“I don’t think the tracks are broken. And I don’t really necessarily believe the car is broken.” This was Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaking about the torrid short track racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. The tire compound strategy with Goodyear hasn’t yielded any positive results; in fact, they have let go of Richmond Raceway from the schedule to accommodate an international race. So it’s clear, NASCAR will deal with short track racing as per their convenience, but Dale Jr. isn’t waiting around to take traditional stock car racing to new heights.

What started as a vision when Earnhardt Jr. acquired the CARS Tour alongside Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks has blossomed into something bigger than many imagined. After bringing North Wilkesboro back into the spotlight, the grassroots racing series is now going to rubbing shoulders with the big boys, NASCAR, during the All-Star weekend.

A Landmark Broadcasting Deal for Short Track Racing

For the first time in CARS Tour history, FS1 will carry live flag-to-flag coverage of the series’ premier division in coordination with FloRacing. The Late Model Stock Car race will move to Friday night, May 16, following Cup qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway – positioning the short track showcase directly in the heart of All-Star weekend festivities.

“If you’re wanting to support Short Track Racing and the Cars Tour, the ZMAX Cars Tour, tuning in is the best way you can do that,” Earnhardt emphasized in his announcement. The excitement in his voice was unmistakable: “How many people are going to be able to see the Cars Tour on FS1 for the first time? Being in the booth with Kevin, talking about our series, I can’t wait. I just can’t believe it.”

CARS Tour executive director Kip Childress underscored the significance of this opportunity: “Our primary mission is to look for ways to put our drivers, teams and partners in front of as many race fans as possible. This announcement rewards everyone by introducing the CARS Tour to such a big television platform while also bringing the series closer to Sunday’s All-Star Race festivities.” The broadcast team will feature Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick alongside lead CARS Tour play-by-play announcer Eric Brennan, who has previously worked with FS1 for ARCA Menards Series broadcasts, creating a perfect blend of star power and experienced commentary.

The Late Model Stock Car race kicks off a busy slate of North Wilkesboro events for FS1, with the green flag set to wave Friday evening following Cup qualifying. For those already subscribed to FloRacing, coverage will still be available there as well. “It’s getting even cooler because the late model stock portion is going to move to Friday night following Cup qualifying, and it will be on FS1,” Dale Earnhardt Jr noted. “If you want to watch it on Flow, it’ll still be there on Flow.”

This milestone broadcast represents another chapter in North Wilkesboro’s remarkable renaissance. After sitting dormant for years, the historic track has roared back to life, first with the NASCAR All-Star Race returning for the past two seasons and now expanding to include more grassroots racing content on national television.

“This is going to be an exciting and entertaining weekend of racing at North Wilkesboro,” Earnhardt stated. “I’m very proud about how much the series has grown and this is an incredible opportunity for our drivers and teams to showcase themselves.” The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro will feature eight races total, including the Window World 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, NASCAR Whelen Modified Series action, and both divisions of the CARS Tour. The Late Model Stock race moving to Friday night and gaining national television exposure signifies the continued commitment to honoring racing’s roots while pushing the sport forward.

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Behind The Scenes: Earnhardt’s Busy Broadcasting Schedule

While fans eagerly await seeing Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick call the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro, few know that Dale Jr. has already been hard at work preparing for his busy broadcasting season. Just this past weekend, Earnhardt and longtime colleague Steve Letarte were spotted at Kansas Speedway doing rehearsal work with Adam Alexander for the upcoming NASCAR coverage on Amazon Prime, which begins with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25.

The pair share a rich history that began in the garage area, with Letarte serving as Earnhardt’s crew chief from 2011-2014 – a period that saw Junior return to Victory Lane at Michigan in 2012 after a four-year drought. They later reunited in the NBC broadcast booth for five seasons, and now they’re preparing to work together again on Amazon Prime. “Rehearsal day… Prepping for @nascar on @sportsonprime with @dalejr & @adam1alexander,” Letarte wrote on social media, giving fans a rare glimpse into the preparation that goes into these broadcast transitions.

After having an off-season last year, Dale Jr. is springing back in action with his duties in the booth for the CARS Tour and NASCAR. It will be interesting to see how Jr. adapts to the new set-up at Prime Video, as it’s their first ever NASCAR stint as an official streaming partner.