As previewed this past weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR announced the 2015 Sprint Cup Series schedule on Tuesday.
One of the biggest highlights of the new schedule is that Darlington Raceway gets its traditional Labor Day weekend date back. Darlington has been on the schedule since 1950, and had hosted a race every Labor Day weekend through 20o3.
“This is a true example of Darlington Raceway, ISC and NASCAR all working together to give fans what they have wanted for many years – the tradition of stock car racing on Labor Day weekend at the Lady in Black,” said track President Chip Wile in a track release. “We can’t thank our leaders at ISC and NASCAR enough for working with us to bring back such a historic date on the 2015 NASCAR calendar.
“We raced the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend for 53 years. Returning to a date in 2015 that is filled with so much tradition and history is a historic moment for our fans and local community.”
Additionally, Atlanta Motor Speedway will now run the week after the Daytona 500, moving Phoenix International Raceway to week four as a part of three straight west coast races.
#NASCAR #RaceHub announces the "West Coast Swing" – Vegas, Phoenix, Auto Club all in a row 3/8, 3/15 and 3/22. pic.twitter.com/sHJq3mOx0P
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 26, 2014
Bristol Motor Speedway announced on Friday that their date would move to mid-April rather than March, where the events have been affected by cold temparatures, rain and snow in recent years.
“This is a great day in the history of Bristol Motor Speedway thanks to our passionate fans,” Jerry Caldwell, BMS general manager and executive vice president said of the change. “Bruton and Marcus Smith and NASCAR heard the relentless plea for a true spring race date. The fans can look forward to a 2015 landmark celebration April 17-19 in Thunder Valley.”
Kentucky Speedway’s date was moved slightly to the week after the July Daytona race, which was moved to Sunday, July 5. Also, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway will trade their fall dates, while no other changes were made within the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
2015 Sprint Cup Series Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 — Sprint Unlimited, FOX
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015 — Daytona 500 Qualifying, FOX
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 — Duel, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 — Daytona 500, FOX
Sunday, March 1, 2015 — Atlanta, FOX
Sunday, March 8, 2015 — Las Vegas, FOX
Sunday, March 15, 2015 — Phoenix, FOX
Sunday, March 22, 2015 — California, FOX
Sunday, March 29, 2015 — Martinsville, FOX
Sunday, April 5, 2015 — Off
Saturday, April 11, 2015 — Texas, FOX
Sunday, April 19, 2015 — Bristol, FOX
Saturday, April 25, 2015 — Richmond, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, May 3, 2015 — Talladega, FOX
Saturday, May 9, 2015 — Kansas, FOX Sports 1
Saturday, May 16, 2015 — Sprint All-Star, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, May 24, 2015 — Charlotte, FOX
Sunday, May 31, 2015 — Dover, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 7, 2015 — Pocono, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 14, 2015 — Michigan, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 21, 2015 — Off
Sunday, June 28, 2015 — Sonoma, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, July 5, 2015 — Daytona, NBC
Saturday, July 11, 2015 — Kentucky, NBCSN
Sunday, July 19, 2015 — New Hampshire, NBCSN
Sunday, July 26, 2015 — Indianapolis, NBCSN
Sunday, August 2, 2015 — Pocono, NBCSN
Sunday, August 9, 2015 — Watkins Glen, NBCSN
Sunday, August 16, 2015 — Michigan, NBCSN
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 — Bristol, NBCSN
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015 — Off
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015 — Darlington, NBC
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 — Richmond, NBCSN
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 — Chicagoland, NBCSN
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 — New Hampshire, NBCSN
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 — Dover, NBCSN
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 — Charlotte, NBC
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 — Kansas, NBC
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 — Talladega, NBCSN
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 — Martinsville, NBCSN
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015 — Texas, NBC
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 — Phoenix, NBC
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 — Homestead, NBC