The CARS Tour, now owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, and their partners, has experienced remarkable growth, specifically attracting traditional stock car fans with its enhanced profile. Recently, one of the series’ regular drivers has openly suggested that making races longer could be the next major step in driving Dale Earnhardt Jr CARS Tour growth.
Since the new ownership took over, the Late Model Racing Series has seen a sharp rise in popularity, with more fans tuning in during the NASCAR break, notably last year’s Olympic pause. Many viewers seeking more stock car excitement turned to the CARS Tour, cementing its status as a premier alternative for racing enthusiasts.
Driver Seeks Longer Races Amid CARS Tour Expansion
In recent months, the CARS Tour has made significant advancements, marking milestones such as its first ever major television broadcast. The North Wilkesboro event’s coverage on Fox Sports’ FS1 opened up new opportunities, including lucrative sponsorships for some participating teams. This broader exposure is seen as a pivotal moment in the series’ reach and commercial success.
Another highlight for the Tour was the record-setting race purse at the recent Throwback 225, held at Hickory Motor Speedway. The Late Model Stock division winner received $50,000, while second place earned $30,000, underscoring the championship’s growing appeal. Series leadership, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., have repeatedly expressed their ambition to make such substantial prizes a regular feature throughout the season.
“I would like to think that we’re gonna normalize these ideas, and they won’t be cockamamie, but I’m hoping that a $50,000 to win is a regular occurrence during the calendar year for multiple events, right?”
—Junior
Despite these positive changes, driver Landon Huffman has brought new attention to the structure of the races themselves. His central demand is for the CARS Tour to extend the length of its races, jokingly shouting “250!” in reference to the desired number of laps per event. While humor was present, Huffman’s push highlights a call for deeper strategic races, as longer events would introduce new complexities such as pit stops for tires and fuel—elements currently absent due to shorter race formats.
Potential Impact of Extended Laps on the Tour
Currently, standard CARS Tour races are around 150 laps, with the marquee competitions, like the throwback event, approaching 200–250 laps. The current setup does not require in-race pit stops for refueling or tires, but extending the race distance would bring this aspect into play, aligning the Tour with other major late model races and providing extra layers of competition. Although such a change would likely mean increased budgets for participating teams, it’s a common practice in the broader late model racing world.
The introduction of longer races is being closely watched by participants, sponsors, and fans alike. While it remains to be seen if the CARS Tour leadership will act on Huffman’s suggestion, most agree that the increased intensity and strategic depth could make the series even more captivating to its rapidly expanding audience.
If the CARS Tour adopts longer races as called for by Landon Huffman, the series could reach new heights, offering even greater entertainment value and potentially driving further interest in Dale Earnhardt Jr CARS Tour growth.
