MOORESVILLE, NC :: While the start of the season is still over two months away, the complexion of the inaugural CARS Tour championship was made a little more clear on Monday when the series released the first batch of entries for both the Late Model Stock and Super Late Model divisions.

Teams are required to file a registration form for the entire season with CARS, providing insurance, car registration and their exclusive number for the entire campaign. A total of 20 Late Model Stock Car teams and nine Super Late Model teams have filed entries as of January 19. Additional teams will file entries in advance of the first race, which takes place on March 28 at Southern National Motorsports Park.

While it remains to be seen which drivers will compete for the championships, this is the first look at the potential contenders.

The Late Model Stock Car side is headlined by 2013 Martinsville winner Tommy Lemons Jr. and Myatt Snider while the Super Late Model roster is spearheaded by 2012 PASS South champion Kyle Grissom and second-generation youngster Harrison Burton.

Steven Wallace has also verbally committed to running for the Super Late Model championship with Bubba Pollard and John Hunter Nemechek recently completing an American Racer tire test for CARS earlier in the month.

“I like this CARS Tour man,” Wallace said. “It’s going to be badass because it’s going to be like the old ASA National Tour days or the old All- Pro days. You’re going to have a bunch of really good teams and great racing. That’s what is so appealing. I know the purse isn’t that much more, but it’s almost double compared to any other racing.”

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Bradley McCaskill is moving up from the Limited Late Model ranks at East Carolina Motor Speedway to compete in the CARS Late Model Stock division and is also excited for 2015 to get under way.

“The CARS Tour looks good to me,” McCaskill said. “A lot of good concepts, good people running the series from what I can tell and extremely tough competition. I’m looking forward to see how we stack up.”

Snider says the Late Model Stock division has the potential to breathe new life into a discipline that has been struggling over the past several years under the direction of NASCAR and independent sanctions after the demise of the UARA.

“With the different rules set versus other Late Model series it adds new life into a form that was dying,” Snider said. “With the rules it has, it also prepares me more for a series that runs the type of suspension equipment CARS will run. That’s why I think it’s a smart move for us.

“Combine those differences with the fact that it is a touring series that pays a proper amount to race, that’s what has me excited.”

The complete roster as of January 19 can be found below.

CARS Late Model Stock Confirmed entries

#02 Danny O’Quinn
#03 Brenden Queen
#1 Trent Barnes
#2 Myatt Snider
#6 Bobby McCarty
#7 Justin Crider
#11 Robbie Henry
#12 Ryan Wilson
#14 Kirk May Racing
#16 Jeff Oakley
#18 Bradley McCaskill
#21 Eric Gerchak
#23 Donnie Puryear Jr.
#27 Tommy Lemons Jr.
#31 Tim Beane
#42 Craig Stallard
#44 Justin Johnson
#58 Tyler Ankrum
#88 Chris Davis
#88B Doug Barnes Jr.

CARS Super Late Model Confirmed entries

#2 Trevor Noles
#7 Tyler Church
#12 Harrison Burton
#14 Kirk May Racing
#16 Lucas Jones
#21 Eric Gerchak
#31 Kyle Grissom
#54 Matt Craig
#58 Tyler Ankrum

January 21 Update

CARS Tour official Chris Ragle also released a series of announcements on Tuesday morning via the series’ YouTube channel. Included in the memo are the following notes:

  • After much testing, the series has officially decided to use the American Racer 1053 (AR-1053) tire for both the Super Late Model and Late Model Stock divisions. Those tires may be picked up from MTP Tire & Racing Center, starting on the first week of February.
  • AERO Wheels, Racing Electronics and CV each announced as major series partners.
  • The CARS Tour Media Day and Open Test will be held on February March 28 at Orange County Speedway. The open test will be FREE for all teams and the grandstands will also be free any interested fans. The event will also serve as a media day for participating members of the media.