NASCAR released its 2023 Cup Series schedule Wednesday, and although there aren’t too many adjustments compared with this year’s lineup, the changes that are included are fairly big.
In recent years, NASCAR has been revamping it’s schedule so it now includes more road course races, a greater variety in track types and some novelty races, like the preseason Clash at the Coliseum and the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race. For 2023, many of the recent updates to the schedule remain the same, and there’s two new tracks added — though one is for an exhibition race.
So now that the 2023 NASCAR schedule is finally out, here are our key takeaways.
1
The Clash at the Coliseum is back!
As expected, The Clash at the Coliseum is the first event on the schedule, returning for its second season. Held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, drivers eligible for this preseason exhibition event raced around a purpose-built 0.25-mile asphalt oval inside the iconic venue, which is home to USC Trojans football and has hosted the Olympics, Super Bowls and the World Series.
Even as a bit of a gimmick, the first edition of this race at the L.A. Coliseum was largely a success and quite entertaining, so it’s no surprise NASCAR is bringing it back. Next season, it’s scheduled for February 5, 2023.
From The Clash’s debut in 1979 to 2021, the exhibition event was always held at Daytona International Speedway in the days leading up to the season-opening Daytona 500. But switching to SoCal is a great way to add a creative track to the schedule while still providing fans a fun race with a picturesque backdrop.
2
NASCAR All-Star Race is moving to North Wilkesboro Speedway
NASCAR previously announced this change to the schedule, but it’s still a really big deal. After two seasons at Texas Motor Speedway, the NASCAR All-Star Race, another exhibition event, is moving to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, and the track will host its first Cup race since 1996. The 2023 All-Star Race is scheduled for May 21, 2023.
More about the track via NASCAR.com:
The 0.625-mile oval – which has deep ties to the sport’s moonshining roots – was part of NASCAR’s foundation in its earliest years, joining the Modified Division schedule in 1948. The track hosted the year-ending race for the Cup Series – then called Strictly Stock – in its first season in 1949. It became an annual stop on the schedule, hosting two races a year starting in 1951.
Although North Wilkesboro has largely been unused since 1996, it’s making a comeback, in part thanks to NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3
Texas Motor Speedway is down to 1 race overall
With the All-Star Race moving to North Wilkesboro, Texas Motor Speedway is now down to one race on the schedule for the first time since 2004, per The Athletic. The 1.5-mile track will hold onto its fall playoff race, so NASCAR will visit Fort Worth for the postseason’s Round of 12 opener on September 24, 2023.
4
Speaking of playoffs, the 2023 schedule is exactly the same as 2022
Same rounds in the playoffs, same order, same elimination races. Nothing major is changing when it comes to the NASCAR playoffs in 2023. Darlington Raceway will open the 10-race postseason, championship weekend will still be hosted by Phoenix Raceway, and the elimination races remain at Bristol, the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval and Martinsville Speedway.
5
1 last time around the current Auto Club Speedway
Although NASCAR plans to rework Auto Club Speedway as a two-mile oval into a short track, the details remain unclear. However, the governing body announce with its upcoming schedule that the February 26, 2023 race will be NASCAR’s final event on the current track. NASCAR fans aren’t unanimously on board with this reconfiguration plan, so if you love Auto Club as is, this is a must-see race.
As far as the future of the track, NASCAR noted in a release: “Planning continues for a new short track located on the current site, but details will be announced at a later date.”
6
Of course, there's the Chicago street course
An update to the schedule announced in July, NASCAR is headed to Chicago in 2023 for a street course race through the heart of the Windy City. The Cup race is set for Sunday, July 2, 2023 for what’s basically Fourth of July weekend. Like NASCAR’s other experiments, if done well, the Chicago street course race could be a tremendous success. But that’s a big if, and there’s plenty of room for failure.
7
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is back
This is another contentious track among NASCAR fans. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval didn’t always produce the most compelling racing, but despite some entertaining moments, not everyone is a fan of racing on Indy’s road course, which NASCAR switched to in 2021.
Roger Penske — a NASCAR team owner, as well as the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway — said this summer that switching back to Indy’s iconic oval for 2024 is a possibility, as is the idea of alternating between the two from year to year.
8
There are only 2 Saturday Cup races in 2023
The Cup Series will be mostly sticking to Sundays next season with only two Saturday races on the schedule. The first is the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway in August, while the second in in the playoffs at Bristol in September.
9
Here's a look at the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule
*Notes exhibition race
Sunday, February 5 — Clash at the Coliseum*
Thursday, February 16 — Duel at Daytona International Speedway*
Sunday, February 19 — Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, February 26 — Auto Club Speedway
Sunday, March 5 — Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, March 12 — Phoenix Raceway
Sunday, March 19 — Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sunday, March 26 — Circuit of The Americas
Sunday, April 2 — Richmond Raceway
Sunday, April 9 — Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race
Sunday, April 16 — Martinsville Speedway
Sunday, April 23 — Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, April 30 — Dover Motor Speedway
Sunday, May 7 — Kansas Speedway
Sunday, May 14 — Darlington Raceway
Sunday, May 21 — All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway*
Sunday, May 28 — Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sunday, June 4 — World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
Sunday, June 11 — Sonoma Raceway
Sunday, June 25 — Nashville Superspeedway
Sunday, July 2 — Chicago street course
Sunday, July 9 — Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sunday, July 16 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sunday, July 23 — Pocono Raceway
Sunday, July 30 — Richmond Raceway
Sunday, August 6 — Michigan International Speedway
Sunday, August 13 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course
Sunday, August 20 — Watkins Glen International
Saturday, August 26 — Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR Playoffs 2023
Sunday, September 3 — Darlington Raceway
Sunday, September 10 — Kansas Speedway
Saturday, September 16 — Bristol Motor Speedway
Sunday, September 24 — Texas Motor Speedway
Sunday, October 1 — Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, October 8 — Charlotte Motor Speedway roval
Sunday, October 15 — Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, October 22 — Homestead-Miami Speedway
Sunday, October 29 — Martinsville Speedway
Sunday, November 5 — Phoenix Raceway
