The longstanding commitment of Sunoco Race Fuels towards supporting auto racing in the United States will expand to include the zMAX CARS Tour for multiple years starting in 2026.
As the CARS Tour’s official fuel supplier and mandatory Spec race fuel, Sunoco Race Fuels will be aiding competitors from both divisions in their pursuit of a victory. The partnership also encompasses enhanced digital and marketing support from Sunoco Race Fuels while also providing a convenient distribution process for teams and drivers.
Ritchie Lewis, who is the partnership sales manager for Sunoco Race Fuels, has enjoyed watching the CARS Tour flourish over the past several years. With Sunoco being the brand leader in racing fuels, Lewis is confident the partnership with the CARS Tour can be mutually beneficial as both companies look to continue promoting short track racing in the southeast.
“Sunoco Race Fuels and our friends at Sparks Oil Co. are thrilled to support the zMAX CARS Tour for the years ahead,” Lewis said. “The asphalt late model community is a cornerstone of our brand and we’re committed to fueling the growth of the Late Model Stock and Pro Late Model Series while showcasing incredible driver talent for fans throughout the upcoming seasons.”
The history of Sunoco Race Fuels dates to 1920 when its parent organization, then known as the Sun Oil Company, opened its first gas station in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. As auto racing grew increasingly popular over the ensuing decades, many drivers began relying on Sunoco to get them to the track, making the company a household name in the industry.
In 1966, Sunoco formally entered auto racing by joining Roger Penske’s Trans-Am Series team as its official fuel supplier and sponsor. With Mark Donohue as the driver, the partnership proved to be a successful one, as Donohue earned two consecutive Trans Am titles before winning the 1972 Indianapolis 500 behind the wheel of Penske’s ‘Sunoco Special’.
Sunoco’s early success with Penske and Donahue laid the foundation for where the company is today with motorsports in the United States. Along with sponsoring drivers like Terry Labonte, Sterling Marlin and Jeff Fuller, Sunoco Race Fuels also serves as the official fuel for sanctioning bodies like Trans-Am, NASCAR and the ARCA Menards Series.
Now Sunoco Race Fuels is set to continue that proud tradition through their new alliance with the CARS Tour, something executive director Kip Childress said is further evidence of the series’ growth. Childress has previously worked with Sunoco Race Fuels during his time in racing, and believes the CARS Tour, along with its teams, have a reliable partner moving forward.
“We are proud to welcome Sunoco Race Fuels to the CARS Tour family,” Childress said. “Sunoco’s history and success in racing speaks for itself, along with the quality of their fuel. This partnership is fantastic news for all our teams and I am confident the high standard that has always followed Sunoco will carry over into our series.”
The zMAX CARS Tour and Sunoco Race Fuels will formally kick off their new relationship during the 2026 season opener at Coastal Plains Raceway on Feb. 21. FloRacing is set to provide live flag-to-flag coverage of all the on-track action.
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.
