Sprint cars are the most dramatic machines in motorsport — open-wheel, 900-horsepower dirt demons that slide sideways through every corner at 130+ mph. Losi just made one for your driveway, and it might be the most interesting RC car released in years. Here’s everything you need to know before you buy — plus the upgrades that take it from fun to formidable.
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Losi 22S Sprint Car — Quick Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scale | 1/10 |
| Motor | Spektrum Firma 3650 3300Kv Brushless |
| ESC | Spektrum Firma 45A Smart Lite |
| Radio | Spektrum SLT2 2.4GHz 2-Channel |
| Drive | 2WD rear-wheel drive |
| Chassis | Aluminum, offset left (oval-biased) |
| Top Speed | 25+ mph on 2S LiPo |
| Weight (no battery) | 4.95 lb (2.25 kg) |
| Wheelbase | 10.25” (260mm) |
| Battery | 2S LiPo w/ IC5 (NOT included in Blue/Green) |
| Charger | NOT included in Blue/Green versions |
| MSRP | $349.99 (Blue/Green) — $399.99 (Red, battery + charger included) |
The 22S Sprint sits on Losi’s TLR 22 racing platform — the same chassis DNA that’s won championships in 2WD buggy racing — adapted specifically for dirt oval with an aluminum offset frame, rear-biased weight distribution, and licensed Hoosier sprint car tires. There is simply no other 1/10-scale RTR sprint car on the market. This car occupies its own category.
What Is a Sprint Car in RC?
If you’ve never watched real sprint car racing, here’s the quick version: sprint cars are purpose-built, open-wheel machines that race on short dirt ovals — typically quarter-mile to half-mile tracks. They run massive top wings for downforce, slide through every corner using the throttle, and produce somewhere around 900 horsepower in a 1,400-pound car. The result is one of the most visually spectacular forms of motorsport on earth.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is the premier touring series — “The Greatest Show on Dirt” — running roughly 90 nights per season at 40+ tracks across North America, with drivers like Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, and Donny Schatz as household names in the oval world. USAC sanctions the wingless sprint car championship, where the cars run without top wings on tighter, technical tracks.
In RC, this style of racing has existed for decades — but almost entirely in kit form, requiring you to source your own electronics, tires, and body, then assemble everything before touching a track. Dedicated oval clubs and tracks exist across the country, concentrated in the Midwest and Northeast. Events like Motorama in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania draw national competitors to 1/10-scale dirt ovals. Tracks like Indy RC World, 997 RC Raceway, and Monee RC Raceway have been running weekly sprint car classes for years. Tony Stewart — the actual NASCAR and sprint car racing legend — was so invested in RC oval racing that he purchased Custom Works, the dominant RC sprint car chassis brand.
What Losi has done with the 22S Sprint is remove every barrier to entry. You no longer need to build a kit or source a dozen separate components. For $400, you get a sprint car that looks, handles, and behaves like the real thing — ready to run in minutes. That’s genuinely unprecedented.
The 22S Sprint appeals to sprint car fans who want a miniature version of their favorite real-world machines, RC hobbyists curious about oval racing after years of off-road or on-road, and competitive racers looking for an accessible spec-class platform. Several tracks have already launched dedicated “Losi Sprint” classes.
Check out our RC racing guide for more on sprint cars, NASCAR, and drag racing.
Losi 22S Sprint — On-Track Performance
The first time you run a sprint car on an oval, something clicks that no amount of off-road or street racing prepares you for. The car doesn’t turn into corners — it rotates. You carry momentum to the outside, pitch the nose in with a brief lift, and the rear swings wide in a controlled, flowing slide. On a dirt surface, the car does exactly what a real sprint car does: it finds grip at the outer edge of the track and uses the tire wall on the right side to catapult out of corners. I spent a session running it on a dirt oval shaped with cones in a parking lot, and I immediately understood why oval racers get hooked. There’s a rhythm to it — every lap you’re refining the entry point, the arc, the throttle application — that’s completely different from point-to-point driving.
On packed clay or dirt, the 22S Sprint is genuinely excellent out of the box. The stock Hoosier soft-compound tires hook up well on most surfaces, and the offset aluminum chassis puts weight exactly where oval physics demands. At 25+ mph, the car feels quick without being unmanageable — there’s enough torque to break the rear loose on demand, but it’s not so violent that it spins out on throttle application. The Spektrum Firma 3300Kv on 2S hits a sweet spot for oval work: fast enough to be exciting, controllable enough to practice lines consistently.
