On Thursday, just days after closing the Cup Series playoffs and crowning Joey Logano as Cup Series Champion for a third time, a points system that’s little to be desired. NASCAR has announced the 2025 schedule for the Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck Series races, which will be split between media outlets, including FOX Sports, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon Prime. NASCAR President Steve Phelps is looking to the future with the 7-year lucrative $7.7 billion contract to partner with some of the biggest names in business broadcasting to grow the sport’s fanbase.
In 2023, the number of NASCAR viewers plummeted to 2.86 million from 3.03 in 2022, making it the franchise’s least-watched season. This year, a similar trend at 2.89 million was seen on networks like NBC, Fox Sports, The USA Network, and FS1. The idea is to increase viewership by spreading the wealth of opportunities for fans to access races from traditional TV networks and online streaming platforms to cover each series’ 2025 schedule while continuing its appeal.
NASCAR Cup Series
For the first time since 1971, NASCAR will host its first cup event at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium in the heart of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The track is home to 29 of the most iconic Cup series races from 1958-71, including “The King” Richard Petty’s 100th career win. The short oval track will be where the 2025 season opener is held on February 2, but adding additional races to the cup schedules means that dates will shift. However, the Winston-Salem race isn’t the only one being added to the schedule in 2025. NASCAR has decided to cross the border into Mexico to add a points-paying race in Mexico City at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in mid-June.
Additionally, the race at Homestead-Miami will not be a part of the playoff schedule fans have grown accustomed to in late March and will move to the beginning of the month instead. The franchise plans to change another tradition by adjusting the date of the “Throwback Weekend,” which ties in the sports-rich history by adorning cars with traditional paint schemes to honor NASCAR’s greats will be moved to Kansas’ April spot. In a continued effort to gain more notoriety in the motorsports realm, Richmond Raceway will host only a single cup series event.
Regular Season Schedule:
- Feb. 2: Winston-Salem ( The Clash) – 8 p.m., FOX
- Feb. 16: Daytona 500 – 2:30 p.m., FOX
- Feb. 23: Atlanta – 3 p.m., FOX
- Mar. 2: Austin – 3:30 p.m., FOX
- Mar. 9: Phoenix – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 16: Las Vegas – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 23: Homestead – 3 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 30: Martinsville – 3 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 6: Darlington – 3 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 13: Bristol – 3 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 20: Off (Easter Sunday)
- Apr. 27: Talladega – 3 p.m., FOX
- May 4: Texas – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- May 11: Kansas – 3 p.m., FS1
- May 18: North Wilkesboro (All-Star) – 8 p.m., FS1
- May 25: Charlotte – 6 p.m., Prime Video
- June 1: Nashville – 7 p.m., Prime Video
- June 8: Michigan – 2 p.m., Prime Video
- June 15: Mexico City – 3 p.m., Prime Video
- June 22: Pocono – 2 p.m., Prime Video
- June 28: Atlanta – 7 p.m., TNT
- July 6: Chicago street course – 2 p.m., TNT
- July 13: Sonoma – 3:30 p.m., TNT
- July 20: Dover – 2 p.m., TNT
- July 27: Indianapolis – 2 p.m., TNT
- Aug. 3: Iowa – 3:30 p.m., USA
- Aug. 10: Watkins Glen – 2 p.m., USA
- Aug. 16: Richmond – 7:30 p.m., USA
- Aug. 23: Daytona – 7:30 p.m., NBC
NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series
The famed NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series will also see drastic changes to schedules in 2025, including where each will be broadcast beginning in February. The Craftsman Truck Series will air on FS1, an entity of Fox Media Group that replaced the Speed Network in 2013. Homestead-Miami will be shifted from its original slot on October 10 to March. In contrast, Nashville Superspeedway will start in May instead of June, and Pocono will start a month earlier in June. Also, like the Cup Series, Darlington is expected to be moved to Labor Day weekend in September.
On the other hand, the Xfinity Series will be hosted on the CW Network and is excitingly making its way back into Mexico for the first time since 2008’s Corona Mexico 200. Rockingham Speedway is also sliding back into the schedule since Kyle Larson took home the checkered flag in 2013 for the franchise’s final race there. Xfinity Series fans can also find another reason to be pumped for next season.
Gateway International Speedway in Madison, Illinois, is being thrown back into the mix after the series parted ways with the venue in 2010. Bristol Motorspeedway will have dual races on the schedule for the first time, Darlington will host one, and Richmond, Michigan, and New Hampshire will be nixed.
