CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series calendar is going to look a bit different in 2020.
Chief among the changes announced Tuesday to the NASCAR Cup Series calendar is that ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., will host the season finale for the first time on Nov. 8, 2020.
“We know from experience that racing here puts on exciting races,” said NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton. “With ISC’s investment on the new ISM Raceway, they have created not only a very fan-friendly, but one of the most beautiful stadiums in sports around the country.
“With those facts and others, the decision was made that in 2020 we will end our season here at ISM Raceway and our NASCAR Cup champion will be crowned here at ISM.”
Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway, which has hosted the season finale since 2002, will now host the series on March 22.
“Ralph Sanchez’s vision for our track more than 25 years ago was to host spring racing and be a major part of South Florida’s March calendar,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Miami has historically hosted many popular events during March, including the Miami Open, the Florida Derby, Ultra and the Calle Ocho Music Festival, among others, and this move will integrate us into this impressive mix. A March race weekend affords us many unique opportunities to entertain the South Florida community as we host NASCAR races for many years to come.”
Daytona Int’l Speedway’s second race of the season will shift its race date to Aug. 29 and become the regular-season finale.
“The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will continue to be one of the cornerstone events on the NASCAR schedule and will now serve as the final race of the regular season,” said Daytona Int’l Speedway Chip Wile. “Daytona Int’l Speedway strives to deliver the most exciting racing for our fans and this date change adds another layer of drama and excitement with a potential walk-off home run moment for a driver to solidify a playoff berth.”
Taking Daytona’s traditional July 4 weekend date will be Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Brickyard 400.
“There’s no better venue to throw a massive party for our nation’s birthday than the Racing Capital of the World,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Fourth of July weekend is a celebration of patriotism and getting outside in the summer with family and friends, and a Big Machine concert and NASCAR racing at the Speedway combine those two traditions, making for a special Independence Weekend celebration.”
For the first time in NASCAR’s modern era, a track will host a doubleheader. Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., will host races on back-to-back days on June 27-28, effectively merging Pocono’s traditional two races into one big weekend.
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway’s first race date is now scheduled for Mother’s Day weekend on Saturday, May 9, with the event scheduled to take place at night for the first time.
“This is a very exciting day for Martinsville Speedway,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “It’s a question we’ve gotten from fans literally every day since we installed the lights and we are now able to say May 9, 2020. So, this is a very exciting day for everyone involved.”
Darlington (S.C.) Raceway’s annual Southern 500 will become the NASCAR playoff opener, with that race scheduled for Sept. 6.
“To be able to host our Labor Day throwback weekend as the first race of the NASCAR Playoffs will create tremendous excitement and enthusiasm for our fans,” said Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp. “Darlington Raceway, considered one of the toughest tracks on the circuit, will definitely challenge the drivers right from the start of the postseason. To combine our throwback weekend, which celebrates the sport’s past, present and future, with the initial start to the championship run, should provide plenty of additional excitement, and energy to the entire weekend.”
Another change is Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway’s fall event on Sept. 19 will become a playoff cutoff race.
“I am really excited about the 2020 season schedule, which promises to be a memorable one with the Food City 500 returning to the schedule on a beautiful Sunday, April 5 spring afternoon and the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race moving to Saturday, Sept. 19, as a key race in the NASCAR playoffs,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager for Bristol Motor Speedway.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s annual race, which has been the second race on the schedule since 2015, will now be held on March 15. NASCAR will now leave Daytona Int’l Speedway and head west, with Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway hosting NASCAR’s top division on Feb. 23.
“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.”
The complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule can be found on the next page.