It's been said by guys who have driven and won in both sprint cars and dirt late models that the late models take less talent and are easier to drive and more experience to figure out the set up and tire selection as opposed to a sprint car.

A driver of a dirt late model is less apt to be injured, or worse, than a sprint car driver in the event of crash and that no doubt influences participation. I was told by a well known Midwest dirt late model driver who also is a very good friend that he drove a sprinter one time and never wanted to drive one again. His exact words were that "a sprint car is way too violent" and he never wrecked, it was just too violent for his taste.