Regular Season Schedule (Craftsman Truck)
- Feb. 14: Daytona – 7:30 p.m., FS1
- Feb. 22: Atlanta – 2 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 14: Las Vegas – 9 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 21: Homestead – 8 p.m., FOX
- Mar. 28: Martinsville – 7:30 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 11: Bristol – 7:30 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 18: Rockingham – 5 p.m., FS1
- May 2: Texas – 8 p.m., FS1
- May 10: Kansas – 7:30 p.m., FS1
- May 17: North Wilkesboro – 1:30 p.m., FS1
- May 23: Charlotte – 8:30 p.m., FS1
- May 30: Nashville – 8 p.m., FS1
- June 7: Michigan – Noon, FOX
- June 20: Pocono – 5 p.m., FS1
- June 28: Lime Rock – 1 p.m., FOX
- July 25: IRP – 8 p.m., FS1
- Aug. 8: Watkins Glen – 5 p.m., FS1
- Aug. 15: Richmond – 7:30 p.m., FS1
Regular Season Schedule Xfinity
- Feb. 15: Daytona – 5 p.m., CW
- Feb. 22: Atlanta – 5 p.m., CW
- Mar. 1: Austin – 2:30 p.m., CW
- Mar. 8: Phoenix – 5 p.m., CW
- Mar. 15: Las Vegas – 4:30 p.m., CW
- Mar. 22: Homestead – 4 p.m., CW
- Mar. 29: Martinsville – 5 p.m., CW
- Apr. 5: Darlington – 3:30 p.m., CW
- Apr. 12: Bristol – 5 p.m., CW
- Apr. 19: Rockingham – 4 p.m., CW
- Apr. 26: Talladega – 4 p.m., CW
- May 3: Texas – 2 p.m., CW
- May 24: Charlotte – 4:30 p.m., CW
- May 31: Nashville – 7:30 p.m., CW
- June 14: Mexico City – 4:30 p.m., CW
- June 21: Pocono – 3:30 p.m., CW
- June 27: Atlanta – 7:30 p.m., CW
- July 5: Chicago street course – 4:30 p.m., CW
- July 12: Sonoma – 4:30 p.m., CW
- July 19: Dover – 4:30 p.m., CW
- July 26: Indianapolis – 4:30 p.m., CW
- Aug. 2: Iowa – 4:30 p.m., CW
- Aug. 9: Watkins Glen – 3 p.m., CW
- Aug. 22: Daytona – 7:30 p.m., CW
- Aug. 30: Portland – 7:30 p.m., CW
- Sept. 6: St. Louis – 7:30 p.m., CW
NASCAR Playoff Adjustments
In a continued attempt to appeal to a more modern fan base and the rising age of technology, NASCAR will also revamp its Playoff schedule. Fans will be shocked that Gateway International, Talladega Superspeedway, Nashville Speedway, and Bristol Motorspeedway will now be part of Round 1.
The NASCAR playoff semifinals will consist of a renewed lineup including Martinsville, Talladega, and Las Vegas, and New Hampshire will take over the Talladega slot in the quarterfinals. Phoenix is the only race in the NASCAR playoffs to keep the same time slot for November 2. Fans can view the playoffs on platforms and networks, including Prime Video, FOX Sports, and NBC Sports.
NASCAR viewership will increase significantly by giving fans more avenues to access and stream races through these outlets. As soon as CEO Steve Phelps saw the number of viewers hanging on by a thread, he knew he had to return to the drawing board and beef up the traditional schedule to keep things interesting, especially during the playoffs. Many are expected to tune into the 2025 season out of curiosity regarding how the changes impact the sport’s playoff. Still, there’s also the question of whether it will affect the points system that propelled Joey Logano, who only garnered a single win in 2024, to clinch the NASCAR Cup title, sparking controversy.
Playoff Schedule (Cup Series)
- Aug. 31: Darlington – 6 p.m., USA
- Sept. 7: St. Louis – 3 p.m., USA
- Sept. 13: Bristol – 7:30 p.m., USA
- Sept. 21: New Hampshire – 2 p.m., USA
- Sept. 28: Kansas – 3 p.m., USA
- Oct. 5: Charlotte road course – 3 p.m., USA
- Oct. 12: Las Vegas – 5:30 p.m., USA
- Oct. 19: Talladega – 2 p.m., NBC
- Oct. 26: Martinsville – 2 p.m., NBC
- Nov. 2: Phoenix – 3 p.m., NBC
Playoff Schedule (Xfinity)
- Sept. 12: Bristol – 7:30 p.m., CW
- Sept. 27: Kansas – 4 p.m., CW
- Oct. 4: Charlotte road course – 4 p.m., CW
- Oct. 11: Las Vegas – 7:30 p.m., CW
- Oct. 18: Talladega – 4 p.m., CW
- Oct. 25: Martinsville – 7:30 p.m., CW
- Nov. 1: Phoenix – 7:30 p.m., CW
Playoff Schedule (Craftsman Truck)
- Aug. 30: Darlington – Noon, FS1
- Sept. 11: Bristol – 8 p.m., FS1
- Sept. 20: New Hampshire – Noon, FS1
- Oct. 3: Charlotte road course – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- Oct. 17: Talladega – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- Oct. 24: Martinsville – 6 p.m., FS1
- Oct. 31: Phoenix – 7:30 p.m., FS1
Final Thoughts
NASCAR is looking at a pretty exciting schedule for 2025 and is bringing back some of the most iconic tracks in history, like Bowman Gray Stadium, for the new and improved clash at Bowman Gray that will replace the Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles. Rockingham Speedway, formerly known as North Carolina Speedway, will also be making a comeback. It is the same track where legend Curtis Turner won the American 500, the track’s inaugural event on October 31, 1965.
Others have made history at the track, including Matt Kenseth, who held off Kasey Kahne for the win on February 22, 2004. NASCAR is ready to write some new history into Bowman Gray and Rockingham and leave a lasting mark by readjusting original schedules and adding new broadcasters. Still, the question is, are fans ready, and will the changes garner more viewership than in 2023 and 2024?
