On dirt tracks lit by floodlights and fueled by passion, High Limit Racing has stormed into the spotlight with all the flair of a perfectly executed slide job. Co-founded by Kyle Larson, the series didn’t just arrive. It announced itself. With massive payouts, packed grandstands, and races built for fans and racers alike, High Limit has redefined what grassroots motorsports can look like in the modern era.
It’s fast, thrilling, and refreshingly fan-friendly, raising the bar with every lap. From its inaugural season, it’s been clear: High Limit isn’t just about sprint cars. It’s about showing what’s possible when bold vision meets smart promotion. And as it turns out, Dale Jr., from his asphalt world, has been watching closely, notebook in hand, ready to bring some of that dirt track magic home.
Dale Jr. charts fresh path for CARS Tour with dirt-inspired vision
The CARS Tour has long been a proving ground for short-track hopefuls. It has been woven deep into the roots of Southeastern racing culture. Since its inception, the series has provided an accessible launchpad for talent hungry to climb the NASCAR ladder. But in recent years, the need to revitalize its appeal and reinforce its financial foundation has become more urgent.
Enter Dale Earnhardt Jr., a longtime advocate of short-track racing and now one of the series’ principal stakeholders. Teaming up with fellow NASCAR alums like Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks, Earnhardt Jr. purchased the CARS Tour in 2023. His vision? To ensure that short-track racing not only survives but thrives as a vital part of the sport’s ecosystem.
To elevate the series, Earnhardt Jr. has partnered with FloRacing to promote what’s being hailed as the “biggest single night in pavement late model racing history”—The Throwback Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway. Scheduled for August 2, the event will offer over $200,000 in prize money. This includes $50,000 for the Late Model Stock winner and $30,000 for the Pro Late Model champ.
As Dale Jr. and the rest of the CARS Tour ownership group have chartered the course forward for the series, they’ve studied High Limit Racing to see how that series has quickly established itself. https://t.co/AVeVogZLug pic.twitter.com/ASBse7e2Px
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) April 11, 2025
In a realm where four-figure payouts are still the norm, the $200,000 prize pool marks a seismic shift. It is cleverly designed to attract deeper fields, build prestige, and raise the floor of grassroots racing. As Jordan Bianchi noted, Dale Jr. and his team have been studying the High Limit Racing series co-owned by Kyle Larson to see how that series has quickly established itself. “There is a business model that creates that opportunity, and we’d love to take a look inside that model and see what’s realistic for us,” Dale Jr. said as per The Athletic. “(High Limit’s) car counts are a little larger. When they have a big-money raise, they may get twice the cars, twice the entries, and that’s a big help for them to be able to pay that purse.”
Dale Jr. isn’t shy about learning from what works, even if it comes from outside pavement racing. High Limit’s streamlined events, fan-first approach, and headline-worthy purses have reshaped expectations. If The Throwback Classic succeeds, it could become the CARS Tour’s flagship event. With FloRacing and Junior at the helm, short-track racing may finally be entering a new era.
From grassroots to the national stage – CARS Tour’s rapid rise
Launched in 2015, the CARS Tour began as a bold effort to reinvigorate pavement short-track racing. It hosted two divisions. Late Model Stock Cars and Super Late Models primarily across the Southeast. Events like the Old North State Nationals and Throwback 276 at Hickory Motor Speedway quickly became fan favorites.
While initially operating on a shoestring budget, the series quickly gained traction with fans who appreciated its authenticity. In an era where corporate glitz often overshadows grit, the CARS Tour leaned into its blue-collar identity. Drivers with limited resources but loads of heart found a proving ground. The Tour’s rough-around-the-edges charm became part of its appeal, resonating with a fan base hungry for real racing.
However, the turning point came in 2023 when Dale Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks formed an ownership group and acquired the series. With the support of motorsports streaming giant FloRacing, the CARS Tour began to professionalize. It started enhancing its broadcasts, improving purses, and elevating its profile. The result? Bigger car counts, packed grandstands, and increased attention from NASCAR insiders.
Its growth is now tangible. CARS Tour alumnus Josh Berry became a full-time Cup Series winner in 2024. Thus, he proved the ladder from local short tracks to NASCAR’s highest level is still viable. More recently, the series was included in NASCAR’s All-Star Race weekend broadcast at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It has FS1 broadcasting the race and Dale Jr. and Harvick joining as analysts, which is a massive validation of the Tour’s progress.
As the spotlight intensifies, the question looms: Can the CARS Tour preserve its grassroots soul while continuing to climb the national ranks? Or will the pressures of growth reshape it into something entirely new? Let us know what you think!
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