Only two race weekends remain before champions in the zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Car and Pro Late Model Tour are crowned.

Tri-County Motor Speedway serves as the penultimate stop on the calendar for both tours this Saturday evening. Nestled in the foothills of North Carolina, Tri-County has produced intense racing and countless memorable moments since it hosted its first CARS Tour event back during the series’ inaugural year in 2015.

For the CARS Tour’s 13th trip to Tri-County, SoundGear will serve as the official sponsor, expanding an already substantial role with the sanctioning body. Renowned for their commitment to quality hearing protection, SoundGear has served as a CARS Tour presenting partner and official hearing protection partner over the last two years.

The SoundGear 225 will play host to an intense ongoing championship battle in the CARS LMSC Tour between points leader Landen Lewis and Connor Hall. Lewis extended his points lead over Hall at South Boston Speedway, but Tri-County’s unpredictable nature could potentially tighten up the fight once again ahead of the season finale.

Track Facts:

Track: Tri-County Motor Speedway

Location: Hudson, North Carolina

Length: .400 mile

Laps: 125 (LMSC) / 100 (PLM)

CARS LMSC Tour races: 10

CARS PLM Tour races: 7

Tri-County LMSC winners: Josh Berry (2), Brenden Queen (2), Conner Jones (2), Brayton Haws (1), Bobby McCarty (1), Mini Tyrrell (1), Landon Huffman (1)

Tri-County PLM winners: Caden Kvapil (2), William Sawalich (1), Jake Garcia (1), Carson Kvapil (1), Jake Bollman (1), Kaden Honeycutt (1)

CARS Tour LMSC Point Standings:

1. Landen Lewis
2. Connor Hall -18
3. Kade Brown -32
4. Landon Huffman -56
5. Mini Tyrrell -58
6. Conner Jones -78
7. Ronnie Bassett Jr. -83
8. Donovan Strauss -88
9. Doug Barnes Jr. -100
10. Carson Loftin -101

CARS Tour PLM Point Standings:

1. Ben Maier
2. Brandon Lopez -34
3. Keelan Harvick -38
4. Dylan Garner -52
5. Rodney Dowless -73
6. Isaac Kitzmiller -86
7. Tristan McKee -143
8. Tyler Reif -168
9. Jade Avedisian -179
10. Conner Jones -222

Sun Drop to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr once again

For his fourth and final CARS LMSC Tour start of 2025, NASCAR Hall-of-Famer and series co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have Sun Drop on his No. 8 Chevrolet.

Sun Drop adorned Earnhardt Jr.’s car when he made his series debut during the Racetrack Revival at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022. Piloting a car that mirrored the Sun Drop scheme he raced there three decades earlier, Earnhardt Jr. electrified the North Wilkesboro crowd with a late charge that resulted in a third place finish.

That performance remains Earnhardt Jr.’s only top five in LMSC Tour competition despite some strong showings in other Late Model Stock events. In the six LMSC Tour races Earnhardt Jr. has competed in since 2022, he has tallied a best finish of 10th twice at Florence Motor Speedway and Anderson Motor Speedway.

Tri-County presents a new challenge for Earnhardt Jr., as the facility possesses the freshest pavement of any track he has visited during his recent Late Model Stock endeavors. Earnhardt Jr. will seek to find a comfort zone around Tri-County and deliver another memorable performance with the Sun Drop colors.

Michael Bumgarner, Greg Marlowe align for Tri-County

Two months after his most recent CARS LMSC Tour appearance in the Throwback Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway, Michael Bumgarner will return to the series this weekend in partnership with one of the discipline’s most successful figures.

Bumgarner will drive a No. 07 Late Model Stock operated by Greg Marlowe, renowned for his efficiency at tracks across the southeast. Expectations are high for Bumgarner as he prepares to strap into Marlowe’s car, but he is optimistic the combination will be effective against the LMSC Tour regulars.

“We’re feeling really good about it,” Bumgarner said. “As we assessed our car getting ready for Martinsville, we were able to test for Greg Marlowe. Hopefully we can go have a good showing not only for me, but for Greg too.”

The reigning Hickory track champion, Bumgarner has made occasional visits to Tri-County throughout his brief career so far. Although he has been competitive at Tri-County, that consistency has yet to result in a trip to the facility’s victory lane for Bumgarner.

From Bumgarner’s experience, Tri-County could not be more different when compared to Hickory. He said Tri-County’s recent repave made the track easier to race but made it harder to pass others, which is why Bumgarner believes there will be a heavy emphasis on track position in the SoundGear 225.

