We’re now just days away from the CARS Tour Throwback Classic presented by FloRacing, which is set to be the richest night in pavement Late Model racing history in America. Two races, 225 laps, more than 70 cars, and a total of $80,000 being paid out to the winners makes this a night to remember.

From the entry list to the event schedule, broadcast information and more, we’ve got you covered right here with all of the information you could possibly need to know ahead of this weekend’s Throwback Classic.

What Is The Throwback Classic?

The Throwback Classic presented by FloRacing is the CARS Tour’s annual throwback event, held each year at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The CARS Tour teams run special throwback paint schemes in tribute to the legends of the sport that came before. Whether that’s to household names like Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Rusty Wallace, or to family members and home track heroes, the Throwback Classic gives today's stars the chance to recognize those that paved the way.

Race fans also have the ability to choose their favorite throwback schemes with the Best Appearing Throwback award voting taking place on FloRacing beginning on Friday afternoon. Fans can vote on every throwback being run this year with the top three in voting receiving special prize packs from FloRacing, TexaCon Cut Stone, Five Star Race Car Bodies, and The Decal Source.

Who Is Racing In The Throwback Classic?

With now more than 70 cars entered across both divisions, this weekend’s race has some heavy hitters. In the Late Model Stock Car field, the usual big name CARS Tour drivers like Connor Hall, Landen Lewis, Mini Tyrrell, Landon Huffman, and Ronnie Bassett Jr. will all be in the field, along with past champions like Deac McCaskill and Jared Fryar. The most recent NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner, Layne Riggs, will also be in the field. And that’s just a handful of the 42 names on the entry list.

On the Pro Late Model side of the pits, Keelan Harvick, the son of 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, looks to go back-to-back at Hickory. Harvick scored his first CARS Tour victory just a couple of weeks ago at the same track. To do so, Harvick will have to beat drivers like Casey Roderick, Dylan Cappello, Luke Baldwin, and Tristan McKee, as well as past CARS Tour Pro Late Model champions Kaden Honeycutt and Caden Kvapil.

The entire entry list can be found below.

Why Hold This Event At Hickory Motor Speedway?

Hickory Motor Speedway has been the home of the annual Throwback race for the CARS Tour since the race’s inception back in 2017. Back then it was known as the Throwback 276, but the point of the event was the same then as it is now. And that’s to pay tribute to the legends of the sport that came before us.

Hickory also just makes sense. Its nickname is “The Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.” So many legends of racing have walked through the gates of this historic short track on US Highway 70 in Newton, North Carolina. Drivers like Ned Jarret, Dale Jarrett, Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Junior Johnson, Bobby Isaac, and many more have all raced at this track, while many of them have also won races and championships here.

On top of that, Hickory is one of the most exciting short tracks in the country. The 0.363-mile oval has extremely worn-out pavement that produces thrilling side-by-side racing with a penchant for contact. We’ve seen it plenty of times over the years for races that pay $10,000 to win or even less. Imagine what we’re going to see with $50,000 on the line now. 

Throwback Classic Purse Breakdown

The Throwback Classic presented by FloRacing is the largest single-night payout in the history of pavement Late Model racing in America with the winner of the Late Model Stock Car race receiving a massive check for $50,000, and the winner of the Pro Late Model feature taking home $30,000.

What’s even better is that just making the LMSC race will result in a minimum of a $2,500 payout, while the Pro Late Model race pays $1,500 to start.

It’s also worth mentioning that second-place in each race will receive what a normal race pays to win for each division. However, the incentive of an extra $43,000 from first to second in the LMSC race, and an extra $25,000 from first to second in the Pro Late Model race cannot be ignored. It’s safe to say that the drivers might be a little bit crazier than usual with that type of money on the line.

Throwback Classic Event Format

With $50,000 up for grabs in the Late Model Stock Car race, and $30,000 available in the Pro Late Model race, CARS Tour officials decided to shake things up a bit due to the expectedly larger car count.

Instead of qualifying a few hours before the green flag is set to fly, qualifying at Hickory Motor Speedway will take place on Friday evening. The Pro Late Model field will qualify first at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Late Model Stock Car field will run its qualifying session right after at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET. FloRacing will be live for both qualifying sessions on Friday night.

Think that’s the only thing that’s different this week? Think again.

With there now being 41 cars looking to make the 30-car starting field for the Late Model Stock Cars, CARS Tour officials have built in a 20-lap Last Chance Race that will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday evening, just a couple of hours before they will race for $50,000. Just the top two finishers will advance into the feature, which means that we are in for some fireworks.

So let’s break down how this starting field will be determined for the 125-lap feature, shall we?

First, positions one through 24 will be determined by Friday night’s qualifying session. After that, positions 25 through 28 will be provisionals decided by the owner’s points standings. The next two positions in the starting lineup will be the top two finishers from the Last Chance Race. The field will be capped at 30 cars unless there is a past champion of the Late Model Stock Car division that is on the outside looking in. In that case, a past champion’s provisional will be awarded and the field will be 31 cars deep. Jared Fryar and Deac McCaskill are the only two drivers eligible for the past champion’s provisional.

How To Watch The CARS Tour Throwback Classic

As with every CARS Tour race, fans can watch all of the action live on FloRacing with a FloRacing subscription. Fans can join FloRacing by clicking here. 

CARS Tour Throwback Classic Schedule

Friday, August 1

Saturday, August 2

CARS Tour Throwback Classic Entry Lists

Late Model Stock Car

Pro Late Model