Red Bull Duo Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch Set for CARS Tour Showdown at Florence

A massive weekend of stock car racing in South Carolina is getting even bigger. With the NASCAR Cup Series heading to the historic Darlington Raceway, several high-profile names are pulling double duty just a few miles down the road at Florence Motor Speedway for the CARS Late Model Stock Tour event on Friday, September 4.

Highlighting the entry list is three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. The Kiwi sensation will make his highly anticipated CARS Tour debut, piloting the No. 51 Hettinger Racing entry sporting his familiar Red Bull branding. It marks a swift return to action for Van Gisbergen, who is looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking Cup Series race at Daytona, where his playoff hopes were dashed by Ryan Preece's victory despite SVG securing his first career NASCAR oval stage win earlier in the night.

Van Gisbergen's rapid transition to oval racing has been one of the biggest storylines of the season. He has already racked up impressive top-five finishes at both North Wilkesboro and Nashville in Cup competition, alongside a stellar pole position and fourth-place finish in the Truck Series at Richmond.

A Star-Studded Grid

Van Gisbergen won't be the only Red Bull-backed driver on the grid at Florence. His NASCAR teammate, rising star Connor Zilisch, will also compete, piloting the No. 8 JR Motorsports entry. Unlike Van Gisbergen, Zilisch brings prior CARS Tour experience to the table, boasting 14 previous starts, including a spectacular victory at Hickory in 2024.

Adding to the star-studded lineup is series co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is scheduled to compete in the Pro Late Model division. The CARS Tour, owned by an illustrious group including Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Justin Marks, and Speedway Motorsports Inc., is entering the business end of its schedule, with Florence marking the 11th of 14 rounds.

With defending Florence race winner Landen Lewis and a host of late model specialists also in the mix, the stage is set for a thrilling Friday night showcase.