NASCAR Schedule 2016: Sprint Cup and Xfinity Race Dates and Tracks Announced

NASCAR on Monday made its long-awaited release of the 2016 schedule for the Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series. 

There were only minor changes to four events on the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

The Daytona International Speedway race in July will shift back from Sunday to Saturday night, marking the launch of television partner NBC’s 2016 campaign. 

The Michigan International Speedway race in August will move back two weeks to Aug. 28 to account for NBC’s broadcast of the Rio 2016 Olympics, per Jeff Gluck of USA Today. The Dover International Speedway spring race moves up two weeks to lead into the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race at Richmond International Raceway in the spring, traditionally held Saturday night, will move to Sunday afternoon.  

Here’s a look at the full 2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule:

Race	Date	Track / Event
*	Feb. 13	Daytona (Sprint Unlimited)
*	Feb. 14	Daytona (Daytona 500 Qualifying)
*	Feb. 18	Daytona (Duels)
1	Feb. 21	Daytona 500
2	Feb. 28	Atlanta
3	March 6	Las Vegas
4	March 13	Phoenix
5	March 20	Auto Club
6	April 3	Martinsville
7	April 9	Texas
8	April 17	Bristol
9	April 24	Richmond
10	May 1	Talladega
11	May 7	Kansas
12	May 15	Dover
*	May 21	Charlotte (All-Star)
13	May 29	Charlotte
14	June 5	Pocono
15	June 12	Michigan
16	June 26	Sonoma
17	July 2	Daytona
18	July 9	Kentucky
19	July 17	New Hampshire
20	July 24	Indianapolis
21	July 31	Pocono
22	Aug. 7	Watkins Glen
23	Aug. 20	Bristol
24	Aug. 28	Michigan
25	Sept. 4	Darlington
26	Sept. 10	Richmond
27	Sept. 18	Chicagoland
28	Sept. 25	New Hampshire
29	Oct. 2	Dover
30	Oct. 8	Charlotte
31	Oct. 16	Kansas
32	Oct. 23	Talladega
33	Oct. 30	Martinsville
34	Nov. 6	Texas
35	Nov. 13	Phoenix
36	Nov. 20	Homestead-Miami

The sanctioning body also announced it has reached an an agreement with 23 race tracks to host the Cup Series and 24 to host Xfinity races through 2020 as an initiative to ensure stability while “strengthening the overall health of the industry,” per NASCAR.

Here is the 2016 Xfinity Series schedule:

Race	Date	Track
1	Feb. 20	Daytona
2	Feb. 27	Atlanta
3	March 5	Las Vegas
4	March 12	Phoenix
5	March 19	Auto Club
6	April 8	Texas
7	April 16	Bristol
8	April 23	Richmond
9	April 30	Talladega
10	May 14	Dover
11	May 28	Charlotte
12	June 4	Pocono
13	June 11	Michigan
14	June 19	Iowa
15	July 1	Daytona
16	July 8	Kentucky
17	July 16	New Hampshire
18	July 23	Indianapolis
19	July 30	Iowa
20	Aug. 6	Watkins Glen
21	Aug. 13	Mid-Ohio
22	Aug. 19	Bristol
23	Aug. 27	Road America
24	Sept. 3	Darlington
25	Sept. 9	Richmond
26	Sept. 17	Chicagoland
27	Sept. 24	Kentucky
28	Oct. 1	Dover
29	Oct. 7	Charlotte
30	Oct. 15	Kansas
31	Nov. 5	Texas
32	Nov. 12	Phoenix
33	Nov. 19	Homestead-Miami

The schedule and date placements beyond next season will be the subject of ongoing negotiations between NASCAR and the tracks. 

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said in a statement the goal of reaching a lengthy deal was stability, per NASCAR: 

"

Among the goals that we set out to accomplish with our track partners was to provide consistency for race fans and the industry stakeholders. We feel like we have a nice balance of that for 2016. The stability of five-year agreements positions us well to deliver fans with schedules as early as possible over the next several years.

"

The announcement comes much later in the year than usual. NASCAR generally releases the next year’s schedule each prior August.