Southern National Motorsports Park will now host the 2026 zMAX CARS Tour opener on February 28 after the initially-scheduled opener at Coastal Plains was canceled.
The series made the announcement on Friday afternoon.
“Due to inclement weather over the past few weeks, Coastal Plains Raceway is unable to be fully prepared for our upcoming event,” a series statement, posted to social media, stated. “As a result, the decision has been made to cancel the CARS Tour event on February 21, 2026.”
CARS Tour says the event will not be made up.
“The event will not be rescheduled and the series will adjust to a 14-event season for the 2026 season,” the statement continued. “The CARS Tour will now open one week later at Southern National Motorsports Park on February 28.”
Southern National has served as the season opener several times in CARS Tour history, including hosting the inaugural series race back in 2015. Last year, the season opened at Coastal Plains.
The zMAX CARS Tour opener at Southern National will kick off the first weekend in Speed Week at Southern National with both the Late Model Stock Car and Pro Late Model divisions competing. Local divisions will be in action on Sunday, March 1. The following week will see racing Wednesday through Saturday at the 4/10-mile track in Lucama, North Carolina.
“It’s exciting to have the CARS Tour back at Southern National,” Southern National Motorsports Park track owner Michael Diaz said. “This track has played such an important role in the CARS Tour’s history and they always put on an exciting show. This is also the best way to kick off Speed Week.”
Over the years, the CARS Tour has produced some of the top names in NASCAR racing, including Christopher Bell, Josh Berry, Carson Kvapil, Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, Sam Mayer, and many more. Bell, Berry, and Kvapil are among the drivers who have won in CARS Tour competition at the 4/10-mile Southern National Motorsports Park oval in Lucama.
Former CARS Tour winners at Southern National
- March 2015 – Todd Gilliland (LMSC); Cole Timm (SLM)
- May 2015 – Deac McCaskill (LMSC); Christopher Bell (SLM)
- April 2016 – Deac McCaskill (LMSC); Quinn Houff (SLM)
- November 2016 – Josh Berry (LMSC); Raphael Lessard (SLM)
- March 2019 – Brandon Pierce (LMSC); Bubba Pollard (SLM)
- March 2020 – Taylor Gray (LMSC); Matt Craig (SLM)
- March 2023 – Deac McCaskill (LMSC); Mike Hopkins (PLM)
- March 2024 – Carson Kvapil (LMSC); Kyle Campbell (PLM)
