NASCAR: 3 schedule announcements for 2023

As the release of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule gets closer, only three race dates have been formally announced thus far.

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule has been a popular topic of discussion as of late, with several big changes expected to be announced for next year.

NASCAR hasn’t been shy about stating their plans to shake things up with regard next year’s schedule. But for the most part, their specific plans have been kept under wraps.

All in all, only three race dates have been formally announced for the 2023 season thus far, and only two of those dates are dates for points races.

For these three events, the race weekends/dates haven’t changed from 2022 to 2023. As is usual from one year to the next, they have all simply moved up by a single day.

Here’s a quick look at these three races.

1. Busch Light Clash – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Two weeks before the season officially gets underway, the Busch Light Clash exhibition race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 5. For the second year in a row, it is scheduled to take place at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Prior to 2022, the race had never taken place at a venue other than Daytona International Speedway.

2. Daytona 500 – Daytona International Speedway

Like this season, NASCAR has off between the weekend of the Busch Light Clash and the official season-opening Daytona 500, with Super Bowl LVII scheduled to take place during that off-weekend. The 65th running of the “Great American Race” is scheduled to officially open up the 2023 season on Sunday, February 19, the day before the Presidents’ Day holiday.

This also means that the Bluegreen Vacations Duels qualifying races are scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 16.

3. NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race – Phoenix Raceway

Once again, the season is scheduled to come to an end on the first Sunday in November, Sunday, November 5, and for the fourth consecutive year, the season finale is scheduled to take place at Phoenix Raceway.

This means that there are still 34 points-paying races that need to be formally confirmed for next year, plus the annual All-Star Race. The full schedule release for the 2023 season is expected to come later this summer.