NASCAR releases 2009 schedules for three major series
Tue 19th, August 2008
Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - NASCAR released Tuesday the 2009 schedules for all three of its national touring divisions, featuring several realignment dates for the Sprint Cup Series and the addition of the Iowa Speedway on the Nationwide Series schedule.
Atlanta Motor Speedway's second race in 2009 will be held September 6th, replacing the Labor Day weekend slot now held by Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway). Auto Club Speedway's second race next year will be October 11th and will become the fourth event in the 10-race "Chase for the Sprint Cup." Talladega Superspeedway currently hosts the fourth event in the "Chase," but next season, Talladega will move to November 1st, making it the seventh "Chase" event.
Sprint Cup teams will have an additional off-week in 2009, prior to the Labor Day weekend event at Atlanta. Teams will take their fourth and final break before 12 consecutive weekends of racing to end the season.
"We feel these moves benefit all the industry, including the tracks and the teams and most importantly our fans," NASCAR President Mike Helton said.
Atlanta's second Cup date next year will run at night for the first time.
"Fans have been clamoring for a Sprint Cup Series race under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway," track president and general manager Ed Clark said. "It's thrilling to bring Labor Day racing back to the south. This will be a great opportunity for Atlanta Motor Speedway to celebrate our 50th year of racing."
Iowa Speedway will host a Nationwide Series event for the first time next year, replacing Mexico City. The Series will run at the 7/8-mile oval, designed by Rusty Wallace, on August 1st.
"NASCAR's selection of Iowa Speedway as a site for a Nationwide race next year, in only our third full year of competitive racing, is an honor and a privilege," Wallace said.
Other changes to next year's Nationwide schedule include switching Atlanta's date from March to September and moving the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event in Montreal to Sunday August 30th.
The Craftsman Truck Series will run at the Chicagoland Speedway for the first time next season on August 28th. Chicagoland will replace the late-season Truck race at Atlanta.
"We're very excited about the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series coming to Chicagoland Speedway," track president Matt Alexander said. "It's a great, strong addition to our schedule that already includes Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the IRL."
The 2009 season begins with a triple header weekend at Daytona International Speedway, capped by the 51st running of the Daytona 500 on February 15th.
2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
Date Site Feb. 7 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway* Feb. 15 Daytona International Speedway Feb. 22 Auto Club Speedway March 1 Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 8 Atlanta Motor Speedway March 22 Bristol Motor Speedway March 29 Martinsville Speedway April 5 Texas Motor Speedway April 18 Phoenix International Raceway April 26 Talladega Superspeedway May 2 Richmond International Raceway May 9 Darlington Raceway May 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Lowes Motor Speedway* May 24 Lowes Motor Speedway May 31 Dover International Speedway June 7 Pocono Raceway June 14 Michigan International Speedway June 21 Infineon Raceway June 28 New Hampshire Motor Speedway July 4 Daytona International Speedway July 11 Chicagoland Speedway July 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug. 2 Pocono Raceway Aug. 9 Watkins Glen International Aug. 16 Michigan International Speedway Aug. 22 Bristol Motor Speedway Sept. 6 Atlanta Motor Speedway Sept. 12 Richmond International Raceway Sept. 20 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sept. 27 Dover International Speedway Oct. 4 Kansas Speedway Oct. 11 Auto Club Speedway Oct. 17 Lowes Motor Speedway Oct. 25 Martinsville Speedway Nov. 1 Talladega Superspeedway Nov. 8 Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 15 Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 22 Homestead-Miami Speedway * Denotes non-points event.
2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule
Date Site Feb. 14 Daytona International Speedway Feb. 21 Auto Club Speedway Feb. 28 Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 21 Bristol Motor Speedway April 4 Texas Motor Speedway April 11 Nashville Superspeedway April 17 Phoenix International Raceway April 25 Talladega Superspeedway May 1 Richmond International Raceway May 8 Darlington Raceway May 23 Lowes Motor Speedway May 30 Dover International Speedway June 6 Nashville Superspeedway June 13 Kentucky Speedway June 20 Milwaukee Mile June 27 New Hampshire Motor Speedway July 3 Daytona International Speedway July 10 Chicagoland Speedway July 18 Gateway International Raceway July 25 OReilly Raceway Park Aug. 1 Iowa Speedway Aug. 8 Watkins Glen International Aug. 15 Michigan International Speedway Aug. 21 Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 30 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Sept. 5 Atlanta Motor Speedway Sept. 11 Richmond International Raceway Sept. 26 Dover International Speedway Oct. 3 Kansas Speedway Oct. 10 Auto Club Speedway Oct. 16 Lowes Motor Speedway Oct. 24 Memphis Motorsports Park Nov. 7 Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 14 Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 21 Homestead-Miami Speedway
2009 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule
Date Site Feb. 13 Daytona International Speedway Feb. 21 Auto Club Speedway March 7 Atlanta Motor Speedway March 28 Martinsville Speedway April 25 Kansas Speedway May 15 Lowes Motor Speedway May 23 Mansfield Motorsports Park May 29 Dover International Speedway June 5 Texas Motor Speedway June 13 Michigan International Speedway June 19 Milwaukee Mile June 27 Memphis Motorsports Park July 18 Kentucky Speedway July 24 OReilly Raceway Park Aug. 1 Nashville Superspeedway Aug. 19 Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 28 Chicagoland Speedway Sept. 12 Gateway International Raceway Sept. 19 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sept. 26 Las Vegas Motor Speedway Oct. 24 Martinsville Speedway Oct. 31 Talladega Superspeedway Nov. 6 Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 13 Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 20 Homestead-Miami Speedway
Starting times and television information will be announced at a later date.