel didn’t see it that way:

“We can keep playing that game, but eventually it’s not gonna be good. He needs to be a professional… He’s not driving like that on the racetrack. We’re friends, but right now we’re not,” he said.

Kyle Larson finished 3rd while David Gravel trailed him in 4th place. Their post-race escort was World of Outlaws official Carlton Remers, who did not look pleased. According to another X update, both sprint car stars left the command center following a brief meeting. This follows Larson’s $100,000 win on Wednesday. Gravel, who leads the WoO points standings this year with 10 wins, knew the challenges of Eldora beforehand. He said last week, “Every other lap I tried a different lane and the car started getting free and it just kept getting slicker and slicker every lap… 40 laps here the track changes so much.”

Clearly, neither Gravel nor Larson could tackle the ravages of Eldora Speedway without slipping into conflict. It kind of confirms Kyle Larson’s bold statement earlier this week.

Larson puts this sport on a pedestal

Given Kyle Larson’s 37 Cup Series victories, you would think NASCAR reigns supreme in his mind. After all, the Hendrick Motorsports driver fetches wins like berries in a garden in the Cup Series. However, he is also a sprint car racing champion, and Larson’s side quests have yielded many victories, from his third Chili Bowl title earlier in 2025 to clinching the High Limit International in Australia.

At the same time, Larson is accurately aware of the costs involved. Larson won the $100,000 event in Eldora earlier this week on national television, but he had to dodge a terrifying carnage first. The event began in a scary way as a severe multi-car pileup tore up contenders. Among the affected drivers, Tyler Courtney was transported to a local hospital for observation.

Hence, Kyle Larson issued his verdict on which discipline of racing intimidates him the most. He broke some stereotypes for NASCAR fans in the process: “I think a lot of fans see me race on Sundays and they have a misconception of sprint car racing, that this isn’t, you know, professional, and I come ‘down’ to win these races. But it is the toughest form of racing I get a chance to be a part of. So, the quality of equipment, the quality of drivers, the fans, everybody involved. Everybody’s, you know, partners and sponsors. This is as professional as it gets for American auto racing.” This professional side did get a bad rap following Kyle Larson’s tussle with David Gravel. Let us wait for further developments on this Eldora scuffle.