Dale Earnhardt Jr has struck a major deal with Speedway Motorsports that could reshape the zMAX CARS Tour. This marks another milestone for the series as it continues to grow under the leadership of Dale Jr, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks. 

The CARS Tour on Wednesday announced that Speedway Motorsports and CEO Marcus Smith have joined the ownership group. After the announcement, Dale Earnhardt Jr put out an X post where he shared his thoughts about the deal. 

"Marcus and I have been friends for a long time. He's been able to see what we are building as a sponsor of the Cars Tour for a few years now," Earnhardt Jr. posted on July 15. "There are thousands of Legends car racers across the country that could potentially choose a path through the Cars Tour on their journey to becoming NASCAR champions. This is us all working together to provide those opportunities for current and future racers."

Since taking it over in 2023, Earnhardt Jr., Harvick, Burton, and Marks have focused on expanding the zMAX CARS Tour while also preserving its grassroots identity. Over the past few seasons, the series has attracted huge crowds and gained media attention. 

Per Earnhardt Jr.'s X post, this deal will give the zMAX CARS Tour access to all of SMI-owned tracks that host NASCAR series races, including North Wilkesboro, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  

While Dale Earnhardt Jr. emphasized the opportunities this partnership could bring, Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith has also shared his excitement about joining the star-studded ownership group.

Marcus Smith opens up on joining Dale Earnhardt Jr’s CARS Tour

Post the announcement, while talking to the media, Marcus Smith explained why Speedway Motorsports joined the NASCAR Hall of Famer and his company. 

"Since the creation of U.S. Legend Cars International in 1992, Speedway Motorsports has been committed to grassroots racing and developing the next generation of NASCAR drivers," Smith said, according to a July 15 CARS Racing Tour report.

"This investment with the zMAX CARS Tour is a logical next step for us to help Legend Car drivers move to late models and then to NASCAR’s national series, while continuing to maximize a fantastic marketing platform for our zMAX line of automotive additives." 

Although the partnership marks a new chapter, the relationship between CARS Tour and Speedway Motorsports is far from new. Previously, the series held races at North Wilkesboro since 2022 and at Bristol Motor Speedway from 2017 through 2020, both of the track owned by SMI. 

This deal brings together two organisations with a shared love for preserving grassroots racing. The zMAX CARS Tour will enter a new chapter in its journey.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit