CARS Tour Returns To North Wilkesboro Speedway: Everything You Need To Know – FloRacing

The CARS Tour makes its return to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway May 14 – 15 with a two-night doubleheader for the Late Model Stock Cars and Pro Late Models. While the entry list is still to be released, here is Everything You Need to Know, from the event schedule, to event history, and much more, for the CARS Tour’s return to North Wilkesboro.

Why is North Wilkesboro Speedway So Special?

If you’re unfamiliar with North Wilkesboro Speedway, then you’re unfamiliar with the reasons why this track in the foothills of North Carolina is so special. But this track, and Wilkes County, are so important to the entire history of NASCAR.

We all know the stories about how NASCAR was started by moonshiners and bootleggers running their illegal alcohol at night under the light of the moon and cover of darkness in cars that were specially modified to be able to outrun the police officers of the time. Eventually those moonshiners decided they wanted to see who had the fastest cars, and thus, stock car racing in America was born. 

The epicenter for the moonshining business was Wilkes County, which eventually became the home of the North Wilkesboro Speedway in the mid-1940s by Enoch Staley. Staley, Lawson Curry, John Mastin, and the Combs family didn’t have enough money to properly grade the land when they built what was originally a dirt track, which is why the track goes downhill into turn one and uphill into turn three. Eventually, in 1957, the track was paved and became the 0.625-mile oval that we know it to be today.

The track hosted NASCAR racing until its doors were famously shuttered after the 1996 season, with many in the sport feeling that a small track in the foothills of North Carolina no longer should hold a place on a schedule full of massive stadiums capable of holding more than 100,000 people at each event. 

It was never torn down, but instead was being reclaimed by nature for years until Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Speedway Motorsports Inc.’s CEO, Marcus Smith, cleared the weeds and overgrowth so the track could be scanned by iRacing and live on in the virtual world. But thanks to that effort, and the allocation of Covid-related funds by the state of North Carolina, the track was able to be revitalized and reborn.

The CARS Tour helped lead that effort in August of 2022. Racing returned to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 2011. Late Models, Modifieds, and other various divisions raced at the facility during a week-long extravaganza, but it was the CARS Tour’s event that proved racing could work at the facility once again. A massive sold-out crowd turned out to watch Carson Kvapil beat Mason Diaz and Earnhardt for the victory.

After that, SMI and NASCAR decided to host the NASCAR All-Star Race festivities at North Wilkesboro in 2023 and now again in 2024. The CARS Tour returned in 2023 as part of those festivities with a Late Model Stock Car race won by Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, and a Pro Late Model race won by veteran Augie Grill.

This year, the CARS Tour will race at North Wilkesboro Speedway twice. The Tour is hosting a two-night doubleheader on May 14 and 15 as part of NASCAR’s All-Star Week again, and then the Tour will return in October for a massive three-series season finale weekend with both CARS Tour divisions and the SMART Modified Tour.

What Big Names Are Racing with the CARS Tour at North Wilkesboro?

When the CARS Tour comes to North Wilkesboro Speedway, fans can expect to see some big names on the entry list. Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran the first two CARS Tour races at the historic facility. Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain, and Chase Briscoe all took part in 2023’s festivities. 

While the entry list has yet to be released, we do know that NASCAR Cup Series driver and former CARS Tour champion Josh Berry will be competing in a third Kevin Harvick Inc. Late Model Stock Car. JR Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones will both be in competition in with the LMSC division as well. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor and multi-time CARS Tour winner Layne Riggs has also filed an entry with Tom Usry and will be a teammate to Kaden Honeycutt. 

Those are just a few of the names expected from the NASCAR world, but there are plenty of big stars in their own right that are full-time competitors with the CARS Tour, like two-time and defending series champion Carson Kvapil. Kvapil, the son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, turned a lot of heads when he finished second in just his second Xfinity Series start at Dover Motor Speedway two weeks ago.

Then there’s Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, the defending winner of this race. Queen just missed out on his first CARS Tour championship one year ago to Kvapil after scoring four victories. Queen will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut next week, also at North Wilkesboro, in a Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage.

Three-time CARS Tour LMSC champion Bobby McCarty is looking to ride the lift for the first time at North Wilkesboro. McCarty is a fan-favorite with the CARS Tour due to his on-track success, but also his off-track blue-collar relatability. 

With the full entry list expected to be released soon, those are just a few of the full-time drivers that fans should get acquainted with.

CARS Tour and NASCAR All-Star at North Wilkesboro Schedule

The CARS Tour is just part of an entire week’s worth of events at North Wilkesboro Speedway during NASCAR All-Star Week. Below is the schedule for the entire week.

Tuesday, May 14

Wednesday, May 15

Friday, May 17

Saturday, May 18

Sunday, May 19

How Can I Watch the CARS Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway?

As with every CARS Tour race in 2024, Tuesday and Wednesday’s Pro Late Model and Late Model Stock Car races will be broadcast live on FloRacing and will be included in the FloRacing subscription package.

Fans looking to become FloRacing subscribers can do so by clicking here.