CUP: NASCAR Announces 2013 Cup Schedule
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NASCAR announced today the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for the 2013 season, a highly anticipated campaign that will welcome redesigned race cars to the track.
Though unveiled and tested throughout the 2012 season, the new models – Chevrolet’s SS, Ford’s Fusion and Toyota’s Camry – will make their official entrance into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition on Feb. 16 with the preseason non-points Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Qualifying for the “Great American Race” will take place on Feb. 17, followed by the season-opening 55th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.
“The new NASCAR Sprint Cup cars for next season have dominated fan conversation for more than a year, and the time is approaching to unleash them on the race track,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “Next year’s schedule again will offer a strong mix of challenges for our talented drivers, and we believe fans will continue to enjoy what they’ve come to expect – the most exciting and competitive racing in the world.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, marking the 65th season for NASCAR’s premier series, will have a familiar feel, opening with the Daytona 500 before moving west to Phoenix International Raceway (March 3) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 10) for races Nos. 2 and 3. For the third consecutive season, NASCAR’s playoffs – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – will start at Chicagoland Speedway, near one of the country’s biggest markets. The Chase will conclude with the season finale on Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
With Kansas Speedway’s repave project now complete, next season’s Talladega Super-speedway autumn event will return to its traditional spot on the calendar. Talladega’s 2013 Chase race, No. 6 during the 10-race stretch, will run Oct. 20. Kansas will host its 2013 Chase event on Oct. 6.
Below is the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule in its entirety.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}2013 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
2/16 Daytona International Speedway (Shootout)
2/17 Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 500 Qualifying)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}2/21 Daytona International Speedway (Duel)
2/24 Daytona 500
3/3 Phoenix International Raceway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}3/10 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
3/17 Bristol Motor Speedway
3/24 Auto Club Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}4/7 Martinsville Speedway
4/13 Texas Motor Speedway
4/21 Kansas Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}4/27 Richmond International Raceway
5/5 Talladega Superspeedway
5/11 Darlington Raceway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}5/18 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
5/26 Charlotte Motor Speedway
6/2 Dover International Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}6/9 Pocono Raceway
6/16 Michigan International Speedway
6/23 Sonoma
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}6/29 Kentucky Speedway
7/6 Daytona International Speedway
7/14 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}7/28 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
8/4 Pocono Raceway
8/11 Watkins Glen International
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}8/18 Michigan International Speedway
8/24 Bristol Motor Speedway
9/1 Atlanta Motor Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}9/7 Richmond International Raceway
9/15 Chicagoland Speedway
9/22 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}9/29 Dover International Speedway
10/6 Kansas Speedway
10/12 Charlotte Motor Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}10/20 Talladega Superspeedway
10/27 Martinsville Speedway
11/3 Texas Motor Speedway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}11/10 Phoenix International Raceway
11/17 Homestead-Miami Speedway