NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

The most anticipated announcements every year for motorsport enthusiasts are the announcements of schedules for the NASCAR Cup Series. It consists of a handpicked calendar of races held across all types of tracks in the United States, from superspeedways to road courses, even on dirt. Every year, NASCAR revises the schedule to make it thrilling for the drivers and their fans. Ranging from February into November, the basic race schedule involves different categories that fit more than 30 races, many of which feature some of the most important events in American motorsports. The 2025 schedule is set to have 36 races.

NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Schedule 2025

THe NASCAR Regular season's calendar for the 2025 Cup Series championship has been released on the official site of NASCAR:

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Schedule 2025

The Playoffs consist of three rounds of 3 races each which are competed between the top-16 drivers of the Regular Season:

NASCAR Cup Series Championship

The Championship Race is raced between the final four drivers with the most points after the Round of 8 of playoffs:

Structure of the NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

Events on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule are divided into several main segments: the regular season, playoffs, and the championship finale.

Regular Season (February - August)

The regular season includes most of the races on the schedule, where drivers strive to gain points and wins to qualify them for the playoffs. The season covers a variety of tracks, with races at iconic places such as:

• Talladega Superspeedway

• Martinsville Speedway

• Bristol Motor Speedway

• Texas Motor Speedway

• Richmond Raceway

All these races are crucial since the drivers gain points by race finish but also from stage wins and consistency overall. For now, the task of the drivers is either to win races or gain enough points so that they will be guaranteed a spot in the playoff grid.

Playoffs (September - November)

NASCAR initiates a playoff format that starts in September and will lead into the championship race. The playoff grid will be filled by 16 drivers, who either scored race wins during the regular season or just have a good number of points to make them eligible. The playoffs include 10 races, segmented into three rounds before the championship: Round of 16, Round of 12 and Round of 8. Each round carries three races, after which, at the end of each round, the four drivers with the least points collected are knocked out of championship contention. This brings it down to when the series reaches its final race in Phoenix, where only four drivers remain to contest the ultimate title.

2025 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule Special Features

NASCAR always makes efforts to keep things fresh for the fans and challenge drivers with new formats and venues.

Street Races

NASCAR has been adding street racing to the Cup Series schedule over the past few years. Most recently, that includes the high-profile race held in downtown Chicago. It takes the action to the heart of a major city, a new challenge for drivers who are used to ovals and road courses.

Bristol Dirt Racing

The Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway is unique in its way. The once short-track racing event has been moulded into a dirt track, one that gives drivers a hint of old-school racing while entertaining fans.

Road Course Expansion

The series has also added some road course events in recent seasons. Events such as Circuit of the Americas and Watkins Glen International pose a different type of challenge for drivers, who have grown up racing on high-speed ovals.