DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Friday the next phase in the sanctioning body's schedule realignment process. Keeping pace with the increasing demands of NASCAR's nationwide growth in popularity, the 36-race 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series schedule has been adjusted to address that growth, via the following changes:


New NASCAR Nextel Cup race dates have been sanctioned at Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. Texas Motor Speedway's new event will be held on Nov. 6; as the season's 34th event, it will be crucial in the 10-race "Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup" that determines the series champion. Phoenix International Raceway's new race will be on Saturday night, April 23. Texas retains its spring date (April 17), while Phoenix retains the next-to-last slot on the schedule (Nov. 13).


North Carolina Speedway will not be on the schedule after this season.


Darlington Raceway now will have one date on the schedule, with the track's fall race moving from Nov. to the evening of Saturday, May 7.


California Speedway will have the first of its two events on Feb. 27, one week after the season-opening Daytona 500 -- the date previously held by North Carolina Speedway. Thus, the series will now travel from the season's biggest race to the nation's second-largest market. California's other race will remain on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4).

In Jan. 2003, NASCAR announced "Realignment 2004 and Beyond." The plan calls for regular review of race dates and locations in order to continue bringing the most competitive racing in the world to the widest possible audience, and providing the kind of value that has proven NASCAR to be one of the very best sports properties.

"The 2005 schedule marks an important milestone in NASCAR's realignment efforts because it provides opportunities for more fans to experience first-hand NASCAR Nextel Cup events near their hometowns," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

The schedule continues to reflect the increasing demand for races throughout the country. In 2005, the Southeast will continue to be well-served with great racing in Richmond, Charlotte, Atlanta, Daytona Beach and many others; additionally, NASCAR continues to reach out to new fans in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and the West.

The 2005 season -- NASCAR's 57th -- will open on Sunday, Feb. 20 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

In addition, NASCAR officials announced that the NASCAR Preseason Thunder test sessions will return to Daytona International Speedway in Jan. 2005.


Tentative 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series schedule:

Feb. 12 -- Budweiser Shootout -- Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 20 -- Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 27 -- California Speedway

March 13 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway

March 20 -- Atlanta Motor Speedway

April 3 -- Bristol Motor Speedway

April 10 -- Martinsville Speedway

April 17 -- Texas Motor Speedway

April 23 -- Phoenix International Raceway

May 1 -- Talladega Superspeedway

May 7 -- Darlington Raceway

May 14 -- Richmond International Raceway

May 21 -- NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge -- Lowe's Motor Speedway

May 29 -- Lowe's Motor Speedway

June 5 -- Dover International Speedway

June 12 -- Pocono Raceway

June 19 -- Michigan International Speedway

June 26 -- Infineon Raceway

July 2 -- Daytona International Speedway

July 10 -- Chicagoland Speedway

July 17 -- New Hampshire International Speedway

July 24 -- Pocono Raceway

Aug. 7 -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Aug. 14 -- Watkins Glen International

Aug. 21 -- Michigan International Speedway

Aug. 27 -- Bristol Motor Speedway

Sept. 4 -- California Speedway

Sept. 10 -- Richmond International Raceway

Sept. 18 -- New Hampshire International Speedway

Sept. 25 -- Dover International Speedway

Oct. 2 -- Talladega Superspeedway

Oct. 9 -- Kansas Speedway

Oct. 15 -- Lowe's Motor Speedway

Oct. 23 -- Martinsville Speedway

Oct. 30 -- Atlanta Motor Speedway

Nov. 6 -- Texas Motor Speedway

Nov. 13 -- Phoenix International Raceway

Nov. 20 -- Homestead-Miami Speedway



The 2005 schedule looks pretty good. A 500 mile night race at Darlington during Mothers Day weekend is going to be a good race, but I'm disappointed with NASCAR ending the Southern 500 after this year. Also moving Califonia to the 2nd race of the year was a good move.

my question is what tracks get the axe when the northwest track is built, and the new york track, possibly watkins glen and ??

This seems to be the trend now that the Rock is out. NASCAR is officially moving west. Any opinion on this. I think it is a good thing for NASCAR. They move out here and open the doors to more markets.

this sucks, they are taking out the tracks that started nascar and giving 2 races to cookie cutter tracks.

why does caif and texas need a 2ed date anyway?
i think most tracks should olny have one date (Dega and Daytona, Alanta, Lowes, 2 dates) the rest should be 1 race at tracks all over the us, (Nashville, KY, ect ect) so more fans can see a cup race.

but as i said before if Kentucky gets a date, i dont think i would go cause dega is about the same miles and would rather go there.

and they keep pushing dega back a few weeks every year, wont be to long and the race will be in the heat of summer and them no one will go there.

this just sucks.....nascar sure has been making me mad the past few years! :angry:

Now that I have to agree with you. NASCAR should have only one date as most tracks except for Daytona, Dega, Atlanta and Lowes and expand further into other markets.

On the other hand it is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Very true WOP!

I would rather see 1 race at 2 tracks the same then 2 races at the same track.....but "Nascar is a family sport, we do what the France family tells us to do"

While I'm delighted at TMS getting a 2nd date, I did NOT want it at the expense of Darlington or The Rock.

But, as others have said, it's all about the $$$$$.

Well. for those that question why some tracks get 2 dates and other not, here's my take on it (at least where it concerns Texas).

Yes, it does come down to the almighty dollar. But that also means it gives people that live around those 2 date tracks more of a chance to catch a race. We (at TMS) had what had to be 80,000+ show up for the Busch race this year. A Busch race!!! This area, like California is hungry for racing. Texas already hosts 2 truck and 2 IRL races and now 2 Cup and 1 Busch race (since they haven't mentioned if the Busch series will be traveling to TMS for the second date), that shows that there is a big hunger for racing in this region. I wonder what will happen if the Houston Superspeedway ever comes to fruition? Now that would be interesting.

Now, why don't they go to other tracks? Infrastructure. You've got to be able to provide a place that people will want to go to, and be able to handle everything that comes with it. The smaller markets that have lost their races simply can't do that. Nor can the exisiting ones who currently host only Busch or Truck races (ever see how many people are actually in the stands??). Don't blame Nascar for going where the money is. If all the people that complain about Nascar abandoning the tracks that helped build the sport actually went and supported those tracks, then there wouldn't be the need to worry about it.

Well....better get ont he horn with TMS to see about getting first dibs on tha secind date!! WOO HOO!!!

I belive Nashville has places for ppl to stay and stuff to do before and afterthe race.

Sparta ky, well the part i seen was not much there, but go a few miles down the road and it gets a lot better.

I heard that Nextel phone service was out in the Carolinas to from about 4 AM till sometime after 11 AM.

I'm sure that made a big impression on the same day of the schedule change announcement. :D