On asphalt or smooth concrete, be aware that the left-turn bias built into the chassis geometry will pull the car right. This isn’t a defect — it’s the oval design doing exactly what it’s supposed to. Running it on flat pavement for any length of time will feel odd. The car is purpose-built for oval surfaces with banking and texture.
Carpet works fine for indoor oval tracks, and a few tracks have already tested the 22S Sprint on carpet ovals with positive results.
The main performance limitation at stock configuration is the 4-pole sensorless motor, which means the car won’t qualify for most sanctioned racing classes (which require 2-pole sensored motors). At 4.95 lbs, it also exceeds ROAR weight minimums for competition. For most buyers — backyard fun, spec-class racing, and casual club nights — none of this matters. For serious competitors going up against Custom Works or GFRP kits, you’ll want to start upgrading.
Build Quality & What’s in the Box
Cracking open the 22S Sprint box, the scale realism immediately impresses. The electroplated exhaust headers, the hand-painted driver figure with post anchor device, the scale steering interior with a faux Pitman arm — Losi put serious attention into the detail work. The chrome wheel disks on the right side replicate the real sprint car look precisely. The top and front wings are removable using a single spring-loaded clip, transforming the car into a USAC-style wingless setup in seconds.
The included electronics are current-generation Spektrum Firma gear: 45A ESC, SLT2 2-channel transmitter, SR215 DSMR receiver, and an S684 metal-gear servo. The aluminum chassis is properly machined with the sealed gear differential pre-loaded with 3,000wt oil. Aluminum threaded shock bodies come pre-filled with 30wt fluid front and 35wt rear.
What’s in the box:
- Assembled 22S Sprint Car RTR
- Spektrum SLT2 transmitter
- 4x AA batteries for transmitter
- Metal 4-way nut driver
- Shock tools
- Non-winged nameplate (for wingless configuration)
What you need to buy separately (Blue/Green versions):
- A 2S LiPo battery with IC5 connector — max 30×140×47mm, supports shorty or standard packs
- A compatible LiPo charger
The Red combo (LOS-2359) solves this: it includes a Spektrum Smart 2S G2 4000mAh 30C LiPo and a Spektrum S120 USB-C charger. For anyone without existing 2S LiPo gear, the combo saves roughly $25 versus buying separately and removes a decision point entirely.
Need a battery and charger to go with it? Our battery and charger guide has you covered.
Durability in real-world use is where the nuance lives. The car is mechanically sound for casual and club-level driving. However, the community has identified several areas demanding pre-run attention: diff screws back out under racing loads (Loctite before the first run — this is non-negotiable), ball cup disengagements under aggressive driving, and stock servo reliability concerns. One AMain buyer running 7 cars simultaneously at a race day reported only 2 finishing without issues. That’s aggressive track racing, but it signals that the 22S Sprint rewards preparation.
Losi 22S Sprint vs 22S Drag vs 22S SCT
The 22S platform has spawned multiple distinct cars for different styles of driving. All share the same TLR 22 racing DNA, but the execution diverges significantly based on use case.
| Model | Type | Best For | Key Difference | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22S Sprint Car | Dirt oval sprint | Oval racing, sprint car fans | Aluminum offset chassis, 3300Kv, 2S only | $349–$399 |
| 22S Drag Car | No-prep drag | Drag strips, no-prep events | 6500Kv motor, 100A ESC, 2S–3S, 50+ mph | ~$459 |
| 22S SCT Brushless | Short course truck | Backyard bashing, dirt/grass | Composite chassis, AVC stability, older electronics | ~$299 |
The choice is fairly clear when you map use case to car. If oval racing is your thing, the 22S Sprint is the only real option — no other RTR in this lineup is designed for it. The Drag Car appeals to no-prep drag racing fans who want authentic straight-line launches; its 6500Kv motor on 3S is a completely different experience, hitting 50+ mph in seconds. The SCT is the workhorse — versatile, composite-chassis, bash-friendly — but it runs older Dynamite electronics and doesn’t have the sprint car’s racing sophistication.
