Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks took a big swing when they bought the CARS Tour in 2023, grabbing a series with deep roots in short-track racing and a loyal fanbase. It wasn’t just a nostalgia play; the Tour’s a proven driver pipeline, churning out talent for NASCAR’s bigger stages. Dale Jr.’s been vocal about keeping it real, saying at Florence, “We love the grassroots connection… the vibe and energy that you get at a racetrack like Florence.”

The ownership’s goal isn’t to go all-in on glitzy venues but to boost purses, snag better sponsors, and make the fan experience pop while staying true to late-model racing’s heart. The FloRacing deal was a game-changer.

Since 2023, every CARS Tour race streams live, pulling in fans beyond the Southeast. In 2025, the West series got the same treatment, spreading the Tour’s reach without losing its soul. It’s a smart move; more eyes, more buzz, but still tied to the small tracks where drivers cut their teeth. Dale Jr.’s made it clear they’re not chasing NASCAR’s scale; it’s about making the series sustainable for teams and fans alike.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Smaller teams feel the pinch as costs creep up; better equipment, travel, and staff stretch budgets thin. Dale Jr.’s been asking teams what purse hikes would help, not just for winners but the whole field, to keep race weekends doable. Without that balance, the Tour risks alienating the grassroots core it’s built on.

Bigger purses and sponsors could cement it as the go-to proving ground for drivers who don’t have monster budgets. It’s not about replacing ARCA or Xfinity but carving a niche where raw talent shines. Deeper ties with NASCAR, like shared broadcasts or co-sanctioned races, could boost visibility without swallowing the Tour’s identity.

Still, some fans aren’t sold. Reddit’s buzzing with doomsday takes, predicting the CARS Tour’s headed for trouble under its star-studded owners. They fear NASCAR’s shadow or financial missteps could tank the series, turning Dale Jr.’s multi-million-dollar bet into a bust.

Fan fears for the CARS Tour

 “Being absorbed into NASCAR is essentially the worst thing that series could ever do.” The CARS Tour’s ownership, Dale Jr., Harvick, Burton, and Marks, ties it to NASCAR’s elite, but fans dread it becoming just another cog in the sanctioning body’s machine.

The Tour’s charm is its small-track vibe: local racers, simpler setups, and fans who feel the action up close. Since the 2023 buyout, the owners have kept it independent, focusing on grassroots over glitz, but the fear of “big NASCAR money” washing out that soul is real.

“Well, once Denny and MJ win their lawsuit, and the judge orders NASCAR broken up, the CARS tour will blossom, Dale Jr. will be the commissioner, and he will build it into the premier stock car series with all the rules that the NASCAR Subreddit demands!” a fan quipped.

The 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust suit against NASCAR’s charter system is real, challenging its control over teams. But the idea of a ruling dismantling NASCAR, with Dale Jr. crowned CARS Tour king, is pure fantasy; no filings or reports back it up. It’s a hopeful dream that the Tour could outshine NASCAR, but it’s a long shot.

“It’s a late model touring series. That’s all it is and all it needs to be. NASCAR got out of that game 20 years ago. They’re trying to latch on to the positive wave that the tour has had the past few years with local, short track race fans,” another said.

The CARS Tour’s late-model stock and pro-late divisions thrive on short tracks, and its 2025 schedule, with more East events, All-Star Race tie-ins, shows growth without abandoning roots. Fans want NASCAR to fix Cup’s issues, like Next Gen racing, and invest in short tracks, not piggyback on the Tour’s local cred.

“Maybe, but Mark’s will run himself out of business, Dale Jr will jump ship as soon as it isn’t profitable, and Harvick won’t care once he has bought Keelanda Cup ride at Penske or Hendrick,” one user speculated.

Profitability’s a real concern; motorsports eats cash, and the Tour needs sponsors and fans to survive. But there’s no evidence that Dale Jr. is bailing or Harvick is eyeing a Cup ride. It’s all Reddit chatter, not fact.

“No real way to tell, but I’d see it folding over getting bought by NASCAR or made into something that could actually compete with it. The CARS tour is short-track, late model stock car racing. Anything other than that would feel really weird,” another warned.

The Tour’s growing; more races, bigger media, but no reports suggest it’s folding or aiming to rival NASCAR. Fans just want it to stay true, not morph into something it’s not.