The 2011 NASCAR schedules has been realigned based on input from the track operators and the industry to better accommodate fan interest and competition in all three national series.
The revised schedule provides better-situated dates for the tracks, a more challenging lineup for the drivers and ultimately more intrigue for the fans.
Sprint Cup Series
• The series' 36-race schedule will feature two realigned events. A second Kansas date follows the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and will be held on June 5.
• For the first time in a decade the Cup Series realigns to a new track with a race at Kentucky on July 9.
• And the Chase starts on Sept. 18 at Chicago -- NASCAR's second largest market -- and will lead to a big start to 10-race playoff system.
Nationwide Series / Camping World Truck Series
• The 2011 schedule for the Nationwide Series is highlighted by a second race at Iowa and Chicago.
• The 2011 schedule for the Truck Series will see nine updated events, including moving Phoenix to the spring from the fall; Darlington to March from August; and the Kansas event to June along with the new Cup Series date.
• One Truck Series date is still TBA.
• All three national series will begin the season with Speedweeks at Daytona with the weekend culminated by the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. The traditional non-points Budweiser Shootout will provide fans a Cup Series preview on Feb. 12. Additionally, qualifying for the Daytona 500 returns to its traditional day on Sunday, Feb. 13.
• All three series will end their seasons with another tradition -- Ford Championship Weekend on Nov. 18-20 at Homestead.
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Feb. 12Budweiser Shootout *
Feb. 17Gatorade Duel *
Feb. 20Daytona
Feb. 27Phoenix
March 6Las Vegas
March 20 Bristol
March 27Fontana
April 3Martinsville
April 9Texas
April 17Talladega
April 30Richmond
May 7Darlington
May 15Dover
May 21All-Star Race *
May 29Charlotte
June 5Kansas
June 12Pocono
June 19Michigan
June 26Sonoma
July 2Daytona
July 9Kentucky
July 17Loudon
July 31Indianapolis
Aug. 7Pocono
Aug. 14Watkins Glen
Aug. 21Michigan
Aug. 27Bristol
Sept. 4Atlanta
Sept. 10Richmond
Sept. 18Chicago
Sept. 25Loudon
Oct. 2Dover
Oct. 9Kansas
Oct. 15Charlotte
Oct. 23Talladega
Oct. 30Martinsville
Nov. 6Texas
Nov. 13Phoenix
Nov. 20Homestead
* non-championship events
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
Feb. 19Daytona
Feb. 26Phoenix
March 5Las Vegas
March 19Bristol
March 26Fontana
April 8Texas
April 16Talladega
April 23Nashville
April 29Richmond
May 6Darlington
May 14Dover
May 22Iowa
May 28Charlotte
June 4Chicago
June 18Michigan
June 25Road America
July 1Daytona
July 8Kentucky
July 16Loudon
July 23Nashville
July 30ORP
Aug. 6Iowa
Aug. 13Watkins Glen
Aug. 20Montreal
Aug. 26Bristol
Sept. 3Atlanta
Sept. 9Richmond
Sept. 17Chicago
Oct. 1Dover
Oct. 8Kansas
Oct. 14Charlotte
Nov. 5Texas
Nov. 12Phoenix
Nov. 19Homestead
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Feb. 18Daytona
Feb. 25Phoenix
March 12Darlington
April 2Martinsville
April 22Nashville
May 13Dover
May 20Charlotte
June 4Kansas
June 10Texas
July 16Iowa
July 22Nashville
July 29ORP
Aug. 6Pocono
Aug. 20Michigan
Aug. 24Bristol
Sept. 2Atlanta
Sept. 16Chicago
Sept. 24Loudon
Oct. 1Kentucky
Oct. 15Las Vegas
Oct. 22Talladega
Oct. 29Martinsville
Nov. 4Texas
Nov. 18Homestead
The revised schedule provides better-situated dates for the tracks, a more challenging lineup for the drivers and ultimately more intrigue for the fans.
Sprint Cup Series
• The series' 36-race schedule will feature two realigned events. A second Kansas date follows the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and will be held on June 5.
• For the first time in a decade the Cup Series realigns to a new track with a race at Kentucky on July 9.
• And the Chase starts on Sept. 18 at Chicago -- NASCAR's second largest market -- and will lead to a big start to 10-race playoff system.
Nationwide Series / Camping World Truck Series
• The 2011 schedule for the Nationwide Series is highlighted by a second race at Iowa and Chicago.
• The 2011 schedule for the Truck Series will see nine updated events, including moving Phoenix to the spring from the fall; Darlington to March from August; and the Kansas event to June along with the new Cup Series date.
• One Truck Series date is still TBA.
• All three national series will begin the season with Speedweeks at Daytona with the weekend culminated by the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. The traditional non-points Budweiser Shootout will provide fans a Cup Series preview on Feb. 12. Additionally, qualifying for the Daytona 500 returns to its traditional day on Sunday, Feb. 13.
• All three series will end their seasons with another tradition -- Ford Championship Weekend on Nov. 18-20 at Homestead.
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Feb. 12Budweiser Shootout *
Feb. 17Gatorade Duel *
Feb. 20Daytona
Feb. 27Phoenix
March 6Las Vegas
March 20 Bristol
March 27Fontana
April 3Martinsville
April 9Texas
April 17Talladega
April 30Richmond
May 7Darlington
May 15Dover
May 21All-Star Race *
May 29Charlotte
June 5Kansas
June 12Pocono
June 19Michigan
June 26Sonoma
July 2Daytona
July 9Kentucky
July 17Loudon
July 31Indianapolis
Aug. 7Pocono
Aug. 14Watkins Glen
Aug. 21Michigan
Aug. 27Bristol
Sept. 4Atlanta
Sept. 10Richmond
Sept. 18Chicago
Sept. 25Loudon
Oct. 2Dover
Oct. 9Kansas
Oct. 15Charlotte
Oct. 23Talladega
Oct. 30Martinsville
Nov. 6Texas
Nov. 13Phoenix
Nov. 20Homestead
* non-championship events
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
Feb. 19Daytona
Feb. 26Phoenix
March 5Las Vegas
March 19Bristol
March 26Fontana
April 8Texas
April 16Talladega
April 23Nashville
April 29Richmond
May 6Darlington
May 14Dover
May 22Iowa
May 28Charlotte
June 4Chicago
June 18Michigan
June 25Road America
July 1Daytona
July 8Kentucky
July 16Loudon
July 23Nashville
July 30ORP
Aug. 6Iowa
Aug. 13Watkins Glen
Aug. 20Montreal
Aug. 26Bristol
Sept. 3Atlanta
Sept. 9Richmond
Sept. 17Chicago
Oct. 1Dover
Oct. 8Kansas
Oct. 14Charlotte
Nov. 5Texas
Nov. 12Phoenix
Nov. 19Homestead
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Feb. 18Daytona
Feb. 25Phoenix
March 12Darlington
April 2Martinsville
April 22Nashville
May 13Dover
May 20Charlotte
June 4Kansas
June 10Texas
July 16Iowa
July 22Nashville
July 29ORP
Aug. 6Pocono
Aug. 20Michigan
Aug. 24Bristol
Sept. 2Atlanta
Sept. 16Chicago
Sept. 24Loudon
Oct. 1Kentucky
Oct. 15Las Vegas
Oct. 22Talladega
Oct. 29Martinsville
Nov. 4Texas
Nov. 18Homestead