The Winning Car from the 2017 Daytona 500, on display complete with sod from the tri-oval, on February 27, 2017 in Daytona, Florida. The 2018 series schedule will have several changes to it, including adding a short-track race to the playoff. File photo by Mike Gentry/UPI |
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NASCAR announced the 2018 schedule for all three of its national series, and the lineup includes an array of changes to the tracks that make up the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
NASCAR will add a second short track to the playoff slate, as the three-quarter-mile Richmond International Raceway hosts the second playoff race for the first time. In a twist, Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as the first cutoff race, but it won't be the 1.5-mile layout. For the first time, NASCAR will run on the Charlotte road course oval, marking the first time the playoffs will see a road-course layout among its 10 races.
Next season, the final regular-season race in the Monster Energy Series will be contested at iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Round of 16 kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The season will start a week earlier, as the Daytona 500 returns to its traditional Presidents Day weekend on Sunday, February 18.
Speedweeks kicks off Sunday, February 11, at Daytona International Speedway, with a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season-opening doubleheader featuring the Clash and Daytona 500 pole qualifying.
"Fan feedback was a major driver in developing these schedules, and we worked very closely with the industry to set the stage for an exciting 2018 season," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "This season has delivered more dramatic moments to fans, and with the adjustments to the 2018 schedules we're in a great position to build upon that success."
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series joins NASCAR Goes West, the annual three-race swing to the West Coast, making March 2-4 a triple-header weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The fall weekend at Las Vegas serves as the final regular season event for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, with a three-race opening round of Richmond, Charlotte and Dover. The fall Bristol race will finalize the playoff field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with Round of 8 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Las Vegas and Talladega.
All races will air on either the FOX or NBC family of networks, MRN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
2018 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
Feb. 11 -- Daytona International Speedway (Clash / Daytona 500 Qualifying)
Feb. 15 -- Daytona International Speedway (Duel)
Feb. 18 -- Daytona 500
Feb. 25 -- Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 4 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 11 -- Phoenix International Raceway
March 18 -- Auto Club Speedway
March 25 -- Martinsville Speedway
April 8 -- Texas Motor Speedway
April 15 -- Bristol Motor Speedway
April 21 -- Richmond International Raceway
April 29 -- Talladega Superspeedway
May 6 -- Dover International Speedway
May 12 -- Kansas Speedway
May 19 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway (Monster Energy All-Star Race)
May 27 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 3 -- Pocono Raceway
June 10 -- Michigan International Speedway
June 24 -- Sonoma Raceway
July 1 -- Chicagoland Speedway
July 7 -- Daytona International Speedway
July 14 -- Kentucky Speedway
July 22 -- New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 29 -- Pocono Raceway
Aug. 5 -- Watkins Glen International
Aug. 12 -- Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 18 -- Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 2 -- Darlington Raceway
Sept. 9 -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 16 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sept. 22 -- Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 30 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 7 -- Dover International Speedway
Oct. 14 -- Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 21 -- Kansas Speedway
Oct. 28 -- Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 4 -- Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 11 -- Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 18 -- Homestead-Miami Speedway
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
2018 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE
Feb. 17 -- Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 24 -- Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 3 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 10 -- Phoenix International Raceway
March 17 -- Auto Club Speedway
April 7 -- Texas Motor Speedway
April 14 -- Bristol Motor Speedway
April 20 -- Richmond International Raceway
April 28 -- Talladega Superspeedway
May 5 -- Dover International Speedway
May 26 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 2 -- Pocono Raceway
June 9 -- Michigan International Speedway
June 17 -- Iowa Speedway
June 30 -- Chicagoland Speedway
July 6 -- Daytona International Speedway
July 13 -- Kentucky Speedway
July 21 -- New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 28 -- Iowa Speedway
Aug. 4 -- Watkins Glen International
Aug. 11 -- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Aug. 17 -- Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 25 -- Road America
Sept. 1 -- Darlington Raceway
Sept. 8 -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 15 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sept. 21 -- Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 29 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 6 -- Dover International Speedway
Oct. 20 -- Kansas Speedway
Nov. 3 -- Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 10 -- Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 17 -- Homestead-Miami Speedway
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
2018 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE
Feb. 16 -- Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 24 -- Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 2 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 24 -- Martinsville Speedway
May 4 -- Dover International Speedway
May 11 -- Kansas Speedway
May 18 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 8 -- Texas Motor Speedway
June 16 -- Iowa Speedway
June 23 -- Gateway Motorsports Park
June 29 -- Chicagoland Speedway
July 12 -- Kentucky Speedway
July 18 -- Eldora Speedway
July 28 -- Pocono Raceway
Aug. 11 -- Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 15 -- Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 26 -- Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Sept. 14 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Oct. 13 -- Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 27 -- Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 2 -- Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 9 -- Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 16 -- Homestead-Miami Speedway
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE