NASCAR has released its 2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule and with the exception of a few minor tweaks, next year’s calendar will look similar to the 2015 version.
NASCAR unveils 2016 Sprint Cup schedule
The schedule will see minor changes and NASCAR again race 38 times over a 41-week span.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Radically different pertaining to the schedule is that the 23 venues hosting premier division races have signed five-year sanctioning agreements, as opposed to the one-year deals NASCAR operated on previously.
Though the dates are not set beyond 2016, the policy change makes it highly unlikely any new tracks will be added before 2021. The stability is not only beneficial to tracks, but also designed to aid fans who travel to races so they can plan long term.
Among the adjustments to the 2016 Sprint Cup schedule:
- The spring Richmond International Raceway event shifts to Sunday afternoon from Saturday night.
- Because of how the calendar falls, Dover International Speedway’s annual May race is to be held three weeks earlier.
- To accommodate NBC’s Summer Olympic coverage, the August Michigan International Speedway race moves to later in the month.
As it has since 2001, the schedule will consist of 36-point races and two exhibition events beginning with the preseason Sprint Unlimited to be held Feb. 13 followed by the season-opening Daytona 500 the next weekend.
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff will again be contested on the same 10 tracks kicking off Sept. 18 at Chicagoland Speedway with the season-finale Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The schedule includes three off-weekends: Easter, Father’s Day and mid-August.
2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule
| 2/13 | Sprint Unlimited (Daytona) |
| 2/21 | Daytona 500 |
| 2/28 | Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| 3/6 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| 3/13 | Phoenix International Raceway |
| 3/20 | Auto Club Speedway |
| 4/3 | Martinsville Speedway |
| 4/9 | Texas Motor Speedway |
| 4/17 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| 4/24 | Richmond International Raceway |
| 5/1 | Talladega Superspeedway |
| 5/7 | Kansas Speedway |
| 5/15 | Dover International Speedway |
| 5/21 | NASSCAR All-Star Race (Charlotte) |
| 5/29 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| 6/5 | Pocono Raceway |
| 6/12 | Michigan International Speedway |
| 6/26 | Sonoma Raceway |
| 7/2 | Daytona International Speedway |
| 7/9 | Kentucky Speedway |
| 7/17 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
| 7/24 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| 7/31 | Pocono Raceway |
| 8/7 | Watkins Glen International |
| 8/20 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| 8/28 | Michigan International Speedway |
| 9/4 | Darlington Raceway |
| 9/10 | Richmond International Raceway |
| 9/18 | Chicagoland Speedway |
| 9/25 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
| 10/2 | Dover International Speedway |
| 10/8 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| 10/16 | Kansas Speedway |
| 10/23 | Talladega Superspeedway |
| 10/30 | Martinsville Speedway |
| 11/6 | Texas Motor Speedway |
| 11/13 | Phoenix International Raceway |
| 11/20 | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
See More:
