Nashville, Newport Headline 2026 zMAX CARS Tour Schedule

An ambitious, diverse 2026 schedule for the zMAX CARS Tour will see the series tackle 15 events at 15 different venues.

Headlining the calendar is two new tracks for the two CARS Tour divisions, both of which are in the state of Tennessee. Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway returns to the CARS Tour after previously hosting Super Late Model events for the series, while Newport Speedway finds itself on the schedule for the first time.

Nashville Fairgrounds was opened to the public back in 1958 and boasts a proud history of racing that includes hosting events for all three of NASCAR’s top divisions and the USAR Pro Cup Series, among other tours. Four CARS Super Late Model Tour races were previously held at Nashville Fairgrounds from 2018 until the series’ last year in 2021.

The arrival of both CARS Tour divisions to Newport Speedway on Oct. 3 serves as a continuation of the facility’s ongoing revitalization process. New owner Chuck Ward reopened Newport in April after years of inactivity, with the complex now boasting modern amenities and a vibrant, competitive racing culture.

Following Newport on the 2026 schedule will be the season finale, which moves to South Boston Speedway on Oct. 17 after being at North Wilkesboro Speedway the past two years. The South Boston finale restarts a CARS Tour tradition, as the series crowned champions at the historic Virginia short track from 2017-2019.

Although North Wilkesboro no longer ends the CARS Tour season, it still holds an important date on the 2026 calendar. As part of a busy weekend that will see the NASCAR Cup Series participate in its first points-paying event at North Wilkesboro since 1996, the two CARS Tour divisions will kick off the festivities on Friday, July 17.

Other significant changes to the calendar include Caraway Speedway’s date moving to April 25 after serving as a midweek race around Independence Day weekend. Southern National Motorsports Park is also back on the CARS Tour schedule for the first time since the 2024 season.

Just like in 2025, the upcoming zMAX CARS Tour season will commence at Coastal Plains Raceway for Late Model Stocks and Pro Late Models, with the date being moved to Feb. 21 instead of early March. All 15 CARS Tour events will be streamed live on FloRacing

For more information on the zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Tour and the zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour, visit www.carsracingtour.com. Be sure to stay active and social with the tour by liking “CARS Tour” on Facebook, following @CARSTour on X (formerly known as Twitter) and scrolling through photos on Instagram cars_tour.

Additional series information can be obtained by calling the CARS Tour series office, located in Mooresville, NC, at 704-662-9212.

-CARS Tour Press Release
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America

2026 zMAX CARS Tour Schedule