Through a new, social media-centered way of connecting with fans, NASCAR released the 2012 Sprint Cup schedule Wednesday afternoon. Vice President Steve O’Donnell accomplished the mission through a series of tweets, done by month and released about five minutes apart.
Fans, able to communicate directly with questions and concerns loved the new, “instant reaction” format. But the changes couched within this schedule are minimal; there are still 36 races at the same tracks and just a handful of dates switched around. Here’s a sneak peek at 2012, with specific changes described below.
NOTE: The Nationwide and Truck series schedules were NOT released. O’Donnell hopes to have something concrete for both by the end of next week.
| 2012 Sprint Cup Schedule | |||
| Day | Date | Race (Track) | Laps |
| Saturday | Feb. 18 | Bud Shootout (Daytona – night) | 75 |
| Thursday | Feb. 23 | Duel 150 Qualifying Races (Daytona) | 60 |
| Sunday | Feb. 26 | Daytona 500 | 200 |
| Sunday | March 4 | Subway Fresh Fit 500K (Phoenix) | 312 |
| Sunday | March 11 | Kobalt Tools 400 (Las Vegas) | 400 |
| Sunday | March 18 | Food City 500 (Bristol) | 500 |
| Sunday | March 25 | Auto Club 400 (California) | 200 |
| Sunday | April 1 | Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 (Martinsville) | 500 |
| April 8 – OFF WEEKEND | |||
| Saturday | April 14 | Samsung Mobile 500 (Texas – night) | 334 |
| Sunday | April 22 | STP 400 (Kansas) | 267 |
| Saturday | April 28 | TBA 400 (Richmond – night) | 400 |
| Sunday | May 6 | Aaron’s 499 (Talladega) | 188 |
| Saturday | May 12 | Showtime Southern 500 (Darlington – night) | 367 |
| Saturday | May 19 | Sprint Showdown (Charlotte – night) | 40 |
| Saturday | May 19 | Sprint All-Star Race (Charlotte – night) | 100 |
| Sunday | May 27 | Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte – night) | 400 |
| Sunday | June 3 | FedEx 400 (Dover – benefits Autism Speaks) | 400 |
| Sunday | June 10 | TBA 400 (Pocono) | 160 |
| Sunday | June 17 | Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 (Michigan) | 200 |
| Sunday | June 24 | Toyota/Save Mart 350K (Infineon) | 110 |
| Saturday | June 30 | Quaker State 400 (Kentucky – night) | 267 |
| Saturday | July 7 | Coke Zero 400 (Daytona – night) | 160 |
| Sunday | July 15 | Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (New Hampshire) | 301 |
| July 22 – OFF WEEKEND | |||
| Sunday | July 29 | Crown Royal 400 (Indianapolis) | 160 |
| Sunday | Aug. 5 | Pennsylvania 400 (Pocono) | 160 |
| Sunday | Aug. 12 | Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen (Watkins Glen) | 90 |
| Sunday | Aug. 19 | Pure Michigan 400 (Michigan) | 200 |
| Saturday | August 27th | IRWIN Tools Night Race (Bristol – night) | 500 |
| Sunday | Sept. 2 | AdvoCare 500 (Atlanta – night) | 325 |
| Saturday | Sept. 8 | Wonderful Pistachios 400 (Richmond – night) | 400 |
| Sunday | Sept. 16 | GEICO 400 (Chicagoland) | 267 |
| Sunday | Sept. 23 | Sylvania 300 (New Hampshire) | 300 |
| Sunday | Sept. 30 | AAA 400 (Dover) | 400 |
| Sunday | Oct. 7 | AMP Energy 500 (Talladega) | 188 |
| Saturday | Oct. 13 | Bank of America 500 (Charlotte) | 334 |
| Sunday | Oct. 21 | Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas) | 267 |
| Sunday | Oct. 28 | TUMS Bring It On 500 (Martinsville) | 500 |
| Sunday | Nov. 4 | AAA Texas 500 (Texas) | 334 |
| Sunday | Nov. 11 | Kobalt Tools 500K (Phoenix) | 312 |
| Sunday | Nov. 18 | Ford 400 (Homestead-Miami) | 267 |
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