Short Tracks Return To NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Slates As Part Of 2020 Schedule Announcement

Short Tracks Return To NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Slates As Part Of 2020 Schedule Announcement

by April 5, 2019 0 comments

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR today announced the 2020 schedules for both the NASCAR Xfinity Series™ and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series™, and both include a return to race tracks that were part of the original schedule for each series – venues that have been absent from the respective slates for more than a decade.

For the first time since 2006 – and only the second time in the last 25 years – the Xfinity Series will race at Martinsville Speedway, and the stakes have never been higher. Expect tempers to flare, and emotions to boil over. With a final chance to lock up a spot in the Championship 4, Martinsville will serve as the final Playoff cutoff race in all three national series. The Gander Trucks will race at The Paperclip on Oct. 30 under the lights, with the Xfinity Series making its return on Oct. 31.

Likewise, Richmond Raceway plays a prominent role in both schedules. The Gander Trucks will return to Richmond for the first time since 2005, while the newly-renovated raceway will play host to the regular season finale in the Xfinity Series to set the field for the 12-driver Playoff field.

“The NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series were both built on short track racing, and it is important that short tracks remain a prominent part of our series schedules,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR managing director of racing operations and international development. “We returned to our roots in many ways with today’s announcement. Martinsville and Richmond were part of the original Xfinity and Gander Trucks schedules, and we’re excited for their return as part of a strong overall slate.”

As announced as part of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule unveil, ISM Raceway near Phoenix will host the Championship Race for all three national series. ISM Raceway underwent a significant renovation, transforming the gem in the desert into one of the premier facilities in all of sports.

Xfinity Series drivers will hit the ‘road’ a little earlier in 2020, as Mid-Ohio moves up in the schedule to May 30. Two new cutoff races will face the Xfinity Series drivers during the Playoffs, with the Charlotte Roval (Oct. 10) and Martinsville set to pare the field from 12 to 8 to 4.

Gateway Motorsports Park will host the Playoff opener for the Gander Trucks on Aug. 21, part of a postseason reshuffle that will feature two new cutoff races. The Round of 8 will culminate with a race at Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 17), and the Round of 6 will end with Martinsville.

Once again, both series will open at the ‘World Center of Racing,’ Daytona International Speedway. The Gander Trucks kick off their season on Feb. 14, with the Xfinity Series following on Feb. 15. Both series will then immediately head west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, joining the Cup Series in that marquee market.

Both series will also take part in the historic Cup Series double-header at Pocono Raceway, for what will be a must-see national series quadruple header. The Gander Trucks will race on Saturday, June 27, with the Xfinity Series on June 28.

For fans worried about missing NASCAR racing during the two-week Cup Series break for the Olympics, fret not. The Gander Trucks will have their annual fan-favorite event at Eldora Speedway dirt track on Thursday, July 30. The Xfinity Series will fill the void during the second weekend with short-track action at Iowa Speedway (Aug. 1).

Broadcast times and networks for all three series will be announced at a later date.

2020 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE

DATETRACK
Saturday, Feb. 15Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, Feb. 22Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Feb. 29Auto Club Speedway
Saturday, March 7ISM Raceway
Saturday, March 14Atlanta Motor Speedway
Saturday, March 21Homestead-Miami Speedway
Saturday, March 28Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, April 4Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, April 25Talladega Superspeedway
Saturday, May 2Dover International Speedway
Saturday, May 23Charlotte Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 30Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Saturday, June 6Michigan International Speedway
Saturday, June 13Iowa Speedway
Saturday, June 20Chicagoland Speedway
Sunday, June 28Pocono Raceway
Saturday, July 4Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Friday, July 10Kentucky Speedway
Saturday, July 18New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 1Iowa Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 8Road America
Saturday, Aug. 15Watkins Glen International
Saturday, Aug. 22Dover International Speedway
Friday, Aug. 28Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 5Darlington Raceway
Friday, Sept. 11Richmond Raceway
Friday, Sept. 18Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 26Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 10Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Saturday, Oct. 17Kansas Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 24Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 31Martinsville Speedway
Saturday, Nov. 7ISM Raceway

2020 NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

DATETRACK
Friday, Feb. 14Daytona International Speedway
Friday, Feb. 21Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, March 14Atlanta Motor Speedway
Friday, March 20Homestead-Miami Speedway
Friday, March 27Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, April 18Richmond Raceway
Friday, May 1Dover International Speedway
Friday, May 15Charlotte Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 30Kansas Speedway
Friday, June 5Texas Motor Speedway
Friday, June 12Iowa Speedway
Friday, June 19Chicagoland Speedway
Saturday, June 27Pocono Raceway
Thursday, July 9Kentucky Speedway
Thursday, July 30Eldora Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 8Michigan International Speedway
Friday, Aug. 21Gateway Motorsports Park
Sunday, Sept. 6Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Thursday, Sept. 17Bristol Motor Speedway
Friday, Sept. 25Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 3Talladega Superspeedway
Friday, Oct. 30Martinsville Speedway
Friday, Nov. 6ISM Raceway

Source: NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com

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