DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: General view of cars during a parade lap before the start of … [+]
There was a time not all that long ago that NASCAR’s three top touring series schedules seemed written in stone with few changes, and few surprises when they were announced a year prior. That all changed in late 2019 when the following year’s races were announced there was a shakeup in 2020. That included the move away from Daytona for the traditional July 4th weekend race, replaced by Indianapolis, and moving the season ending race from Homestead to Phoenix.
At least that was the plan.
The reality was much different thanks to COVID. With all sports shut down for a time, and some venues off limits when racing was restarted, NASCAR was forced to race at different tracks, some more than once, and during the week. In the end they were able to run the scheduled number of races.
In 2021 a dirt race was held for the Cup series at Bristol, the All-Star Race was moved to Texas Motor Speedway, and the road courses at the Circuit of the Americas and Road America were added. For this season the biggest change was the addition of Clash at L. A’s Memorial Coliseum.
With the return to L. A’s Memorial Coliseum, the addition of the Chicago Street Race, and the move of the All-Star Race to North Wilkesboro already announced, there were no big surprises when NASCAR revealed the 2023 schedules for its 75th anniversary season Wednesday.
The biggest changes came in the Xfinity and Truck series. The Xfinity Series will take the place of the Trucks and join the Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway in June. That series will also join the Cup series on the Chicago Street Course racing on Saturday July 1. No word on the IMSA series which had been part of the earlier announcement for Chicago.
For the first time since 2009 the Trucks will race at the Milwaukee Mile and while Road America sacrificed its Cup date to Chicago, the Xfinity series will race there on July 29.
The 10 race playoffs remain unchanged starting at Darlington and finishing at Phoenix. With Texas Motor Speedway losing the All-Star Race, the track will host just a single Cup race weekend for the first time since 2004 that coming during the Playoffs.
“As we prepare to celebrate our 75th anniversary season, we are committed to delivering a schedule that acknowledges the deep history and tradition of our sport while establishing a bold future that brings the best racing in the world to new markets and new fans,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy. “The 2023 schedules are a product of continued collaboration across our industry and partners. We are incredibly proud of what our sport will have to offer fans next season, and excited to celebrate this milestone season with the most diverse compilation of tracks in motorsports.”
Nashville Superspeedway on June 25. While Road America sacrificed its Cup date to Chicago, the Xfinity series will race there on July 29.
2023 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Race / Track
Sunday, February 5 Clash (L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
Thursday, February 16 Duel at Daytona
Sunday, February 19 DAYTONA 500
Sunday, February 26 Auto Club
Sunday, March 5 Las Vegas
Sunday, March 12 Phoenix
Sunday, March 19 Atlanta
Sunday, March 26 COTA
Sunday, April 2 Richmond
Sunday, April 9 Bristol Dirt
Sunday, April 16 Martinsville
Sunday, April 23 Talladega
Sunday, April 30 Dover
Sunday, May 7 Kansas
Sunday, May 14 Darlington
Sunday, May 21 North Wilkesboro (All-Star Race)
Sunday, May 28 Charlotte
Sunday, June 4 World Wide Technology Raceway
Sunday, June 11 Sonoma
Sunday, June 25 Nashville Superspeedway
Sunday, July 2 Chicago Street Race
Sunday, July 9 Atlanta
Sunday, July 16 New Hampshire
Sunday, July 23 Pocono
Sunday, July 30 Richmond
Sunday, August 6 Michigan
Sunday, August 13 Indianapolis Road Course
Sunday, August 20 Watkins Glen
Saturday, August 26 Daytona
Sunday, September 3 Darlington*
Sunday, September 10 Kansas*
Saturday, September 16 Bristol*
Sunday, September 24 Texas*
Sunday, October 1 Talladega*
Sunday, October 8 Charlotte Roval*
Sunday, October 15 Las Vegas*
Sunday, October 22 Homestead-Miami*
Sunday, October 29 Martinsville*
Sunday, November 5 Phoenix (Championship)*
2023 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Race / Track
Saturday, February 18 Daytona
Saturday, February 25 Auto Club
Saturday, March 4 Las Vegas
Saturday, March 11 Phoenix
Saturday, March 18 Atlanta
Saturday, March 25 COTA
Saturday, April 1 Richmond
Saturday, April 15 Martinsville
Saturday, April 22 Talladega
Saturday, April 29 Dover
Saturday, May 13 Darlington
Saturday, May 27 Charlotte
Saturday, June 3 Portland
Saturday, June 10 Sonoma
Saturday, June 24 Nashville Superspeedway
Saturday, July 1 Chicago Street Race
Saturday, July 8 Atlanta
Saturday, July 15 New Hampshire
Saturday, July 22 Pocono
Saturday, July 29 Road America
Saturday, August 5 Michigan
Saturday, August 12 Indianapolis Road Course
Saturday, August 19 Watkins Glen
Friday, August 25 Daytona
Saturday, September 2 Darlington
Saturday, September 9 Kansas
Friday, September 15 Bristol*
Saturday, September 23 Texas*
Saturday, October 7 Charlotte Roval*
Saturday, October 14 Las Vegas*
Saturday, October 21 Homestead-Miami*
Saturday, October 28 Martinsville*
Saturday, November 4 Phoenix (Championship)*
2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Race / Track
Friday, February 17 Daytona
Friday, March 3 Las Vegas
Saturday, March 18 Atlanta
Saturday, March 25 COTA
Saturday, April 1 Texas
Saturday, April 8 Bristol Dirt
Friday, April 14 Martinsville
Saturday, May 6 Kansas
Friday, May 12 Darlington
Saturday, May 20 North Wilkesboro
Friday, May 26 Charlotte
Saturday, June 3 World Wide Technology Raceway
Friday, June 23 Nashville Superspeedway
Saturday, July 8 Mid-Ohio
Saturday, July 22 Pocono
Saturday, July 29 Richmond
Friday, August 11 Lucas Oil IRP*
Sunday, August 27 Milwaukee*
Friday, September 8 Kansas*
Thursday, September 14 Bristol*
Saturday, September 30 Talladega*
Saturday, October 21 Homestead-Miami*
Friday, November 3 Phoenix (Championship)*
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregengle/2022/09/14/no-major-surprises-as-nascar-reveals-schedules-for-its-75th-anniversary-season/