For the first time ever, the zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Tour will be broadcast live on cable TV.
On Friday, May 16, the CARS Late Model Stock Tour race at North Wilkesboro Speedway will be broadcast live on FS1. In 2023, NASCAR came back to North Wilkesboro, holding races for both the Truck Series and the All-Star Race for the Cup Series. Both in 2023 and 2024, the CARS Tour joined them as part of the weekend action and the tradition is set to continue.
This year, practice and qualifying for both the Pro Late Models and Late Model Stocks will be on Thursday, May 15. The Pro Late Models will also race on Thursday night for the Reverend Whiskey 75. Friday will see practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, and following that will be the 100 lap feature for the Late Model Stocks, live on FS1.
The CARS Tour has been broadcast live to FloRacing since 2023, building a home for the series. Before then, the series used Pit Row TV to broadcast their races. This will mark the first time since the series’ inception that a CARS Tour race will be live on cable television. The Pro Late Models will still be on FloRacing for Thursday night’s 75 lap feature.
The booth will see a shakeup for the special occasion, as NASCAR Hall of Famer and series co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fellow series co-owner Kevin Harvick will call the action on Friday night alongside series staple and play-by-play announcer Eric Brennan.
“This is going to be an exciting and entertaining weekend of racing at North Wilkesboro,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I’m very proud about how much the series has grown and this is an incredible opportunity for our drivers and teams to showcase themselves. Kevin [Harvick] and I are going to have a lot of fun calling that race from the booth on Friday.”
CARS Tour executive director Kip Childress also emphasized how important this announcement is.
“Our primary mission is to look for ways to put our drivers, teams and partners in front of as many race fans as possible,” Childress said. “This announcement rewards everyone by introducing the CARS Tour to such a big television platform while also bringing the series closer to Sunday’s All-Star Race festivities. There’s no way to express the gratitude we have to Fox Sports, FloRacing, Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR for helping us make this possible.”
Not only is this a milestone for the series, it means the drivers, teams, and sponsors will all receive massive exposure. Ever since 2022, when the CARS Tour first started racing at North Wilkesboro, the entry lists have always been stacked with talent. This news now provides even more incentive for drivers to come race.
Further details on the weekend, including the title sponsor for the Late Model Stock race, will be announced at a later date. Tickets are available online at northwilkesborospeedway.com for both single day and weekend package tickets.