If oval racing is your thing, the Losi NASCAR is another fantastic option on a different platform — purpose-built for asphalt oval racing with a completely different character.
Best Upgrades for the Losi 22S Sprint
Performance Upgrades
The stock Spektrum Firma 3300Kv brushless motor is a reasonable starting point for spec-class oval racing. For competitive club racing against purpose-built kits, the motor is typically the third upgrade priority — behind servo and chassis bracing — since the ESC can support a hotter motor without replacement. Many racers step up to a Tekin RS Gen2 ESC + Redline sensored motor combo (~$120–180 together) for precise throttle control and true sensored motor operation, which also opens the door to sanctioned racing classes.
For tires, Losi offers two official compound variations for the 22S Sprint:
- Losi Rear Hoosier Hard Compound (LOS-2425) — better for high-traction packed clay, reduces wear (~$40). Check Price on Amazon
- Losi Rear Hoosier Soft Compound (LOS-2442) — replacement for stock, ideal for looser surfaces (~$35). Check Price on Amazon
For tracks where you’re competitive enough to tune compounds, JConcepts Sprinter and DE Racing Outlaw Sprint lines work with the 12mm hex, though class rules may dictate specific tire brands.
Durability Upgrades
Start here before anything else:
Before running a single pack, apply blue threadlocker (Loctite) to every differential screw. This is the most widely cited community tip and the single modification that prevents the most common race-day failure — diff screws backing out under load.
Servo upgrade is equally critical. The stock Spektrum S684 has burn-out reports from early users. An EcoPower WP110T or equivalent waterproof metal-gear servo (~$12–20) is cheap insurance. While you’re in there, pick up the Losi Servo Saver Set (LOS-2393) as a preventative measure.
For structural upgrades, the TLR Aluminum Spindle Set (TLR-1062, ~$84) is the most-recommended chassis upgrade — CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum with three interchangeable carbon fiber steering arms. Check Price on Amazon. The TLR Aluminum Rear C & D Blocks Set (TLR-1055, ~$67) reduces chassis flex for consistent rear-end behavior on high-bite clay.
The Exotek Aluminum Rear Motor Gearbox (EXO2081) replaces the plastic stock case, improving gear alignment and cooling. Check Price on Amazon. The Exotek Slipper Eliminator (EXO2330) (~$35) is the go-to for racers who want direct drive and precise final drive ratio tuning. Check Price at Exotek Racing.
For bearings, the Fast Eddy TFE9610 rubber sealed kit ($20) is the budget-smart choice. Serious racers step up to the Whitz Racing HyperGlide ceramic kit ($44) or the FastEddy TFE9611 full ceramic set (~$94) for the lowest possible drivetrain friction.
Custom Wraps & Bodies
This is where the 22S Sprint absolutely shines as a hobby object. Holding one with a World of Outlaws replica livery is something else entirely — the scale accuracy of the body combined with a real driver’s livery makes it look like a trophy more than a toy.
The stock wrap looks sharp off the shelf, but after a few sessions the wing starts taking hits, and the body shows wear. That’s when the custom wrap rabbit hole opens up. I grabbed a World of Outlaws-style replica wrap with the number panel, door plates, and wing graphics all printed, and the car completely transformed. It went from “cool RC car” to “actual race car replica.”
The wrap ecosystem is robust and growing fast:
- Whipple’s Kustom Wraps (whipplekustomwraps.com) — The largest selection with 71+ designs for the 22S Sprint. Replica liveries for real WoO drivers including Jac Haudenschild, Kyle Larson, Rico Abreu, and Tyler Courtney. Pre-designed wraps run $50–$55; full custom with chassis skin $65.
- Darkside Studio Arts (darksidestudioarts.com) — Premium graphics in chrome, metallic, and fluorescent finishes (~$30–$60).
- Carpy’s Print Co. (carpys.com) — Fully custom designed-to-order wraps, including wings, side panels, and numbers.
- Truline Graphics and LanceBuilt Graphix — Additional options at ~$25–$40.
- Pro-Line lightweight clear wing set (PRO367401) (~$74) — for those who prefer to paint their own livery from scratch. Check Price at Horizon Hobby.
Losi also provides free downloadable body panel templates on their website if you want to design your own.