Both winners in the LMSC Tour events at Tri-County last year started inside the top five, with Brenden Queen earning his May victory from the pole. Qualifying within that threshold is something Bumgarner believes is essential towards giving himself an opportunity to contend in Marlowe’s equipment on Saturday night.

“[A win] would be incredible,” Bumgarner said. “I’ve watched the last few Tri-County races with the CARS Tour and if you’re in the top 10 or top five, you’ll have a shot to win those things. [Winning] would put our program and me on the map and that’s what we’re trying to do by running these bigger races.”

Landon S. Huffman returns to CARS Tour with Doug, Dillon Houser

Last year’s fall visit to Tri-County Motor Speedway for the CARS LMSC Tour saw Landon S. Huffman put together a career performance, placing fourth at the end of a wild evening.

Landon looks to replicate that performance with a different program this weekend, as he is piloting the No. 11 for Doug and Dillon Houser rather than his normal Pinnacle Racing Group ride. Fresh off a top 10 in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, Landon knows he can build on that momentum with the Houser family

“I think we’ll be pretty good,” Landon said. “We tested a few weeks ago. [The Housers] are from that area and the test went pretty well. That car has a lot of speed built into it already and we’ll take the baseline, adjust to the weather that we get and see how it goes.”

Having his father Shane Huffman, the 2003 USAR Pro Cup Series national champion, as a resource has been invaluable for Landon in the early stages of his career. Building consistency remains an ongoing process, but Landon feels more confident in his ability as a driver through the guidance provided by Shane and PRG.

That refined composure is why Landon did not hesitate when Doug and Dillon Houser contacted him about driving their car for the SoundGear 225. Landon still has plenty of childhood memories observing the Housers working on their Late Model Stock, which is why he is honored to finally work with them for a major event.

With Mountain Dew also serving as his sponsor, Landon believes everything is coming together for him to enjoy another stellar weekend at Tri-County. Landon has no doubts about the quality of the Housers’ equipment, but he said finishing strong on Saturday will require patience when it comes to strategy and racing others.

“I think we can go for a top five with the speed we had,” Landon said. “I was happy with how the car was handling when we tested a few weeks ago. I’ve always felt like I’ve been able to make speed [at Tri-County] but it always seems to be a fuel mileage race when we go there. We’ll see how it turns out.”

Matthew Gould ready for PLM Tour debut on Saturday

After making his CARS LMSC Tour debut at Caraway Speedway back in 2023, Matthew Gould is set to test his skills in the series’ Pro Late Model division this weekend at Tri-County Motor Speedway.

The son of veteran crew chief Phil Gould will drive for Matt Drake’s Fab Specialties, which has previously fielded entries for drivers that include NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor Corey Heim. Gould is excited about the new challenge for Saturday, especially given his familiarity with the facility.

“Tri-County is a place I’ve done very well at,” Gould said. “I had the track record in a Late Model Stock a couple of years ago, but it got broke. I’ve never driven a Pro Late Model or a straight rail of any sort, but I feel really good about my chances. I have a lot of experience at Tri-County and a lot of great people behind me.”

Gould has been busy working at Niece Motorsports alongside his father in 2025 but also got the chance to drive for the team at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway. When not at the shop, Gould has kept himself fresh in both Late Model Stocks and a recently purchased go-kart.

Competing in numerous disciplines is something Gould cherishes, as he does not race every week like he used to do a couple years ago. Even with his reduced schedule, Gould puts in meticulous preparation with every event, a mindset he is adhering to ahead of his CARS PLM Tour debut.

With only 100 laps to work with on Saturday, Gould is determined to position himself well for a victory by qualifying inside the top 10. The efficiency of the Fab Specialties equipment and his knowledge on how to navigate Tri-County is why Gould sees the SoundGear 225 as one of his best opportunities to secure a major short track victory.

“It’s been a struggle over the past couple of years with me and dad trying to do our own thing,” Gould said. “Matt [Drake] has all the resources, all the notes and knows everything he needs to do. It’d be huge to win on the big stage with the CARS Tour and I know Matt is hungry for a win too.”

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Only the two zMAX CARS Tour divisions will be at Tri-County Motor Speedway for Saturday’s SoundGear 225. The CARS PLM Tour kicks off the evening’s festivities with their feature at 7 p.m. ET, with the CARS LMSC Tour race immediately following. All of the action will be streamed 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 Late Model Stock Car Entry List

CARS Tour Pro Late Model Entry List