Kevin Harvick Reveals CARS Tour’s North Wilkesboro Itinerary as SMART Modified Tour Set to Headline Finale Weekend

CARS Tour and SMART Modified Tour have arguably been the biggest tourneys for drivers in terms of their non-NASCAR racing ventures, and 2024 might just take things to the next level. As both series dropped their schedule for next year on Tuesday, NASCAR legend and CARS Tour co-owner Kevin Harvick unveiled the collaboration in a theatrical style.

The promotion video for the initiative also features Kevin Harvick’s son Keelan, who is in the driver’s seat. Two-time NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Champion Burt Myers also joined Kevin in the packed backseat of the car. The Pace-O-Matic SMART Modified Tour will have 15 races throughout North & South Carolina and Virginia. And as it turns out, it will host the season finale in synchronization with the zMAX CARS Tour, at the iconic North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Kevin Harvick buckles up for a fun ride to North Wilkesboro in the latest promotion video

The zMAX CARS Tour 2024 season kicks off on March 2 at the Southern National Motorsports Park. The first race will be for Pro Late Model drivers, while the Late Model Stock Car races will begin a week later from the same venue.

The exciting additions to the schedule have been Orange County and North Wilkesboro, with the latter hosting the coinciding finales for both series on October 19. Kevin Harvick retweeted the news of having a ‘combined’ season finale at the NWB Speedway with a fascinating video that shows the car starting from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. With son Keelan at the helm and defending SMART Mod champ Myers, the group is headed for the venue for the season’s final races.

Harvick tweeted, “We had a good chauffeur @KeelanHarvick !! Will be a fun weekend to end the @CARSTour and @SMARTMods_ together @NWBSpeedway@FloRacing”

CARS Tour owner Dale Earnhardt Jr couldn’t control his excitement about the collaboration and the grand return of two iconic tracks to the schedule. With FloRacing continuing its partnership to stream all 19 races of the season on its platform, Junior wanted to take a moment to give a vote of thanks and address the surrounding hype.

“There is a lot to unpack and a lot to be excited about this season – two trips to North Wilkesboro and adding Orange County to the schedule,” said Earnhardt Jr. “It’s going to be tough competition for the drivers and a great show for our fans in the stands, and for those watching on FloRacing. Our partnership with FloRacing has helped tremendously in building exposure and excitement around the zMAX CARS Tour. I’m looking forward to continuing that.”

The NB Speedway won’t just host the final races but also the consecutive 0.625-mile lap-long races on May 14 & May 15. With both the series providing exposure and opportunity, Burt Myers also had a good feeling.

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Burt Myers believes the promotional skit wouldn’t have been possible 5 years ago

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The CARS Tour ownership crew is a mix of different personalities. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, and Justin Marks own the competition as partners and have shared a similar vision for the series’ progress. As the former NASCAR stars continue to reciprocate the love from fans after their retirement through this project, Burt Myers believes in the potential of this exciting collaboration.

“I think it’s a big thing for the SMART Tour to close the season there,” claimed Myers, as per FloRacing. “Being a part of the video with Kevin, Chris, and (Matthew) Dillner was a lot of fun. The ownership group at the CARS Tour really gets it. From Dale Jr, to Kevin, Jeff Burton to Justin Marks, those guys have been there and done that in the sport and know how hard it is to be a short Track racer.”

The two series have been a leading platform for youngsters in the sport to get some much-needed exposure to race alongside the big guns of NASCAR. It has also allowed regular national series drivers to test their skills and gear up for the upcoming season. However, short-track racers have received the most significant boost through it.

Addressing the same, Myers said, “Sometimes you race Saturdays, and then you watch on Sundays and can feel forgotten. That ownership group has come together to give back to the short tracks. Think about it, maybe five years ago, this wouldn’t have happened? Kevin might not have done that skit.”

“Economically, it works out for us racers,” explained Myers about the feasibility of the partnership. “You are already down there, so now running two shows, a Friday and Saturday just 40-mins apart, should help everybody that is going down there make the trip more worthwhile. Racing and a couple of days on the beach isn’t a bad thing.” 

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This is an incredible chance for drivers to showcase their skills and versatility in two different forms of racing. It is also an incredible race for the fans to attend, especially at an iconic track like North Wilkesboro.