Health and fitness were not always a priority in NASCAR. In the early days, drivers pushed through pain and injuries without second thoughts. The King of Stock Car Racing Richard Petty was no exception. In his 200 race wins and seven Winston Cup titles, his body paid the price for his relentless pursuit of victory. But one moment from 1979 keeps young racers and fans inspired.

In 1978, Richard Petty saw the lowest point of his racing career. That year, he failed to win a single race for the first time since 1959. Something was wrong. Petty’s health was deteriorating, and by the end of the season, doctors diagnosed him with severe stomach ulcers. The condition worsened, and doctors had to remove 40% of his stomach. Such an operation usually requires months of recovery. But Petty was not like others.

Against all medical advice, Petty returned to the track in just two months. “They chopped it out a couple of months ago,” he told the media. And in an incredible turn of fate, he won the 1979 Daytona 500. This win ignited his hunger, and he went on to win his seventh and final championship later that year. His victory proved that champions don’t just win races; they defy the odds. Now, decades later, a driver from Kyle Larson’s High Limit Racing has mirrored that same determination and grit.

Aaron Reutzel’s 2025 season was supposed to start with a bang. The 34-year-old was considered a top contender in Kubota High Limit Racing, co-owned by Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet. His Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 car had the speed to compete for wins. But in a shocking moment at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his season nearly ended before it even began. During the seven-lap Dash, a rock pierced through Reutzel’s visor, striking him in the face.

The impact left him with a broken nose, severe swelling around his eyes, and heavy blood loss. He needed multiple stitches and was rushed to the hospital. His team feared the worst. Reutzel’s availability for the next race was uncertain. He had already missed his feature race in Vegas. Many expected him to sit out for at least a couple of weeks. “We’re going to be evaluating things day to day. We want to thank everyone who reached out to check on Aaron and his status. From all of us at RSR, as well as Aaron’s family, we appreciate everything. We hope to be back on track before we know it,” SR co-owners Brian and Lisa Ridge said.

Little did they know, Reutzel was planning to make that time shorter than they expected.

Just days after his hospital visit, Reutzel was back behind the wheel at Perris Auto Speedway in California. Racing with fresh stitches and visible bruises, he put on a masterclass. He was the fastest in qualifying, won the Dash, and dominated the feature race, leading every single lap. It wasn’t an easy win. Tanner Holmes pressured him early, and as the track surface changed, Reutzel had to carefully manage his tires.

The race came down to a dramatic green-white-checkered finish, but Reutzel held off the field to claim victory. “It hurt like hell, but I wasn’t going to miss this. A week ago, I didn’t even know if I’d be racing. But this team never gave up, and neither did I… The only way to get through it was to focus on driving. The pain fades when you’re leading,” he admitted after the race. The moment was surreal as he held on to secure an emotional victory.

Notably, this win means a lot for Reutzel as he is fighting for his first championship in 410. In last three years he has been in contention and this time he is eying to achieve it. The Texas native has six career victories with the World of Outlaws, 37 wins with the All-Stars, and 23 with ASCS. He is also a two-time All-Star Circuit of Champions titlist and won the ASCS championship in 2015. A win in Perris will surely boost his confidence and chances for a title this year.

However, Reutzel’s incredible return to racing isn’t the first time a driver has overcome serious injury. One of the most famous examples is Brad Keselowski’s terrifying crash at Road Atlanta in 2011. While testing his NASCAR machine at over 200 mph, Keselowski’s brakes failed, sending him crashing into a concrete wall at 190 mph. He broke his left ankle and suffered severe back pain. Despite needing to be airlifted to the hospital, Keselowski refused to sit out.

Less than a week later, he won the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway. His incredible toughness didn’t stop there. The following weekend, he finished second at Watkins Glen and then backed it up with a third-place finish at Michigan. A week later, he won at Bristol, securing his third victory of the year. His streak of impressive results put him in the playoffs, and he eventually finished fifth in the championship.

Much like Keselowski, Reutzel’s resilience in the face of adversity has already become one of the defining moments of the season. His determination is a testament to the warrior mindset that separates these race car drivers from others. But as Kyle Larson’s High Limit Racing saw a historic moment, he had a heartbreak at Homestead-Miami.

Kyle Larson’s heartbreak at Homestead-Miami!

While Aaron Reutzel celebrated a comeback for the ages, his High Limit Racing co-owner Kyle Larson endured yet another heartbreaking moment at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This weekend Larson was eyeing to sweep all three national series by winning Trucks, Xfinity and Cup series races. His weekend started on a very high note as he dominated the Truck Series by winning from 22nd place.

This set the stage for a remarkable Xfinity race on Saturday and Larson almost delivered. The 2021 Cup series champion led 132 of 201 laps and built a gap of more than 16 seconds over others. But then disaster struck. Just a few laps before the checkered flag a caution pushed the race into overtime. This equalised the grid and Larson failed to maintain his calm. On the final restart, Sam Mayer bumped Larson, sending him out of contention. He finished fourth, missing out on the historic sweep.

“Bummer, again, to have another Homestead race play out that way. I know it looks like I choked another one away, but I did everything I thought I could to win,” Larson said after the race. Notably, if Larson had succeeded in his attempt he would have joined Kyle Busch in the elite list. The Rowdy has achieved sweep twice in his career by winning all three races in a weekend at Bristol in 2010 and 2017. However, Larson now focuses on the Cup race as he is one of the most successful drivers at Homestead-Miami. He has led most laps here and his Xfinity and Truck experience will surely make a case for him.