NASCAR makes radical changes to schedule for 2020
There are no new race tracks, but NASCAR vastly reshuffled its 2020 Cup Series schedule, including a new season finale.
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Mustang MoneyLion and Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield
Russell LaBounty / NKP / Motorsport Images
For the first time since 2001, the Cup series champion will be decided at a track other than Homestead-Miami Speedway as the championship finale moves to ISM Raceway near Phoenix. The season will also end on Nov. 8, about two weeks earlier than usual.
The 2020 Cup season will begin at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, but after that it includes significant date movement including a three-race West Coast swing that begins immediately after the Daytona opener.
Daytona will be followed by Las Vegas, Auto Club Speedway, ISM Raceway and the Homestead race date will slide in on March 22.
Other changes during the 26-race regular season include the move of the first race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway from March to May 9 (a night race); Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s race will now take place on July 4 weekend and Pocono will host a doubleheader of Cup races on June 27-28, instead of two separate race weekends during the summer months.
Daytona’s second date will move to Aug. 29 as it will host the regular season finale – the final chance for drivers to win their way into the playoffs.
“The fans and the industry as a whole have been vocal about the desire for sweeping changes to the schedule, and the 2020 slate is a reflection of our efforts to execute against that feedback,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer.
“These changes are a result of unprecedented consensus-building with our race tracks and broadcast partners; something we look to continue into 2021 and beyond.”
In addition to the new season finale, the playoffs will also see a change with Darlington (S.C.) Raceway now hosting the playoff opener on Sept. 6. Las Vegas, which has been hosting the playoff opener since last season, will drop to the first race of the second round on Sept. 27.
And NASCAR will also add another short track to the playoffs, as the Bristol Night Race moves to Sept. 19, the cutoff race of the first round.
With Phoenix’s move to the season finale, Martinsville’s fall race will become the cutoff race of the semifinal round of the playoffs on Nov. 1.
2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule
DATE |
RACE/TRACK |
Sunday, Feb. 9 |
The Clash |
Thursday, Feb. 13 |
Duel at Daytona |
Sunday, Feb. 16 |
Daytona 500 |
Sunday, Feb. 23 |
Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
Sunday, March 1 |
Auto Club Speedway |
Sunday, March 8 |
ISM Raceway |
Sunday, March 15 |
Atlanta Motor Speedway |
Sunday, March 22 |
Homestead-Miami Speedway |
Sunday, March 29 |
Texas Motor Speedway |
Sunday, April 5 |
Bristol Motor Speedway |
Sunday, April 19 |
Richmond Raceway |
Sunday, April 26 |
Talladega Superspeedway |
Sunday, May 3 |
Dover International Speedway |
Saturday, May 9 |
Martinsville Speedway |
Saturday, May 16 |
All-Star Race, Charlotte |
Sunday, May 24 |
Charlotte Motor Speedway |
Sunday, May 31 |
Kansas Speedway |
Sunday, June 7 |
Michigan International Speedway |
Sunday, June 14 |
Sonoma Raceway |
Sunday, June 21 |
Chicagoland Speedway |
Saturday, June 27 |
Pocono Raceway |
Sunday June 28 |
Pocono Raceway |
Sunday July 5 |
Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
Saturday July 11 |
Kentucky Speedway |
Sunday, July 19 |
New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
Sunday, Aug. 9 |
Michigan International Speedway |
Sunday, Aug. 16 |
Watkins Glen International |
Sunday, Aug. 23 |
Dover International Speedway |
Saturday, Aug. 29 |
Daytona International Speedway |
-- |
PLAYOFFS BEGIN |
Sunday, Sept. 6 |
Darlington Raceway |
Saturday, Sept. 12 |
Richmond Raceway |
Saturday, Sept. 19 |
Bristol Motor Speedway |
Sunday, Sept. 27 |
Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
Sunday, Oct. 4 |
Talladega Superspeedway |
Sunday, Oct. 11 |
Charlotte Motor Speedway |
Sunday, Oct. 18 |
Kansas Speedway |
Sunday, Oct. 25 |
Texas Motor Speedway |
Sunday, Nov. 1 |
Martinsville Speedway |
Sunday, Nov. 8 |
ISM Raceway |
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