NASCAR's 2018 schedule adds short track to playoff series

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.

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

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

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