What do NASCAR drivers do when they retire from competitive racing? Most of them either lean towards the broadcasting role or continue to compete on a part-time basis. Well, for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick they teamed up on a passion project apart from their duties as broadcasters. In 2023, both Harvick and Jr., alongside Jeff Burton and Justin Marks, took over the ownership of Southeast’s premier asphalt late model series. The series is famously known as the CARS Tour, and ever since the new ownership, the late model stock car racing has become popular alongside NASCAR events.
It’s not just a mere business proposition, as Dale Jr. and Harvick had big plans for the series. It started with the restriction of the North Wilkesboro Speedway and providing a platform to drivers like Carson Kvapil and Brenden Queen. Well, in a short time the CARS Tour have certainly gained a foothold in stock car racing world, and if we are to go by latest developments, they are just getting started.
Dale Jr. couldn’t hold his excitement about his collaboration with Kevin Harvick
We know that FOX hasn’t been able to deliver the quality broadcast they were once known for. With new commitments with IndyCar and a shift in the NASCAR media rights landscape, it’s tough to see how FOX remains connected with stock car racing. With just 14 races in their kitty, FOX has enough resources to fuel a big event, and they are linking up with the zMAX CARS Tour.
Now, let’s get to the heart of it. On April 1, 2025, Dale Jr. fired off a post on X that laid bare his feelings: “Big shoutout to @KevinHarvick for the ambition to present this idea many months ago. I’m looking forward to working with him in the booth for this event. Big deal for the series and its teams.” May 16, 2025. North Wilkesboro Speedway, a storied place of racing lore, will roar with the CARS Tour Late Model Stock race. For the first time, it‘s going on FOX Sports 1, broadcast live into living rooms across the country. A historic agreement with Flo Racing means that it‘ll stream as well, so no one’s left behind. Play-by-play announcer Eric Brennan will be flanked by Harvick and Dale Jr., their honest enthusiasm and decades of experience guaranteeing a broadcast that‘s as authentic as it comes. Let‘s take it back to where it all started.
Big shoutout to @KevinHarvick for the ambition to present this idea many months ago. I’m looking forward to working with him in the booth for this event. Big deal for the series and its teams. https://t.co/mPat4RMgwo
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 1, 2025
Kevin Harvick, a guy who‘s written his name into NASCAR history with smoke from tires and determination, wasn‘t about to become background noise after retiring his helmet. He‘s a co-owner of the CARS Tour with Dale Jr., Justin Marks, and Jeff Burton, but he wasn‘t content with just keeping it afloat—he wanted to propel it into untapped territory. This was not about survival; this was about putting the series on a stage it‘d never known before. Dale Jr., the stock car racing‘s everyman hero, didn‘t require persuading. Dale Jr. pulled back the curtain on the CARS Tour purse chart, and it‘s a doozy.
Dale Jr. unveiled the CARS Tour prize money chart and it’s a stunner. “It’s only fair to share this with the fans,” he said. The top prize is $10,000; second prize $5,000 and third 4,250. The winners’ checks are fatter than ever, a lifeline for drivers and teams who bleed for this sport. It‘s not merely being the first across the line, it‘s about respecting the grind that puts them there.
Harvick’s got his own skin in this game, and it’s personal. He reminisced about their shared history: “The moment me and Dale Jr. discovered Josh Berry—that was special.” Berry’s late-blooming rise owes much to their faith in him, and this broadcast feels like a tribute to that journey. But there’s a raw edge, too. Harvick’s son, Keelan, recently walked away from a dream debut with Dale Jr., saying, “It wouldn’t be fair,”
Well, for all the flak FOX has received so far this season, they seem to have found new partners when it comes to covering stock car racing.
Mini Tyrell breaks his winless streak
Mini Tyrrell finally did it. After years of grinding, the 20-year-old Virginian roared to victory at Wake County Speedway on March 29, 2025, snapping a 42-race winless streak in the zMAX CARS Tour. He didn’t just win; he dominated, leading all 125 laps on the tight quarter-mile track. We can’t help but feel the weight of that moment for him. “This one just speaks volumes for this race team, it’s been a while since we’ve been in victory lane, but I’m just so proud of my team,” Tyrrell told FloRacing. “This one was hard fought, well deserved. We’ve been working so hard, we had such a great year last year, we just never could capitalize.”
The drought had been brutal.“This is definitely like a big monkey falling off our back,” Tyrrell said. “These races are so hard. Just getting the pole this weekend was a win. That was incredible because this field is so tight. Each and every year, there’s more competition and more cars that get sent home. I’m so proud of myself and my team. I’m blessed.” He didn’t give up. Last year, he racked up the most top-10 finishes in the series, and this win was a massive payoff.
Behind him, chaos unfolded—cautions, spins, tempers flaring—but Mini stayed cool up front. Connor Hall grabbed second while Doug Barnes fought back to third after an early tangle. “I know I got into Doug and I did walk over to apologize,” Tyrrell said. “I locked up the brakes and he told me I was using everyone up all night. This is a tight quarters race track. The restarts get tight and things happen and I wanted to get to the lead as quick as I can and get away from everyone.”
For Mini and his family-run team, this isn’t just a win, it’s a lifeline. “This gives the whole team confidence,” Tyrell said. “It shows the team that we can do this.” After years of close calls, Mini’s back in victory lane, and you can feel the hope that more wins are coming. Who knows? He might be the one to bag the big prize during the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
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