Speedway Motorsports has joined the ownership group for the zMAX CARS Tour, the series announced on Wednesday prior to its return to North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Speedway Motorsports owns several tracks across the country, including North Wilkesboro, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Speedway Motorsports also owns U.S. Legend Cars and INEX International, which is the nation’s primary governing body for Legend Cars and Bandoleros.
Speedway Motorsports joins NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks in joint ownership of the zMAX CARS Tour.
“The CARS Tour has grown leaps and bounds the past few years and welcoming Marcus into the ownership group is just another step in our effort to bring the best Late Model racing in America to as many people as possible,” zMAX CARS Tour co-owner Justin Marks said in a series press release. “Marcus’ experience, perspective and business ecosystem will prove very valuable as the CARS Tour continues to establish itself as can’t-miss short track racing.”
Marcus Smith joined the other series owners for a photo-op. In a series release, he spoke about INEX and how it has helped to cultivate NASCAR stars and said co-ownership of the zMAX CARS Tour was a logical step forward.
“Since the creation of U.S. Legend Cars International in 1992, Speedway Motorsports has been committed to grassroots racing and developing the next generation of NASCAR drivers,” Smith said. “This investment with the zMAX CARS Tour is a logical next step for us to help Legend Car drivers move to late models and then to NASCAR’s national series, while continuing to maximize a fantastic marketing platform for our zMAX line of automotive additives.”
The CARS Tour launched in 2015, born from the ashes of the USAR Pro Cup Series, by then series president Jack McNelly. In its earliest seasons, the CARS Tour ran both Late Model Stock Cars and Super Late Models but transitioned away from Super Late Models in favor of Pro Late Models in 2022. Ownership changed hands in January 2023 when Earnhardt, Harvick, Burton, and Marks took the helm.
While Speedway Motorsports ownership is a new addition, the CARS Tour has had ties with the organization in the past, holding races at North Wilkesboro since 2022 and at Bristol Motor Speedway from 2017 through 2020, with Late Model Stock Cars running the first two years and Super Late Models running all four.
Additionally, the title sponsor of the CARS Tour, zMAX, has had a lengthy relationship with Speedway Motorsports, most notably as the entitlement sponsor of zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway since the facility opened in 2008.
The zMAX CARS Tour will race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Friday night with both the Late Model Stock Car and Pro Late Model divisions in action leading up to the first NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race to be held at the legendary facility since September 1996. The 75-lap Pro Late Model race will commence at 6:00pm, followed by Late Model Stock Cars at 7:00pm. FloRacing will have live flag-to-flag coverage of the race.
