James Seeright making CARS Tour debut with Hettinger Racing

After spending several years competing in Sportsman races in Florida and the deep south, James Seeright is making the transition to Pro Late Models.

Seeright, 22, from Winter Haven, Florida, will race full-time for Hettinger Racing in the zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour in 2026. His debut will come in Saturday’s KevinSaysYes.com 100 at Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly – a transition Seeright knows will be a challenge.

“It’s a lot different from the Sportsman car,” Seeright said after testing at Southern National Motorsports Park earlier this month. “I feel like it’s so much more responsive and I feel like there’s so much more grip. We run on eight-inch tires versus the 10-inch tires and a few minor details. I feel like it’s definitely a learning curve, but I feel like it’s adapting to my driving style.”

Along with the cars, Seeright will also see a different kind of track.

Southern National, which hosts the opening round of the zMAX CARS Tour, boasts 17 degrees of banking. Multiple other venues on the CARS Tour also have more banking than the tracks Seeright is used to racing in the UARA Sportsman Series and the Wheel Man Sportsman Series, where he has multiple wins including a 2024 triumph in the Billy Bigley Memorial.

“It’s definitely a learning curve, especially with not running many tracks of this banking” Seeright commented. “It’s just a new experience all around. I’ve never had this much technology with shocks and different stuff, little bit bigger motor than I’m used to. All around, it’s been a good experience so far. The Hettinger crew has me tuned up pretty well and I’m confident.”

Prior to racing in Sportsman, Seeright raced in Kart races across the East Coast.

Seeright will be part of a two-car effort for Hettinger Racing, who is also fielding a car for Chase Burrow in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour.

“With James and Chase, we’ve got two young guys who are hungry to learn and driven to win. As a team owner, that’s exactly what you want,” Hettinger said in a team press release. “Our job is to provide James and Chase with the best equipment in a positive and structured environment so each can go out and perform to their full potential.”

The 2026 zMAX CARS Tour season opener at Southern National Motorsports Park will commence at 3:00pm starting with the KevinSaysYes.com 100 for the Pro Late Models followed by the Folsom Fence Supply 125 for Late Model Stocks.  The race kicks off a two-day doubleheader weekend to start Speed Week 2026 at Southern National Motorsports Park.