Earlier this summer NASCAR’s Brian France told reporters to expect “impactful changes” to the 2011 racing schedule.
Slumping attendance figures have caused the stock car racing organization to prune races from tracks that were underperforming and move dates to new tracks or add dates to venues offering novel, outside attractions.
Although the official schedule announcement is not due until August 18th individual tracks have been announcing their race dates this week.
Atlanta Motor Speedway and California’s Auto Club Speedway have lost one date. Kentucky Speedway will make its’ NASCAR series debut next year promising a new market segment.
Meanwhile Kansas Speedway, which will have a casino being built nearby, will get a second race added to its’ schedule for 2011.
Of existing venues Chicagoland Speedway will become the first Chase Race next year and New Hampshire, which had been previously been the opening date, will be pushed back one week.
Where the Auto Club Speedway used to follow up on the Daytona 500; the Phoenix Race will move up to that slot with Texas Motor Speedway moving up into a March date.
Meanwhile despite a push, by Bruton Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. the series will continue to end the season at Homestead as it has for the past number of years, instead of moving to Las Vegas which is owned by SMI.
NASCAR vice president, Steve O’Donnell commented, "We look at the schedule obviously every year. We're happy with the championship at Homestead. We think we're really building upon something. I know (Bruton) is really lobbying for that one, but we're pretty happy where we're at."
And, according to an AP article with a proposed Nationwide calendar for 2011 the Montreal race will be held on August 6th.
Tentative 2011 NASCAR Nationwide schedule (Unofficial)
Feb. 19: Daytona
Feb. 26: Phoenix
March 5: Las Vegas
March 13: To be determined
March 19: Bristol
March 26: California
April 2: OFF
April 8: Texas
April 16: Talladega
April 23: Nashville
April 29: Richmond
May 6: Darlington
May 14: Dover
May 22: Iowa
May 28: Charlotte
June 4: To be determined
June 11: Off
June 18: Road America
June 25: Nashville
July 1: Daytona
July 8: Kentucky
July 16: New Hampshire
July 23: Iowa
July 30: O’Reilly Raceway Park (Indianapolis)
Aug 6: Montreal
Aug 13: Watkins Glen
Aug 20: Michigan
Aug 26: Bristol
Sept. 3: Atlanta
Sept. 9: Richmond
Sept. 17: Chicagoland
Sept. 24: Off
Oct. 1: Dover
Oct. 8: Kansas
Oct. 14: Charlotte
Oct. 22: Off
Oct. 29: Off
Nov. 5: Texas
Nov. 12: Phoenix
Nov. 19: Homestead-Miami
Slumping attendance figures have caused the stock car racing organization to prune races from tracks that were underperforming and move dates to new tracks or add dates to venues offering novel, outside attractions.
Although the official schedule announcement is not due until August 18th individual tracks have been announcing their race dates this week.
Atlanta Motor Speedway and California’s Auto Club Speedway have lost one date. Kentucky Speedway will make its’ NASCAR series debut next year promising a new market segment.
Meanwhile Kansas Speedway, which will have a casino being built nearby, will get a second race added to its’ schedule for 2011.
Of existing venues Chicagoland Speedway will become the first Chase Race next year and New Hampshire, which had been previously been the opening date, will be pushed back one week.
Where the Auto Club Speedway used to follow up on the Daytona 500; the Phoenix Race will move up to that slot with Texas Motor Speedway moving up into a March date.
Meanwhile despite a push, by Bruton Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. the series will continue to end the season at Homestead as it has for the past number of years, instead of moving to Las Vegas which is owned by SMI.
NASCAR vice president, Steve O’Donnell commented, "We look at the schedule obviously every year. We're happy with the championship at Homestead. We think we're really building upon something. I know (Bruton) is really lobbying for that one, but we're pretty happy where we're at."
And, according to an AP article with a proposed Nationwide calendar for 2011 the Montreal race will be held on August 6th.
Tentative 2011 NASCAR Nationwide schedule (Unofficial)
Feb. 19: Daytona
Feb. 26: Phoenix
March 5: Las Vegas
March 13: To be determined
March 19: Bristol
March 26: California
April 2: OFF
April 8: Texas
April 16: Talladega
April 23: Nashville
April 29: Richmond
May 6: Darlington
May 14: Dover
May 22: Iowa
May 28: Charlotte
June 4: To be determined
June 11: Off
June 18: Road America
June 25: Nashville
July 1: Daytona
July 8: Kentucky
July 16: New Hampshire
July 23: Iowa
July 30: O’Reilly Raceway Park (Indianapolis)
Aug 6: Montreal
Aug 13: Watkins Glen
Aug 20: Michigan
Aug 26: Bristol
Sept. 3: Atlanta
Sept. 9: Richmond
Sept. 17: Chicagoland
Sept. 24: Off
Oct. 1: Dover
Oct. 8: Kansas
Oct. 14: Charlotte
Oct. 22: Off
Oct. 29: Off
Nov. 5: Texas
Nov. 12: Phoenix
Nov. 19: Homestead-Miami