Predicting The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

I love the idea of trying to predict the NASCAR schedule. It's a complex mix of innovation and tradition. NASCAR schedules didn't always used to be so innovative though, up until 2020 when change was forced due to the COVID pandemic the schedule stayed relatively unchanged for 20 years. A whole generation of fans had only seen 2 tracks added ever Kentucky Speedway and Charlotte Roval which is a road course layout within the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Since 2020  the NASCAR Cup Series has gone to a new track at least once a season, 2020 was the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. In 2021 it was Bristol Dirt, Circuit Of The Americas (COTA), Road America, Nashville Superspeedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. In 2022 it was the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Clash, an annual season opening exhibition race, and World Wide Technology Raceway (Commonly known as Gateway). 2023 saw the return to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 1996, the 2023 race was the non-points All-Star race also in 2023 was the first ever street race with the Chicago Street Course. 2024 will see the debut of Iowa Speedway.

For the 2025 season the NASCAR Cup series will have 4 broadcast partners Fox/Fox Sports 1, Amazon Prime Video, TNT/Bleacher Report/MAX and NBC/Peacock/USA Network. Fox will have 12 points races plus the Clash and All-Star Race, Both Amazon Prime and TNT will each have 5 races and NBC will have the last 14 races. For this article which will also have a companion video on both Youtube and X, I'll be breaking down the schedule by broadcast partner, each one will have an individual paragraph going in order of the season.

Up first in 2025 is Fox, They have been a broadcast partner since 2001 and in 2025 will have 14 total races, 12 points and 2 non-points races. In 2025 I believe it will start in Mexico at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the current host of the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix. This track hosted NASCAR's second level Xfinity series (then Busch and Nationwide Series) from 2005 to 2008. This track has been rumored and seeing it join in 2025 would be no surprise. The 2025 Daytona 500 will take place on February 16th, this is one of only 2 dates confirmed at the time of writing the article. I'm excited for next years 500 as it will be on my birthday! I believe Atlanta will stay 2nd in 2025 after the success of this year. 3rd will be a race in Los Angeles/Southern California. I'm not sure where it might be but it will happen, NASCAR is keen to get into/stay in this market after Auto Club Speedway got shut down and the 3 successful years of the Clash at the Coliseum. Phoenix and Las Vegas will stay the same as previous years. Next I think North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 1996 will host a points race after both 2023 and 2024 being the All-Star race, this will replace the struggling Bristol spring date. I see the rest of the Fox portion of the schedule unchanged with Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway. 

Amazon Prime Video one of 2 new partners in 2025 and the only brand new partner. Prime will be the first ever streaming service to exclusively broadcast NASCAR races. To start the Prime portion of the schedule I think we will a Denver Street Race, it's been rumored to be what NASCAR is looking at for as another street race and I think with the success of Chicago Street Course they will be seeking more street races plus having it as a option when Chicago is gone from the schedule most likely after 2025 it will be key. Next up on the season would be a quick jump back to Fox for the All-star race, I don't see that being moved from a week before the Coca-Cola 600 as it has always been. I think this race will see a return to Rockingham for the first time since 2004, this track was recently repaved and effort is being made to have it return by the track owners and this would be a popular move with fans, plus seeing an old track revived for the All-star race with North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023 could lead to this move. Next is the Coca-Cola 600, having one of the crown jewel events on Prime could be a big draw for people who may be skeptical about streaming to get Prime and watch the race. I think Prime finishes with World Wide Technology Raceway, Sonoma Raceway and Iowa Speedway, these tracks are around these dates in 2024 and I don't see them changing. 

TNT is the second new partner in 2025 and is returning after being a broadcast partner from 2001 to 2014 and Turner sports as a whole from 1983 to 2014. I'm glad to see them return, I enjoyed their broadcast previously and I feel TNT does a good job with sports. I really enjoy their NBA coverage. I think TNT will pick up where it left off in 2014, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, This track has been a summer race forever and I don't see it moving, Next is Nashville Superspeedway, this race since it addition in 2021 has been around this same date and follows New Hampshire in 2024 as well. TNT's big race would be the Chicago Street Course. This race is already set to be July 6th and is the only race besides the Daytona 500 to be confirmed at the time of writing the article. Pocono would follow Chicago like it does in 2024 

TNT would end in Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, this track has hosted the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix since 1978 and hosted Xfinity series (then Busch and Nationwide Series) from 2007 to 2012. This was rumored to be joining in 2024 but didn't and Iowa joined instead. NASCAR has been wanting to go International for a few years and going into Canada with a points race would be a big move. This date would also work well as it would be about a month and a half after the 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix. 

NBC has been a current broadcast partner since 2015 as well as a broadcast partner from 2001 to 2006. I think in 2025 their portion of the schedule will remain mostly unchanged from 2024 as NASCAR tends to not touch the Playoffs. The Playoffs are 10 weeks and NBC only has 14 weeks. NBC seems to enjoy broadcasting Indianapolis and the brickyard 400, I see them opening their portion of the schedule with this crown jewel event. Next I think we will see Richmond Raceway host its only race of the year; this would then be followed by two chaotic drafting tracks with Atlanta And Daytona to finish the regular season. The round of 16 would be the Southern 500 on its traditional labor day date followed by two tracks from the 2024 round of 16, Bristol and Watkins Glen. The round of 12 is unchanged from 2024 with Kansas, Talladega and Charlotte Roval. The round of 8 would be Las Vegas and Martinsville like 2024 but I believe Phoenix and Homestead swap dates, this puts Phoenix back in the round of 8 like it was from 2014 to 2019 and gives Homestead the season finale like it had from 2002 to 2019. 

I think these predictions make sense for multiple reasons and I would not be surprised if the 2025 schedule is quite similar to the prediction schedule I've made here. Make sure to check out the companion video that goes along with this article. It is available to watch now on X, Youtube and Epiccw.net! 

NASCAR 2025 Schedule Prediction

FOX 

Clash Mexico

1 Daytona 

2 Atlanta  

3 LA / Southern California

4 Las Vegas 

5 Phoenix 

6 COTA  

7 North Wilkesboro   

8 Martinsville 

9 Texas

10 Talladega 

11 Kansas

12 Dover 

Prime

13 Denver Street Race 

All-Star (Fox) Rockingham 

14  Coke 600 (Charlotte)

15  WWT 

16 Sonoma 

17 Iowa 

TNT  

18 New Hampshire 

19 Nashville 

20 Chicago Street Course 

21 Pocono 

22 Canada 

NBC 

23 Indy 

24 Richmond 

25 Atlanta  

26 Daytona 

Playoffs Round of 16 

27 Darlington

28 Watkins Glen 

29 Bristol 

Playoffs Round of 12

30 Kansas 

31 Talladega 

32 Charlotte Roval

Playoffs Round of 8

33 Las Vegas 

34 Phoenix

35 Martinville 

Playoffs Championship 4

36 Homestead