Where to Buy & Current Pricing
The 22S Sprint launched in March 2025 and has been in high demand ever since — periodically going out of stock at Horizon Hobby and commanding inflated prices at some retailers.
| Retailer | Blue (LOS-1387T1) | Green (LOS-1387T2) | Red w/ Battery (LOS-2359) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Hobby | $349.99 | $349.99 | $399.99 |
| Amazon | Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability |
The 22S Sprint is also available at AMain Hobbies and Tower Hobbies at the same MSRP.
Best value pick: The Red combo (LOS-2359) at $399.99 includes the Spektrum Smart 2S G2 4000mAh battery and S120 USB-C charger — saving you roughly $25 compared to buying those separately, while removing any compatibility guesswork on the IC5 connector.
Watch out for RC Planet, which has listed versions at $499–$999 during stock shortages. Buy at MSRP from Horizon Hobby, AMain, or Tower Hobbies whenever stock is available.
For upgrade parts, search Amazon for Losi 22S Sprint parts for options, and Amazon for 2S LiPo batteries if you need additional packs for longer run sessions.
For the complete lineup of Losi RC cars across all platforms, visit our complete guide to Losi RC cars.
FAQ
Is the Losi 22S Sprint Car fast?
At 25+ mph on 2S LiPo, the 22S Sprint is plenty quick for oval racing — fast enough to be exciting, controlled enough to practice consistent lines. It won’t match the top speed of the 22S Drag Car (50+ mph on 3S), but top speed isn’t the point. Oval racing is about momentum management and arc, not straight-line velocity.
What battery does the Losi 22S Sprint use?
The 22S Sprint uses a 2S LiPo battery with an IC5 connector. Maximum battery dimensions are 30×140×47mm — the car accepts both standard and shorty 2S packs. The Blue (LOS-1387T1) and Green (LOS-1387T2) versions do NOT include a battery. The Red version (LOS-2359) includes a Spektrum Smart 2S G2 4000mAh 30C LiPo with IC5 connector. If you have an older 2S LiPo with a Deans or EC3 connector, you’ll need an IC5 adapter or a new battery.
Can you race the Losi 22S Sprint on dirt?
Yes — and that’s exactly what it’s designed for. The 22S Sprint excels on packed clay oval tracks with banking. The offset aluminum chassis, rear weight bias, and soft-compound Hoosier tires are all optimized for dirt. You can also run it on flat asphalt or carpet ovals, though the left-turn chassis bias will feel unusual on non-banked surfaces.
What’s the difference between the Losi 22S Sprint and the 22S Drag?
Both sit on the TLR 22 platform, but they’re built for entirely different purposes. The Sprint Car uses a 3300Kv motor on 2S only with a left-turn-biased aluminum chassis, tuned for oval circling with soft Hoosier tires and lateral grip. The Drag Car uses a 6500Kv motor on 2S–3S with 100A ESC for straight-line launches hitting 50+ mph. The driving experience is completely different — the Sprint slides through corners while the Drag Car is all about straight-line hook and launch control.
Are there aftermarket bodies for the Losi 22S Sprint?
Absolutely — the wrap market has exploded since the March 2025 launch. Whipple’s Kustom Wraps leads with 71+ designs including World of Outlaws driver replicas. Darkside Studio Arts, Carpy’s Print Co., Truline Graphics, and LanceBuilt Graphix all offer options. Pro-Line produces a clear replacement wing set for custom paint jobs. Losi also provides free downloadable body templates on their website for DIY liveries.
Conclusion
The Losi 22S Sprint Car is the most unique RTR release in recent memory — a genuinely purpose-built oval racer with no direct competition in the RTR market. If sprint car racing (real or RC) has ever caught your eye, or if you’re looking for something completely different from the off-road and drag mainstream, this is your car. Apply Loctite to the diff screws before the first run, consider the servo upgrade early, and budget for a wrap because you’ll want one. For casual oval fun and spec-class racing, the stock car is excellent value. For serious competition against Custom Works and GFRP builds, plan a progressive upgrade path. Either way, this platform has staying power — and the RC dirt oval community is growing faster because of it.
Check Current Price on Amazon →
For our full breakdown of every Losi model across all platforms, visit our complete guide to Losi RC cars.
