CARS Tour Pro Late Models expand west with Tim Huddleston

The CARS Tour branding is expanding westward.

In a licensing agreement with Kern County Raceway owner Tim Huddleston, CARS Tour Pro Late Model racing will come to five west coast tracks across 10 dates.

“We’re excited for this partnership and to add the CARS Tour to the West Coast racing schedule for 2024,” said Huddleston in a press released. “To have Kevin, Dale Jr., Justin and Jeff bring the CARS Tour to the West Coast and support the grassroots racing is what we need to continue to build a healthy series and showcase the next generation of drivers.”

It’s part of a larger vision that Harvick has to strengthen short track racing in his native California, and one shared by Huddleston, who purchased Kern County Raceway Park in November 2023 and renamed it Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park.

Harvick is a consultant for the property.

The 2014 champion is part of the leadership structure that determines rules and procedures and the new CARS Tour West will make two stops at Kern as part of the expansion.

“The West Coast is home for me and the tracks we’ll be going to this year with the zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series West are some of the ones that helped shape the path of my career,” Harvick said. “I was fortunate enough to have people help me along the way to make it to the top level of NASCAR, and that is what we want to do with the CARS Tour. We want to continue to build the series, bring attention to the drivers, the local tracks and help usher the next generation of drivers to the top levels of racing. Adding this West Coast schedule for 2024 is the next step to making that happen.”

In addition to the newly announced series, the U.S. Legend Cars will follow the same 10-week schedule and accompany the Pro Late Model races as an added feature for each weekend.

2024 zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series West Schedule:

• March 2 – Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Bakersfield, Calif.)
• April 13 – Irwindale Speedway (Irwindale, Calif.)
• May 11 – Irwindale Speedway (Irwindale, Calif.)
• May 25 – Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, Claif.)
• June 15 – The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas)
• July 3 – The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas)
• July 20 – Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, Calif.)
• August 31 – Irwindale Speedway (Irwindale, Calif.)
• October 5 – All American Speedway (Roseville, Calif.)
• November 16 – Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Bakersfield, Calif.)