The 2018 season kicks off in a new way for the CARS Tour on several different levels. As the tour begins its fourth season of competition, a new name will resonate among fans and competitors alike, thanks to the signing of new series entitlement sponsor Response Energy. In addition, the CARS Response Energy Tour for the first time in series history begins the season with just the Late Model Stock Cars as the standalone featured division.

Despite the Super Late Models not kicking off their season until March 24th at Myrtle Beach, a healthy field of twenty or more Limited Late Models are expected to be in attendance for a 75 lap shootout of their own. With the $10,000 to win top prize, a track known for its multiple racing grooves, at a facility only available for special events; seems to be the perfect recipe for what many are referring to as quite possibly “the best race in series’ history”. Based on the entry list below the hype is living up to the expectations.

Do The Dew 150 NOTES & QUOTES

NOTES:

Track/Location: Tri-County Motor Speedway-Hudson, NC

Track Size: .400-mile

Event Name: Do The Dew 150

Laps/Distance: 150L/60 miles

Event Schedule: 12:30PM-1:10PM Practice, 2:40PM Qualifying, 3:15PM Green: LMSC-LLM

Twitter Handle/Event Hashtag: @CARSTour / #DoTheDew150

CARS LLM Pre Entered Drivers:
#1 Brody Pope
#2 Austin Green
#2L Amber Lynn
#5 Hannah Bell
#7 Tyler Gregory
#10 Randy Ollis
#11 Dillon Houser
#12 Gage Painter
#16 Mack Little III
#21 Monty Cox
#25 Kevin Leicht
#51 Jeremy Pelfrey
#51C Chris Chapman
#55 Zach Bruenger
#75 Landon Huffman
#81 Zack Clifton
#81T Mini Tyrrell
#84 Don Carlton
#92 Taylor Nesbitt
#95 Eric Green
(21 total)

CARS LMSC Tour Pre Entered Drivers:
#07 Bradley McCaskill
#08 Deac McCaskill
#1M Craig Moore
#2 Cody Haskins
#2P Brandon Pierce
#2D Christopher Denny
#5 Lee Pullium
#5C Dexter Canipe Jr.
#9 Sam Mayer
#9W Charlie Watson
#12 Timothy Peters
#12G Andrew Garcia
#12J Joe Graff Jr.
#12M Austin McDaniel
#14 Ryan Repko
#15 Sheflon Clay
#16 Colby Howard
#16M Chad McCumbee
#18 Ty Gibbs
#22 Grayson Cullather
#22M Bobby McCarty
#27 Tommy Lemons Jr.
#28 Chris Hudspeth
#31 Thomas Beane
#32 Nik Williams
#35 Carson Kvapil
#44 Justin Johnson
#57 Justin Carroll
#74 Ronald Hill
#75 Landon Huffman
#77 Trevor Ward
#77S Blake Stallings
#83 Matt Bowling
#88 Josh Berry
#95 Jacob Heafner
#99 Layne Riggs
(36 total)

***Official Entry Deadline: Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 4PM***

Media Coverage:

-Race22 (race22.com) will provide Raceday Live Coverage

-CARS Tour TV (www.carstour.tv) – LIVE Broadcast Video Coverage

-CARS Tour Facebook (facebook.com/CARSTour) / CARS Tour Twitter (@CARSTour)

QUOTES:

Keeping the Trophy in Caldwell County:

Charlie Watson, the Touring 12 driver from nearby Lenoir, NC, doesn’t get many opportunities to race at his home track of Tri County Motor Speedway, so Saturday afternoon’s Do the Dew 150 CARS Late Model Stock Tour season opener is in his eyes one of the biggest races of his 2018 season despite it being his first of the year. Watson made the decision to forgo testing at the recent Media Day, but according to Watson he doesn’t think it’s a “must” to have tested, to have a chance at the $10,000 winner’s check up for grabs.

“I’ve got lots a laps around the place and it really hasn’t changed much over the last few years because it doesn’t get raced on much. It’s one of the raciest tracks I know of anywhere around. My crew chief couldn’t be there for the test, so we will just test next Friday and be ready with a good piece to race with on Saturday. I really like our chances this weekend of keeping the trophy here in Caldwell County. If we did it would probably be the biggest win of my career, that’s for sure.” Charlie Watson – #9W Carolina Sand/Watson Grading Toyota

History and Repeating at Champion:

Josh Berry will look to become the first driver in CARS Response Energy Tour history to repeat as champion between both divisions. The JR Motorsports driver from Mooresville, NC has amassed twelve series wins in 29 starts while winning $84,927 in prize money along the way. Both those numbers are Late Model Stock division records. Despite everything he’s done in the past, Berry is already focused on the future and his chances of taking home the largest payday in Late Model Stock division history Saturday at Tri County

“Obviously that’s going to be our goal, to repeat as champion, but it’s not going to be easy. I think a lot of people are going to be gunning for us this year. There’s a lot of new competitors and lots of new tracks this year so we’ll have our work cut out for us. We won here at Tri County last year, in one of the best races I’ve been a part of, so I’m excited about starting the season off here at Tri County.” Josh Berry – #88 All Things Automotive Chevrolet

Perfect Timing for Pulliam:

Without question the CARS Response Energy LMSC Tour has attracted some of the best drivers and teams in the region over the three years of its existence. Champions Brayton Haws (2015), Deac McCaskill (2016), and Josh Berry (2017) have beaten the best in route to their championship runs, however; one of the best “outside” of the CARS sanctioning body has never had a taste of CARS Tour competition, until now. Lee Pulliam the four time All-American Series National Champion will make his series debut at a track he’s never competed at in Saturday’s Do the Dew 150 at Tri County Motor Speedway. For Pulliam the timing is right with the change in his racing schedule to match up with his current family lifestyle.

“I’ve won everything I can really win right now in my career when it comes to NASCAR. National championships and state titles but this year I wanted to do something different. I’m ready for a new challenge and with me just racing a handful of times this year to spend more time with my family and my customers, the CARS Tour is a good fit for me right now. Our goal this weekend is to win at Tri County. From there we are just going to take it race by race, and have some fun. So far the CARS Tour has made it fun to be at the track, and has us excited for the weekend ahead.” Lee Pullium – #5 Kiker Tree Service Chevrolet

For more information and to stay up with all the latest news and information about the CARS Response Energy Tour, featuring both Late Model Stock Car and Super Late Model divisions, visit www.carsracingtour.com or contact the tour’s office directly at 704-662-9212. Stay social with the tour by “liking” the CARS Tour Facebook page and following along on Twitter @CARSTour.