NASCAR Insider reveals reason behind delay in next season’s schedule announcement

NASCAR Fox reporter Bob Pockrass recently addressed a fan's curiosity about why NASCAR hasn't revealed the 2025 season schedule yet. And that too when the tracks seem to already know their dates. Pockrass explained that there are some contingencies, notably the potential for complications with the tracks, which may be causing the hold-up.

In the past, such as last year, the NASCAR Cup schedule for 2024 was disclosed in early October, detailing the tracks and their respective dates. Pockrass had previously hinted that the 2025 schedule could be announced as early as late May but then shifted that timeline to the first week of July.

He also cautioned that the release could be delayed further by a couple of weeks or more.

The decision to finalize the 2025 schedule could hinge on whether an international race will be included. Responding to a fan's question about the delay, Pockrass elaborated on these factors, saying:

"I'm with you ... But NASCAR doesn't like to release schedule b/c f one track/date falls through, it can impact many others. For instance, last year Phoenix announced its championship weekend and then months later, said it would be a week later than originally announced."

The Athletic has reported Darlington may reclaim its spot as the opening race of the playoffs, maintaining its traditional Labor Day weekend date. Also, three tracks are likely to shift out of the playoff lineup.

Atlanta has already publicized its transition from a September race back to a summer slot, aligning with NASCAR's introduction of a new in-season tournament.

Meanwhile, Watkins Glen might reschedule its September race to August after experimenting with a playoff date for one year; Homestead-Miami Speedway, on the other hand, is expected to move its race to the spring.

Looking ahead, there's potential for new additions to the playoff circuit, with tracks like New Hampshire and Gateway poised to join the lineup.

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Is the Chicago Street Race on the chopping block for next year's NASCAR schedule?

The Chicago Street Race faced challenges in 2023 too, when rain disrupted the race, leading to driver complaints about slippery tires and prompting the introduction of wet-weather tires. Despite another rain-delayed race this year, which stalled the action for 103 minutes, the event's spirit wasn't dampened.

Yet, concerns loom over the extensive police presence required for the event, traffic problems for the city locals, and then a weekend marred by severe gun violence that resulted in over 100 people injured and 19 fatalities due to shootings.

In response to previous criticisms, the sport and the city officials this year reduced the setup time for the race, and efforts to reopen major city streets quickly post-race were intensified.

So, despite a three-year agreement with the city, which includes a clause allowing either party to terminate the contract six months before the race, the 2025 race is still on the books for July 5-6.

Also, NASCAR might not be thinking about moving the date because the choice of hosting the event around the July 4 holiday aims to minimize disruption, capitalizing on reduced downtown activity, as fewer people are at work.

With all considerations, there's little indication that NASCAR intends to pull out of Chicago, even if summer rains are anticipated to pose challenges again.