Bigger and better. Those are two words that sum up the Southern Modified Auto Racing Tour's (SMART) plans for the 2022 season.

On Thursday evening, series officials released a 12-race schedule that will see the tour visit 11 different race tracks in three states. 

The 2022 schedule is the most robust the series has offered since Chris Williams established the Southeast-based series back in 2020 after an extended absence. 

After hosting four races in 2020, the number increased to 12 races at 10 tracks last season. In 2022, the schedule becomes even more diverse with the addition of three new race tracks: Southern National Motorsports Park, Orange County Speedway and Tri-County Motor Speedway. 

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The season will once again get underway during the month of March, with Florence Motor Speedway hosting the season opener for the first time on March 5. Since the return of the tour in 2020, Florence has hosted three SMART events and become a traditional stop on the schedule. 

Next up on March 19, the SMART Modified Tour will travel to Southern National Motorsports Park for the first Tour-type Modified race at the track since 2019. The high-banked bullring in Kenly, North Carolina last hosted a SMART Modified Tour event in 1994.

One week later on March 26, the tour will head to Caraway Speedway for the first of two stops in 2022. Since the revival of the tour, Caraway has hosted five SMART events, including three this past season. 

To kick off the month of April, the tour will make its first of four stops in the state of Virginia for a race at the historic South Boston Speedway (VA) on April 2. The tour will return to Virginia eight days later on April 10 for a rumble around Franklin County Speedway. 

Following the race at Franklin County Speedway, the tour will take its traditional summer break to allow Modified competitors to compete at Bowman Gray Stadium and other events in the region. 

VIDEO: The SMART Modified Tour announced its 2022 schedule with a fun and creative video.

A single event will be held during the month of June at Caraway Speedway on June 29 before another two month break prior to Labor Day Weekend. 

Action will get back underway in a big way during the month of September with a stop at Carteret County Speedway on September 3. From there, the series will make its debut at Orange County Speedway on September 10. 

A return to the beautiful Dominion Raceway will take place on September 17 prior to a triple-header during the month of October. 

The October schedule begins on the first day of the month with a return trip Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia. One week later, the SMART Modified Tour will visit the "World's Most Famous Short Track," Hickory Motor Speedway on October 8. 

Tri County Motor Speedway will play host to the season finale and crown the 2022 SMART Modified Tour champion on October 15. 

Burt Myers was crowned the 2021 SMART champion after a tight battle with John Smith. 

As announced earlier this offseason, every SMART Modified Tour race will be streamed live exclusively on FloRacing in 2022. If you're not already a subscriber, click here to become one today. 

2022 SMART Modified Tour Schedule