NASCAR announces 2013 Cup Series schedule

New Cars, Same Fierce Competition In Store For 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2012) – 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.”

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.

2013 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

Date	Site
2/16	Daytona International Speedway (Shootout)
2/17	Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 500 Qualifying)
2/21	Daytona International Speedway (Duel)
2/24	Daytona 500
3/3	Phoenix International Raceway
3/10	Las Vegas Motor Speedway
3/17	Bristol Motor Speedway
3/24	Auto Club Speedway
4/7	Martinsville Speedway
4/13	Texas Motor Speedway
4/21	Kansas Speedway
4/27	Richmond International Raceway
5/5	Talladega Superspeedway
5/11	Darlington Raceway
5/18	NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
5/26	Charlotte Motor Speedway
6/2	Dover International Speedway
6/9	Pocono Raceway
6/16	Michigan International Speedway
6/23	Sonoma
6/29	Kentucky Speedway
7/6	Daytona International Speedway
7/14	New Hampshire Motor Speedway
7/28	Indianapolis Motor Speedway
8/4	Pocono Raceway
8/11	Watkins Glen International
8/18	Michigan International Speedway
8/24	Bristol Motor Speedway
9/1	Atlanta Motor Speedway
9/7	Richmond International Raceway
9/15	Chicagoland Speedway
9/22	New Hampshire Motor Speedway
9/29	Dover International Speedway
10/6	Kansas Speedway
10/12	Charlotte Motor Speedway
10/20	Talladega Superspeedway
10/27	Martinsville Speedway
11/3	Texas Motor Speedway
11/10	Phoenix International Raceway
11/17	Homestead-Miami Speedway

Source: NASCAR