The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule was announced today, a 36-race slate that kicks off with the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. The 2008 season also marks NASCAR's 60th year as stock car racing's longest operating sanctioning body.
Following the "Great American Race" the series travels to Southern California, then to the bright lights of Las Vegas before returning to the southeast for races at Atlanta and Bristol. The first scheduled off date for the series will be in March during the Easter holiday. Following the race in Martinsville, the series makes another swing to the southwest, racing at Texas and Phoenix in early April. The second scheduled off weekend occurs in mid-April. The series then picks back up with races at Talladega, Richmond and Darlington prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"By running five consecutive points events before the first scheduled break in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the 2008 schedule is designed to be even more fan friendly," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
Another adjustment to the 2008 schedule is that the Chicago race will be run Saturday night. "Night racing provides an additional element of intrigue and excitement," said France. "Running under the lights at Chicagoland on a Saturday night will be even more exciting for the fans in the stands as well as those watching from home."
Other key dates:
The 30th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will be held on Feb. 9.
On Sunday, July 27, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 6, Richmond International Raceway will be the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
The week after Richmond, on Sunday, Sept. 14, New Hampshire again will have the kick-off event in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, which covers the season's last 10 races and determines the series champion.
On Sunday, Nov. 16, Homestead-Miami Speedway will again host the season finale, where the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will be crowned.
2008 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Site Feb 9 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona Daytona International Speedway* Feb 17 Daytona International Speedway Feb 24 California Speedway Mar 2 Las Vegas Motor Speedway Mar 9 Atlanta Motor Speedway Mar 16 Bristol Motor Speedway Mar 30 Martinsville Speedway Apr 6 Texas Motor Speedway Apr 12 Phoenix International Raceway Apr 27 Talladega Superspeedway May 3 Richmond International Raceway May 10 Darlington Raceway May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge Lowe's Motor Speedway* May 25 Lowe's Motor Speedway Jun 1 Dover International Speedway Jun 8 Pocono Raceway Jun 15 Michigan International Speedway Jun 22 Infineon Raceway Jun 29 New Hampshire International Speedway Jul 5 Daytona International Speedway Jul 12 Chicagoland Speedway Jul 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug 3 Pocono Raceway Aug 10 Watkins Glen International Aug 17 Michigan International Speedway Aug 23 Bristol Motor Speedway Aug 31 California Speedway Sep 6 Richmond International Raceway Sep 14 New Hampshire International Speedway Sep 21 Dover International Speedway Sep 28 Kansas Speedway Oct 5 Talladega Superspeedway Oct 11 Lowe's Motor Speedway Oct 19 Martinsville Speedway Oct 26 Atlanta Motor Speedway Nov 2 Texas Motor Speedway Nov 9 Phoenix International Raceway Nov 16 Homestead-Miami Speedway
I like how they have it now where the first break is Easter. I hated it before where they would have a break after the second race of the season. You're all excited with the return of NASCAR and then you get an off-week right away.
