The CARS Tour has grown fast, but 2025 marks a major milestone. This year, for the first time, national TV will show the Late Model Stock race from North Wilkesboro Speedway live on FS1. That’s a big step for grassroots racing, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is at the centre of it. The move brings major visibility to the sport he’s fought hard to uplift. With All-Star weekend returning, the CARS Tour now shares the stage with NASCAR’s elite. It’s a clear sign that short track racing is back in the spotlight where it belongs.

Speaking about the national exposure, he had said, “It’s great for us. I’m hearing our teams are getting a lot of interest from sponsors. And new sponsors for that particular event. It’s awesome to hear that. I’m excited that the teams are living the things that are happening.” Notably, Dale Jr. hasn’t just put his name on the series, he’s poured energy into rebuilding it. Alongside Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks, he helped buy and reshape the CARS Tour. Their vision has been simple: bring old-school stock car racing to a wider audience without losing its edge.

That dream now becomes real under the Friday night lights at North Wilkesboro. The FS1 broadcast will showcase the Window World 100 with Dale Jr. and Harvick in the booth, pushing the series to a bigger audience than ever before. Looking back at last year’s North Wilkesboro event, fans saw thrilling action despite weather delays. Conner Jones captured a big win after charging past Carson Kvapil in the final laps of the LMSC race.

It was his second consecutive win to close out the 2024 season. Jones now returns with a fresh car, ready to defend his title at a track he calls one of his favorites. Although Jones had a rough start to 2025, his form is returning, and he’s fired up for a repeat. “Another [North Wilkesboro] win would be pretty exciting. It’s fun to get up there and think about how many people have been in the exact same place you are,” Jones said. But to watch him defend, here is our fan guide to help you.

Schedule and Where to Watch Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Cars Tour race

Talking about the schedule, it’s important to mention that the Cars Tour will be part of this year’s NASCAR All-Star Race weekend. The series fires up Thursday, May 15, with a full day of action. Practice begins at noon with the Pro Late Models, followed by Late Model Stock cars. Meanwhile, qualifying starts at 6:15 p.m. for PLMs and 7:00 p.m. for LMSC. The Reverend Sour Mash Whiskey 75 PLM race goes green at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15, the Window World 100 headlines the night after the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge. That race starts at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Coverage splits between FloRacing and FS1. Thursday’s events, including both practice sessions and the PLM race, will stream exclusively on FloRacing. On Friday, the LMSC race, the Window World 100, will be available on FS1 and FloRacing. This is the first time FS1 will offer live, flag-to-flag coverage of a CARS Tour race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. highlighted the importance of this milestone.

“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,” he said in a promotional video. He further encouraged fans to tune in, adding, “If you’re wanting to support Short Track Racing and the CARS Tour, tuning in is the best way you can do that.”

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Weather Forecast for the Cars Tour weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Rain has been a problem in the past at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Who can forget last year’s event, which was rescheduled after heavy rainfall on Tuesday? However, this year, conditions are better so far. Thursday (May 15) looks mostly clear, with just a 25% chance of rain and highs around 29°C. Friday shows a 40% chance of afternoon storms, with warm temps near 29°C. There’s a flood warning in the region as of May 13, but it should expire before race day. So far, all events are set to run on time.

Ticket details for the Cars Tour races

Ticket prices for both Late Model Stock race and Pro Model Stock Race are fan friendly. Thursday tickets for Pro Model Race range from $11 to $34, making it affordable for families or first-time fans. Similarly, for Friday’s main events, including the Late Model Stock race on FS1, prices rise up to $86. This ticket will also allow you to watch some NASCAR All Star action as well which makes it super affordable.

Entry List Cars Tour North Wilkesboro Speedway:

Late Model Stock Entry List (43 cars):

Pro Late Model Entry List (26 cars):