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NASCAR unveiled Tuesday a rescheduled program for the NASCAR 2020 Cup Series, unveiling a list of 36 races including redesigned playoffs and new locations for the championship and regular season finals, among several other changes.
For the first time since 2002, the final of the series will have a new host circuit – ISM Raceway in Phoenix, which has just completed a $ 178 million renovation project aimed at improving the fans' experience, as well as the 39, a reconfiguration of the departure / arrival track.
ISM Raceway hosted the final round of 16 since the introduction of the NASCAR playoff elimination format in 2014 and has been the penultimate race of the season each year since 2005.
To advance to the title race in Phoenix, however, the NASCAR Cup Series drivers have to navigate a 10-race post-season that will see short runs and a road course that hosts elimination races.
RELATED: More information about the ISM Championship Race organization
The playoffs will begin Sept. 6 on the historic Darlington Raceway, whose weekend of regression has become a staple of late summer. The opening round ends at Bristol Motor Speedway in the limelight. One of the most anticipated races of the year goes from the date of August to September 19.
Charlotte's road course remains an elimination race after its thrilling debut last year, but in the round of 16 rather than sixteen. With the passage of ISM Raceway to the championship race, the vacant seat for the final of the eighth finals slides towards Martinsville Speedway. The shortest and oldest track on the NASCAR circuit has always been rich in drama during its previous playoff races, which will surely gain ground as the riders have only one chance to win a race. place in the Championship 4.
"The fans and the industry as a whole have expressed their willingness to dramatically change the schedule, and the 2020 list is a reflection of our efforts to follow through on this return," said Steve O & # 39; Donnell, executive vice president of NASCAR. Director of Racing Development. "These changes are the result of an unprecedented consensus with our race tracks and broadcast partners; something we seek to continue in 2021 and beyond. "
MORE: Daytona brings ultimate wild-card
Before the playoffs, the playoff championship will be fully established and finalized during the new season of the regular season on the historic Daytona International Speedway, a race that may throw a bit of unpredictability into the photo d & # 39; post-season.
Recognized for its tight races and spectacular finishes in its second race of the season in the spotlight, the World Center of Racing has had several underdog winners in its history. Pilots could see their post-season standings dramatically improve or collapse at the 2.5-mile superspeedway during a Saturday night race at prime time on August 29th.
RELATED: The eliminated series rebuilt for 2020
"Quite right, NASCAR's birthplace will host the book races ahead of the 2020 regular season," O'Donnell said. "The races in Daytona, especially in the summer under the lights, never fail to deliver intense and unpredictable actions. There is no doubt that this venue will produce an incredible drama as the drivers try to qualify for the playoffs. "
Other notable changes to the 2020 calendar are:
• A summer party includes a double weekend on the Pocono circuit that will feature two consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races on the same weekend. The first example of this kind in the modern era of NASCAR, this double program on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of June also guarantees that the season ends one week earlier on November 8th.
RELATED: More information on the weekend of dual programs
Other summer changes include the organization of a Father's Day Cup series, which was recently a weekend break for the Premier series. The Chicagoland Speedway hosts the event, the first of the NBC part of the calendar. As the summer run of Daytona approaches the end of the regular season, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the July 4th weekend, the cornerstone of the NASCAR program. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, July 5th.
"We enjoyed collaborating with NASCAR and their track partners to create what we believe to be our most exciting calendar to date in 2020," said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBCSN. "We believe this innovative schedule will benefit all players in the industry and, more importantly, the fans." From the legendary Bristol Night Race as part of the series to the new championship home at ISM Raceway. "
• The organization of the final round of 16 is not the only change for Martinsville Speedway. The 0.526-mile track will host its first NASCAR National Series race under newly installed installation lights on Mother's Day weekend on May 9, 2020.
MORE: The lights go on in Martinsville
• The Homestead-Miami Speedway race, which previously hosted the final, is scheduled for March 22, 2020, at the start of the regular season. The 1.5 mile track with a variable bank produces some of the best races of the year.
• NASCAR headed west earlier this year, with the west coast swing starting immediately after the opening of the season, the Daytona 500. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the second race of the season, followed by Auto Club Speedway and ISM Raceway clubs.
• The last four races of the regular season are designed to test the mettle of NASCAR's top drivers on various courses. This four-race slate includes a 2-mile wide oval (Michigan), a road course (Watkins Glen), a 1-mile fast concrete track (Dover) and a 2.5-mile superspeedway (Daytona).
"It was a great collaborative effort," said Bill Wanger, Programming, Live Operations and Research Manager at FOX Sports. "Working with NASCAR to offer racing fans the most compelling program requires a perfect balance between respect for tradition, and at the same time, looking for places to add energy to the race program for fans and the spectators, and we think this has been accomplished for the public.Season 2020. "
The complete program of the NASCAR Cup Series for 2020:
| Date | Track |
| Sunday February 9th | Shock |
| Thursday, February 13 | Duels in Daytona |
| Sunday February 16th | Daytona 500 |
| Sunday, February 23 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| Sunday 1st March | Auto Club Speedway |
| Sunday, March 8 | ISM Raceway |
| Sunday March 15th | Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, March 22 | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
| Sunday, March 29 | Texas Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, April 5 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, April 12 | OF |
| Sunday April 19th | Richmond Raceway |
| Sunday, April 26 | Talladega Superspeedway |
| Sunday, May 3 | Dover International Speedway |
| Saturday, May 9 | Martinsville Speedway |
| Saturday May 16th | All-Star Race in Charlotte |
| Sunday, May 24 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, May 31 | Kansas Speedway |
| Sunday, June 7 | Michigan International Speedway |
| Sunday, June 14 | Sonoma Raceway |
| Sunday, June 21st | Chicagoland Speedway |
| Saturday, June 27 | Pocono Raceway |
| Sunday, June 28 | Pocono Raceway |
| Sunday, July 5th | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Saturday, July 11 | Kentucky Speedway |
| Sunday, July 19th | New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, July 26 | OF |
| Sunday, August 2 | OF |
| Sunday, August 9 | Michigan International Speedway |
| Sunday August 16th | Watkins Glen International |
| Sunday, August 23 | Dover International Speedway |
| Saturday, August 29 | Daytona International Speedway |
| Sunday September 6th | Darlington Raceway |
| Saturday, September 12 | Richmond Raceway |
| Saturday, September 19th | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| Sunday September 27th | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| Sunday October 4th | Talladega Superspeedway |
| Sunday, October 11 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, October 18th | Kansas Speedway |
| Sunday, October 25 | Texas Motor Speedway |
| Sunday, November 1 st | Martinsville Speedway |
| Sunday, November 8 | ISM Raceway |
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