Tuesday, August 26, 2014

NASCAR Announces 2015 Sprint Cup Schedule

NASCAR confirmed today that Darlington Raceway’s Southern 500 will return to its traditional Labor Day Weekend date in 2015; one of a number of changes to the Sprint Cup Series schedule.  

Darlington hosted the “Granddaddy of the All” each Labor Day weekend from 1950 through 2003. In 2005, the race moved to Mother's Day weekend as part of a reduction from one annual Sprint Cup Series event to just one, then shifted to April this season as part of a date-swap dates with Kansas Speedway. Whether or not the event will run during the day or under the lights remains to be determined, according to track president Chip Wile. 

Other changes to the 2015 slate include Atlanta Motor Speedway, which will now assume the second slot on the schedule, one week following the season-opening Daytona 500. Phoenix International Raceway will move from Week Two of the season to Week Four, with Bristol Motor Speedway moving from mid-March to Sunday, April 19. Kentucky Speedway will move from the week before the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona until the week after; running on Sunday, July 11. Charlotte and Kansas will trade their traditional autumn races dates, with Charlotte running on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Kansas racing on Sunday, Oct. 18. 

The 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup remains unchanged next season. 

2015 Sprint Cup Series Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 -- Sprint Unlimited, FOX
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015 -- Daytona 500 Qualifying, FOX
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 -- Duel, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 -- Daytona 500, FOX
Sunday, March 1, 2015 -- Atlanta, FOX
Sunday, March 8, 2015 -- Las Vegas, FOX
Sunday, March 15, 2015 -- Phoenix, FOX
Sunday, March 22, 2015 -- California, FOX
Sunday, March 29, 2015 -- Martinsville, FOX
Sunday, April 5, 2015 -- Off
Saturday, April 11, 2015 -- Texas, FOX
Sunday, April 19, 2015 -- Bristol, FOX
Saturday, April 25, 2015 -- Richmond, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, May 3, 2015 -- Talladega, FOX
Saturday, May 9, 2015 -- Kansas, FOX Sports 1
Saturday, May 16, 2015 -- Sprint All-Star, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, May 24, 2015 -- Charlotte, FOX
Sunday, May 31, 2015 -- Dover, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 7, 2015 -- Pocono, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 14, 2015 -- Michigan, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 21, 2015 -- Off
Sunday, June 28, 2015 -- Sonoma, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, July 5, 2015 -- Daytona, NBC
Saturday, July 11, 2015 -- Kentucky, NBCSN
Sunday, July 19, 2015 -- New Hampshire, NBCSN
Sunday, July 26, 2015 -- Indianapolis, NBCSN
Sunday, August 2, 2015 -- Pocono, NBCSN
Sunday, August 9, 2015 -- Watkins Glen, NBCSN
Sunday, August 16, 2015 -- Michigan, NBCSN
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 -- Bristol, NBCSN
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015 -- Off      
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015 -- Darlington, NBC
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 -- Richmond, NBCSN
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 -- Chicagoland, NBCSN
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 -- New Hampshire, NBCSN
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 -- Dover, NBCSN
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 -- Charlotte, NBC
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 -- Kansas, NBC
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 -- Talladega, NBCSN
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 -- Martinsville, NBCSN
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015 -- Texas, NBC
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 -- Phoenix, NBC
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 -- Homestead, NBC

28 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:21 PM

    Dave...why Sunday night for Daytona in July. Monday is not a holiday

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:38 PM

      Because it ALWAYS!!! rains in the summer here and it has to be ran at night anyways.

      Delete
    2. Because the coke 400 is always at night followed by fireworks...

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    3. A lot of fans will be doing cookouts and watching fireworks on the 4th of July. That would make for a major conflict for the TV audience and diminished ratings. TV rules.

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    4. Because Saturday is the fourth, and they don't want to go up against all the parades, fireworks and cookouts.

      Delete
  2. Still would like to see changes to the chase. Drastic change!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:54 PM

      Yup. Need to add a road course like road America and take out a cookie cutter track.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:39 PM

      Definitely rite now it sucks!

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    3. They need to drop the Chase altogether. It doesn't work, and attendances won't improve this year from last because people see through the concept as a fraud. Go back to the full-season format and the Latford point system with a 100-point bonus for each win and 80-point bonus for most laps led each race - make the races the focus, not the points race.

      As far as the schedule itself, get rid of the All-Star Race so Atlanta or another track can get a second date back.

      Delete
  3. Bristol needs to be added to the chase!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous7:09 PM

    Can we please add Iowa? Pocono sucks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Compared to Iowa, Pocono is better racing. The best Iowa races are the K&N series because they run bias ply tires.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous7:10 PM

    Ohh bummer no more TNT. Said nobody...ever.

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  6. Jeffrey marsh7:12 PM

    Whats wrong with the chase

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  7. Anonymous7:16 PM

    When will they change the chase races. Kansas and chicagoland no no no. Just one please. Atlanta needs a second visit.

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  8. Anonymous8:00 PM

    So Atlanta won't have a night race anymore? If so that's bullshit. We're one of the few tracks who don't have a curfew for racing to stop at night.

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  9. Kinda disappointed that most of the races r on channels over 60 million people dont get fs1 and nbcsn,i have cabel not really concern2d but ur kinda limiting ur audience,no races in the chase changed that sux,think the ball has beend dropped

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  10. It looks like I will any see 16 races. I refuse to pay good money for sports channels. For if we do the all sports will go to the sports channels and never be on network tv again. I ask every one to boycott fox sports one and nbcsports

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    Replies
    1. So, you don't watch any races on ESPN?

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    2. Nope. I do not watch espn. Not even for football.

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    3. Look, I'm certainly not here to pass judgement and I'm sure you have your reasons, but you must be aware that you're part of a tee-tiny minority of American race fans that choose not to pay for access to ESPN, FS1, NBCSN, etc. Cable/dish channels are the way of the future.

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    4. I am just saying that if you want to pay and get charged for it all that is on you. Just do not complain when it hits $200 to $300 a month. It will be yours and every one that payees now fault. it is basic business if they can charge you now they will charge you more latter

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    5. Good luck with your one-man assault on the cable industry.

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    6. I am not trying to do a one-man assault on any cable industry. I am just pointing out that i will not pay for a sports channel. I do not know why you are so bent out of shape. what do you work for the cable company or something?.

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    7. Well, I beg to differ with you. You said you wouldn't pay for a sports channel and I said I'm sure you had your reasons and that's your business. You also said the rest of us shouldn't pay for it either and, although you're entitled to your opinion, that's NOT your business. And, finally, I don't work for a cable company. I'm just dealing with the realities of NASCAR and television as it exists in the 21st century.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous1:18 PM

    Martinsville in November...brrrrr

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Although it's close, it's probably better than Bristol in March

      Delete
  12. Anonymous9:27 AM

    Though I knew the FS1/NBCSN races were coming, I'm extremely disappointed to see 2 of the major races not on network TV - Indy (though not always the greatest race, it is a major race due to the prestige) and Talladega in October.

    I've been holding onto a cheap Dish Network package just to keep ESPN, but come Thanksgiving I'll be dropping them. Will just have to watch highlights online. Back to good ole MRN and PRN for most of next year. At least my local radio still covers all the Cup and Nationwide/Comcast Series races (for now).

    ReplyDelete