NASCAR ‘close’ to revealing full 2020 schedule
By Asher Fair
NASCAR is reportedly “close” to revealing a full 2020 schedule after extending the return to racing schedule from Wednesday, May 27 to Sunday, June 21.
On Thursday, April 30, NASCAR confirmed that racing would return on Sunday, May 17 at Darlington Raceway with the first of four Cup Series races during an 11-race span through Wednesday, May 27.
Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway are each scheduled to host two races during this span. Earlier this week, NASCAR extended the return to racing schedule through Sunday, June 21 with an additional five races over the course of 22 days.
Bristol Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway are each scheduled to host one race from Sunday, May 31 through Sunday, June 21.
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These nine races from Sunday, May 17 to Sunday, June 21 would bring the season race total to 13, as four races were contested earlier this year before the season was brought to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While there are inevitably slated to be more changes to the schedule, especially with four tracks still searching for new regular season race dates despite the recent changes and additions, NASCAR is reportedly “close” to revealing a full 2020 schedule, according to NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell.
NASCAR’s goal has been and remains to run a full 36-race schedule, and with all things considered right now, the scheduled consists of 32 races, including nine regular season races beyond Sunday, June 21 that haven’t been shifted around and the 10 originally scheduled playoff races.
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The one main hindrance to releasing a full schedule at this point is one governor not giving the green light for races to take place in his state, even without fans. Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf (D) has refused to make a decision on the matter. Pocono Raceway is scheduled to host a doubleheader weekend on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28.