Iowa Speedway, an Olympic break, and changes to the races leading into and beginning the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Those items highlight the 2024 schedule, which was finally released on Wednesday. Iowa Speedway, announced Tuesday, will be the only major addition to the Cup Series circuit after the previously announced return to North Wilkesboro and move back to the Indianapolis oval.
A two-week Olympic break will begin the weekend after Indianapolis on July 28 through August 4. Richmond Raceway will be the first race back from the break.
Daytona International Speedway is no longer the regular-season finale, moving to the penultimate race of the regular season. Darlington Raceway, previously the first race of the postseason, will finalize the 16-driver playoff field next season.
Atlanta Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen move into the postseason. They will be the first two races of the first round. Kansas Speedway moves into the second round.
“NASCAR is committed to delivering an annual schedule that continues to be bold and dynamic across all three national series while maintaining the famed destinations that our fans love,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy. “The 2024 NASCAR national series schedules strike a great balance between visiting many of our traditional tracks that continue to put on a great show, and newer locations like our first Cup race in Iowa and our highly anticipated return to the streets of Chicago that create ‘bucket list’ moments and attract new fans to America’s leading motorsport.”
The full schedule is as follows, with the races marked in italics denoting NASCAR Cup Series playoff races.
February 4: Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Coliseum (8 p.m. ET, FOX)
February 15: Duels at Daytona (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
February 18: Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX)