2022 Nascar Schedule Breakdown
The Nascar Cup Series will see a lot of changes this offseason, one in particular is the 36 race schedule. With us now in 2022, we are getting closer to the L.A. Coliseum Busch Clash, along with the 64th annual Daytona 500. This year’s schedule will feature two new tracks that the Nascar Cup Series has never raced at. Along with these new additions, the schedule shakes up majorly, races that normally take place in a certain month will now take place in different slots down the line.
Starting off the year the “2022 Busch Clash” will take place in Los Angeles, California at the L.A. Coliseum. This will be a highly anticipated event as this will be the first time Nascar will ever race in the Coliseum. This event will be February 6th at 6:00pm on FOX. After this Sunday night race, Nascar will take a short week off as the NFL’s superbowl Sunday will take place the Sunday before Valentine’s day. After Sunday the 13th in February, Nascar will run it’s traditional “Speedweeks” at Daytona. Qualifying to set the front row will take place February 16th at a time To be determined by Nascar. Following qualifying the duel races to set the rest of the 40 car field will be February 17th, followed up with the 64th running of the Daytona 500 Sunday, February 20th.
( The 2022 Auto Club Speedway Logo)
To end February, Nascar will make it’s return to Auto Club Speedway. Due to Covid 19 Auto Club hasn’t seen a race at it’s venue since 2020. Nascar and Auto Club officials thought it was right not to hold the “ Auto Club 400” due to the up roar in Covid cases in California at the time. With this decision Nascar took that race date away and converted that race into the Daytona Road Course. Sadly for fans who enjoyed the Daytona Road Course, Nascar will not be returning this year as Auto Club looks forward to their race date February 27th.
Kicking off the March portion of the Nascar schedule, mostly everything stays the same. Nascar will hold race weekends at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 6th, Phoenix Raceway on the 13th of March. Nascar will head back east after three weeks out west and attend Atlanta Motor Speedway. Atlanta Motor Speedway has seen it’s first repave after 24 years dating back to 1997 was the track's last reconfiguration. Nascar will make its first appearance at the newly repaved Atlanta on March 20th. Moving on to the first major mix to the Nascar schedule will be Circuit of the Americas. Moving now to March 27th, this race was formerly held on May 23rd.
( The 2022 Richmond Raceway Logo)
Setting sail into the spring Nascar will keep the majority of it’s race dates the same as last year. Richmond Raceway’s first race date will move up to the first weekend of April instead of the 18th. April 3rd is when race fans will see the Richmond short track in action. Following Richmond, Nascar will continue it’s short track action as Martinsville’s race date will stay the same as last year. Taking place where Richmond’s race was in 2021 is the Bristol Dirt race. This will be held April 17th for some Sunday Night racing. Concluding the month of April will be the traditional Talladega “Geico 500”. This race will stay the same as last year with the event being held on April 24th.
In the month of May, Dover Motor Speedway will move up to May 1st. Following Dover, Nascar will head down south to Darlington Raceway for mother’s day weekend. This race at Darlington will take place May 8th, the same as last year. Continuing the month of May Nascar will head west to Kansas Speedway. In 2021 this race was on May 2nd, instead this race will get underway on the 15th in May. In 2021 the Nascar All Star Race was held in Texas in June. This time, Texas will see it’s second consecutive all star event, but this time on May 22nd. To end the month of May as always the traditional and iconic Coca-Cola 600 will be May 29th at 6:00pm on Memorial weekend.
( An image of World Wide Technology Raceway)
Starting the month of June off Nascar will visit World Wide Technology Raceway. This will be the first time the Cup Series will race at the track also known as “Gateway” on June 5th. Rolling through the month of June Nascar will push it’s Sonoma Race back one weekend, June 12th is when race fans will see this event. Ending this month Nashville SuperSpeedway will stay the same as it will end off the month of June once again. But this time on June 26th.
Now in the heart of the summer kicking off the month of July will be Road America. This race weekend will stay the same as 2021 on the fourth of July weekend. July 3rd is when this race will take place. Up next will be Nascar’s second and final trip of the year to Atlanta. With no summer olympics this year, more races will take place in the month of July. Atlanta will be on 10th. Followed by New Hampshire staying the same on the 17th, along with this Pocono moves back to the 24th. Pocono will now only see one race date instead of the doubleheader last year. Pocono has also been moved back a month as this event is normally the last week of June.
( The Cup Series Racing at the Indianapolis Road Course)
Ending the month of July, Nascar will make it’s second trip all time for the Cup Series to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. This race will be on July 31st to end the month.
August will see four races as Michigan will kick off the month on the 7th. Richmond will see it’s second date in August as traditionally this event is normally held the second week of September. Richmond will see it’s second event on August 14th. The next race weekend in August is Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen has been moved back by two weeks to the 21st. Ending the season is now the traditional second Daytona race. Once again this race will end the regular season on the 27th as drivers and teams gear up for the playoffs.
Starting the Playoffs the “Southern 500” will stay the same on the 4th Labor Day weekend. Progressing into September the 11th will be Kansas Speedway for the second race of the round of 16. Ending the round of 16 will be at Bristol Motor Speedway on the 17th this will be the first cut off race of the year. The start of the round of 12 will be in Texas, Texas will now gain it’s second race of the year on the 25th. After Texas the round of 12 will hold two more races. Talladega on the 2nd and the Charlotte Roval on the 9th. The Round of 8 will start off in Las Vegas, this second Las Vegas race date will be held on the 16th. One of the biggest moves will be the Miami race. Homestead Miami went from being held as the 3rd race of the year to now one of the finals in 2022. Homestead Miami will now be run October 23rd as the second to last race in the round of 8. After Miami will be Martinsville, once again, Martinsville will be the bridge to the Championship race. Martisville will stay in place as last year on the 30th. The Championship race at Phoenix will stay the same, the 6th will be the season finale down in the desert.
( The construction is under way for the 2022 Busch Clash)
As we are now in the new year, the Nascar offseason is on the back half as we inch closer. We are five weeks away until the L.A. Coliseum Busch Clash and seven weeks from the 2022 Daytona 500. More blogs covering the 2022 Nascar season will continue to come out.
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