The NASCAR Cup Series calendar has undergone a vast shuffle for the 2020 season, with changes including the season finale moving to Phoenix.
The Cup champion has been decided at Homestead every year since 2001, but the last round will take place at Phoenix next year and be held around two weeks earlier than usual on November 8.
While the 2020 Cup season will begin with the Daytona 500 as usual, there is significant date movement after that.
Daytona will be followed by a West Coast swing comprising Las Vegas, Fontana and Phoenix, before Homestead slots in on March 22.
Other changes during the 26-race regular season include the move of the first race at Martinsville Speedway from March to May 9, Indianapolis moving from September to the July 4 weekend traditionally occupied by Daytona’s second event, and Pocono hosting a double-header of two races across June 27-28 instead of the usual two separate races on different summer weekends.
Daytona’s second date will move to August 29 and become the regular season finale – the final chance for drivers to win their way into the playoffs.
“The fans and the industry as a whole have been vocal about the desire for sweeping changes to the schedule, and the 2020 slate is a reflection of our efforts to execute against that feedback,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer.
“These changes are a result of unprecedented consensus-building with our racetracks and broadcast partners; something we look to continue into 2021 and beyond.”
There are further changes to the playoffs section of the schedule beyond the finale’s move to Phoenix.
Darlington Raceway will now host the playoff opener on September 6, while Las Vegas – the first venue of the championship deciding stint for 2018-19 – becomes the first race of the second round on September 27.
NASCAR will also add another short track to the playoffs, as the Bristol night race moves to September 19, the cutoff race of the first round.
With Phoenix’s move to the season finale, Martinsville’s autumn race will become the cutoff race of the semi-final round of the playoffs on November 1 – after which just four drivers will remain in title contention heading to the last event.
2020 NASCAR Cup schedule
| Date | Venue |
| February 9 | The Clash (Daytona) |
| February 13 | Duels (Daytona 500 qualifying races) |
| February 16 | Daytona 500 |
| February 23 | Las Vegas |
| March 1 | Fontana |
| March 8 | Phoenix |
| March 15 | Atlanta |
| March 22 | Homestead |
| March 29 | Texas |
| April 5 | Bristol |
| April 19 | Richmond |
| April 26 | Talladega |
| May 3 | Dover |
| May 9 | Martinsville |
| May 16 | All-Star (Charlotte) |
| May 24 | Charlotte |
| May 31 | Kansas |
| June 7 | Michigan |
| June 14 | Sonoma |
| June 21 | Chicagoland |
| June 27 | Pocono |
| June 28 | Pocono |
| July 5 | Indianapolis |
| July 11 | Kentucky |
| July 19 | New Hampshire |
| August 9 | Michigan |
| August 16 | Watkins Glen |
| August 23 | Dover |
| August 29 | Daytona |
| September 6 | Darlington |
| September 12 | Richmond |
| September 19 | Bristol |
| September 27 | Las Vegas |
| October 4 | Talladega |
| October 11 | Charlotte Roval |
| October 18 | Kansas |
| October 25 | Texas |
| November 1 | Martinsville |
| November 8 | Phoenix |
Bold: Playoff round
Italics: Non-championship event