History will be made when the zMAX CARS Tour makes its inaugural trip to Cordele Motor Speedway in April.
The venture to the .375-mile facility in Cordele, Georgia is the first time either the CARS Late Model Stock Car or Pro Late Model Tour have run in the Peach State. Many big names are expected to accompany the two divisions to Cordele, including CARS Tour co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No expense has been spared by Cordele owner Greg Noland and his staff as they have diligently worked to revitalize the cherished oval. Noland is proud of the effort that continues to go into Cordele’s upkeeping and looks forward to welcoming Earnhardt Jr. and the rest of the CARS Tour driver roster in just a few months.
“I just bought the track at the end of last year,” Noland said. “We’ve completely remodeled the track. It’s a lot nicer than it was prior and everyone says they love it. My son used to drive on [Cordele] all the time, so I wanted to keep [this place running], especially since its one of the last circle tracks in Georgia.”
Long before Noland took over ownership of Cordele, the track boasted a proud history that encompassed both dirt and pavement racing. Bubba Pollard, Scott Bloomquist, Ronnie Sanders, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch are among those who have earned checkered flags at Cordele since it first opened back in 1982.
A cornerstone of Cordele’s modern era is the prestigious World Crown, which was revived in 2024 after the now defunct Gresham Motorsports Park hosted the event from 1983-2014. Michael Hinde helped kickstart Cordele’s proud new tradition in October by adding his name to the long list of World Crown winners.
Noland was content with the races already on Cordele’s schedule, but when the CARS Tour contacted him about holding Late Model Stock and Pro Late Model events for 2025, he jumped at the opportunity. The presence of Earnhardt Jr. in the field is something Noland believes will only bolster Cordele’s ongoing development.
Securing a date at Cordele was a goal Earnhardt Jr. and the rest of the CARS Tour ownership group centered on while crafting the 2025 schedule. The anticipation surrounding the event from multiple fronts is why Earnhardt Jr. believes the atmosphere will be vibrant when he and the rest of the CARS Tour field take the green flag in April.
“It’s exciting to have the chance to take the zMAX CARS Tour to Cordele,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Fans in the area have expressed excitement about this race being added to the schedule. Our teams are looking forward to this new challenge. I’m thrilled to add it to the short list of events I’ll be racing in next year.”
Cordele general manager Ricky Brooks sees the potential long-term impact the CARS Tour could have on the facility’s longevity. With the massive crowds Earnhardt Jr. alone attracts, Brooks hopes spectators from all around the southeast appreciate every aspect that makes Cordele a great track for competition.
Although Cordele continues to thrive under Noland’s ownership, Brooks said there is always room for improvement to keep the track sustainable. He intends to do everything possible to keep refining Cordele before the CARS Tour arrives.
“It’s been all positive,” Brooks said. “The race track and area needs some energy the CARS Tour can bring. The pits have grown pretty fast, but we’re still working on the grandstands a little bit. I think the CARS Tour will bring more people [to Cordele] and hopefully they’ll stay as customers throughout the year.”
For Noland, having the CARS Tour appear at Cordele is a testament to the hard work he, Brooks and the rest of his staff have put in over the past year. The journey towards strengthening Cordele’s foundation will continue after April’s race, with Noland remaining optimistic about having more CARS Tour events at the track for the foreseeable future.
“It means a lot to us to have other events at the track,” Noland said. “I would love to have the CARS Tour return next year and every year after that. I appreciate the CARS Tour coming and we’ll continue to upgrade everything and make the track a great destination to come.”
A new chapter for both the zMAX CARS Tour and Cordele begins on the weekend April 12 when LMSC Tour and PLM Tour competitors take their first laps at the cherished facility. FloRacing is set to provide coverage of all the on-track action.
Tickets for the inaugural CARS Tour event at Cordele Motor Speedway will be made available in late January and can be purchased here. Additional details on when to purchase tickets will be announced in the coming weeks.
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.
