NASCAR: Where does the 2023 season start?
By Asher Fair
All three NASCAR national series are scheduled to get underway at the same venue, though one is set for a preseason exhibition race elsewhere.
From 1979 to 2021, Daytona International Speedway was the lone host of the Busch Light Clash preseason NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race. The race was contested on the oval for 42 consecutive years before moving to the interior road course/roval for 2021.
But that change lasted for just one year, as the race was moved to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022. The race is again set to take place at the home of the USC Trojans in 2023, with live coverage set to be provided by Fox beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET this coming Sunday, February 5.
The Busch Light Clash is one of two non-points races on the 2023 Cup Series schedule, with the other being the All-Star Race. That race, which is scheduled to take place in May, is set to be contested at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time.
While the Xfinity Series and Truck Series won’t be at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, their seasons are both scheduled to officially get underway at the same location as the Cup Series.
The season is scheduled to get underway at Daytona International Speedway for all three NASCAR series.
Daytona International Speedway is set to open up the 23-race Truck Series season, the 33-race Xfinity Series season, and the 36-race Cup Series season during the third weekend in February.
The NextEra Energy 250 Truck Series race is scheduled to kick things off on Friday, February 17, with live coverage set to be provided by Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Then the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 Xfinity Series race is scheduled to take place, with live coverage set to be provided by Fox Sports 1 beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 18.
The final race of the weekend at the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 19, and that race is the Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500. The 65th running of the Great America Race is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Next. All-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. dark
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