NASCAR released its 2024 Cup Series schedule Wednesday, and while several of the changes had already been leaked, there was plenty of debate on social media on the slate of races.
The biggest addition to the schedule is the June 16 race at Iowa Speedway, a short track that has hosted lower series NASCAR events but never a Cup race. The Athletic first reported Monday that the track had landed a race, but it was a second choice behind Montreal, where plans fell through to host an event.
Another notable change is moving Darlington Raceway to the final event of the regular season. Daytona International Speedway had hosted that critical race the past four seasons. According to The Athletic, NBC, which broadcasts the second half of the season, had requested NASCAR to free up two weekends while it hosts the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In fact, those dates are actually listed on the NASCAR Cup schedule as “Olympic Break,” for both July 28 and Aug. 4.
But as a result, the season finale at Phoenix was pushed back to Nov. 10. The Darlington race was already locked into place during its traditional Labor Day weekend, making it the regular-season finale.
Another notable tweak on the schedule sees race teams open with two straight superspeedway events, at Daytona and Atlanta, followed by a two-week Western swing out to Las Vegas and Phoenix.
A heart-pounding, high-octane thrill ride is coming your way.
This is the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule! pic.twitter.com/W7qKFF0HYc
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 4, 2023
There’s really no way to make everyone happy and accommodate every possible scenario. NASCAR fans had plenty of comments and questions about the new schedule.
The majority of the fans will love this schedule, they love wrecks and drama, they are going to get it for sure, let the wrecked cars and yellow flags fly
pic.twitter.com/LcpZhMtItI — Barry Taylor (@BTaylorChevy8) October 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/gtbiftothemoon/status/1709648999311880244
Other than no Montreal and the 500 and Atlanta being back-to-back, I’m perfectly alright with next year’s schedule
— NASDude
(@TheNASDude) October 4, 2023
Making Darlington the regular season finale and Daytona the week before is a great change
— ˜”*°• MK •°*”˜ (@MK_USA1) October 4, 2023
Disappointing for Atlanta… February spring race is going to be miserably cold. Dont mind the September date for the second race at all, but why kill the night race? Racing at night in Atlanta was cool…
— KG (@kyle_granger) October 4, 2023
Watkins Glen is going to be so cold!!
— Dustin Sorber (@D_Sorber9) October 4, 2023
2 road courses in the playoffs just seems like too much, not a fan of that one
— Chris A (@lazerlord) October 4, 2023
Why do you keep putting short tracks in cold weather knowing it makes the racing worst
— Ryan Boward (@rbyoawna1r3d) October 4, 2023
What a joke of a schedule. Everyone better clear their Monday’s for next yr. Daytona not the reg. season finale, 2 drafting tracks and road courses in playoffs!? Nashville when it’s 100 degrees and Atlanta and Bristol when it’s 30 degrees. Cool cool cool.
— Eddie Kenney (@ek7288) October 4, 2023
[NASCAR]