Short-track racing is considered the lifeblood of NASCAR’s grassroots and the foundation of the sport’s history. However, the format has taken a major hit, ever since the ‘Next-Gen’ car was introduced in 2022. With fans hungry to watch quality short-track races on some of the most iconic venues in American motorsport, the CARS Tour has come to the forefront. While it’s important to give fans their fix of action-packed races, it’s equally necessary for journalists to cover the events, keeping the public up to date with the latest updates from the world of motorsport.

Recognizing Sportsnaut’s Matt Weaver for his dedication and quality coverage of the CARS Tour, the journalist was awarded the Jack McNelly Award of Excellence. At a time when the very existence of short-track racing is being questioned, Weaver’s contributions have been a much-needed addition to the dwindling appreciation for grassroots racing.

Matt Weaver is given credit where it’s due

The CARS Tour saw a monumental change occur on January 9, 2023. A consortium of four companies, Kevin Harvick Incorporated, Trackhouse Racing Team, DEJ Management, and Jeff Burton Autosports acquired the racing series, marking a significant shift in the approach towards grassroots racing. Since then, they have announced that Pro Late Models will be shifted to East and West Tours as part of Kevin Harvick’s desire to expand the series. While CARS West will go by the same Pro Late Model rules, the races will take place in California and Nevada.

Having played an important role in covering this monumental moment, along with race coverage of the CARS Tour, Matt Weaver was duly recognized for his contributions to the sport. Expressing gratitude for the achievement, the journalist wrote on X, “Very grateful to receive the Jack McNelly Award of Excellence at the CARS Tour banquet tonight. There’s a lot of reasons to feel pride or gratitude but having something with Jack’s name on it supercedes them. Jack embodies everything I aspire towards in my work and passion.”

Having been a dirt racer in the past, Matt Weaver’s keen insight into the sport comes from personal experience. He has covered a variety of motorsport disciplines over the years, but his expertise has always been in local short-track events. Before his time at Sportsnaut, the writer served as Editor-in-Chief of Racing America while also working with the Autoweek magazine. Growing up in a racing family, Weaver’s background and his experience on dirt and oval tracks have given him unparalleled insights when covering races.

The 2024 CARS Tour season concluded on October 19th at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and the memorable season saw Brenden Queen and Kaden Honeycutt win the Late Model Stock and Super Late Model, respectively. Sitting on the sidelines was Matt Weaver, covering the intricacies of the sport and the latest developments from the racetrack. At a time when the short-track package is leaving much to be desired in NASCAR, grassroots racing is coming to the rescue, while Weaver’s contributions are popularizing the format for motorsport enthusiasts. Could Weaver’s coverage of the sport and the recognition he has received for the same lead to a Cup series veteran taking part next year?

Could Martin Truex Jr. compete in the CARS Tour in 2025?

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Martin Truex Jr. seems to be in demand. The veteran driver recently retired from full-time racing after the 2024 season concluded, but his days of competing in the fast lane are far from over. The New Jersey native already has an offer from former teammate Denny Hamlin to compete in the No. 50 23XI Racing car for the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. Could the 44-year-old also make a few appearances in the CARS Tour during the 2025 season?

When asked if Dale Jr. had approached the veteran about the possibility of competing in the CARS Tour next year, Truex Jr. replied, “Not yet.” However, the semi-retired driver expressed his desire to race alongside Junior, saying, “I’m not sure. It would be fun to race with him again, so if he can’t do any Xfinity races, I might have to jump over there (CARS Tour) and do that.” Getting a high-profile driver such as Martin Truex Jr. would raise the profile of the racing series and attract fans to the racetrack.

The 2017 Cup Series winner has previously expressed his desire to return to grassroots racing. Eager to get back to where it all began, Truex Jr. said, “I’d go back to my home track first which is Wall Stadium. They have a big Thanksgiving race every year, the Turkey Derby, and I won it when I was 19. It’s a big race up in that area so I’d like to do it again.” With the 44-year-old revisiting the venue that started it all, could a few appearances in the CARS Tour also be on the cards? Time will tell. However, fans will be eager to see him compete on short tracks more regularly going forward.