NASCAR reveals milestone 2025 Cup Series schedule, complete with international flair, return to roots

NASCAR unveiled a milestone 2025 Cup Series schedule Thursday, revealing a 38-race slate that features two historic exhibition tracks, 36 points-paying events and the series’ first trip to Mexico City for a points event in the modern era. The sanctioning body also released the full schedules for the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck series.

The Cup Series’ year begins with a trip back in time as The Clash heads to Bowman Gray Stadium for a non-points exhibition on Feb. 2, the Cup Series‘ first competitive visit to the 0.25-mile track since 1971.

The traditional season-opening exhibition event that will once again air live on FOX, Bowman Gray hosted 29 Cup Series races from 1958-1971 and was site of Richard Petty’s 100th career series win in 1969.

Two weeks later, the regular season gets underway with the 67th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 16. Spotlighting early-season changes include a March 2 visit to Circuit of The Americas and a spring race on March 23 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which moves out of the NASCAR Playoffs.

The most significant addition to the NASCAR schedule in 2025, though, brings the Cup Series to international territory. NASCAR will venture to Mexico City on June 15 for a points-paying race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, marking the top level‘s first points event outside the United States since July 1958.

“It‘s no secret we‘ve been bullish about growing NASCAR beyond our borders, and the 2025 schedule is an important and thrilling first milestone in that journey,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer. “In addition to racing in Mexico, we‘ve been able to bring back more historic and fan-favorite venues for the first time in decades across our national series. Not only will this combination of venues maintain the high levels of excitement and anticipation for NASCAR racing, but it also delivers one of the most diverse and challenging schedules anywhere in motorsports.”

The Xfinity Series, which raced in Mexico City from 2005 through 2008, will join the Cup Series and compete south of the U.S. border on June 14.

Darlington Raceway‘s spring date shifts to April 6, with Bristol Motor Speedway moving to April 13, one week before the series rests for Easter weekend — although while the Cup Seres is off, the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series will race at historic Rockingham Speedway.

Memorial Day Weekend starts Amazon Prime Video‘s coverage for a five-race stretch beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway before a June 1 trip to Nashville Superspeedway. Michigan International Speedway, Mexico City and Pocono Raceway make up the rest of the inaugural Prime Video slate — and each race will also serve as the basis for the seeding in NASCAR‘s inaugural in-season tournament.

That five-race, bracket-style competition will begin on June 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway as TNT Sports and Max kicks off coverage. It then shifts to the Chicago Street Course on July 6 before heading to Sonoma Raceway (July 13), Dover Motor Speedway (July 20) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27 to conclude the tournament with the Brickyard 400.

NBC Sports then takes over broadcasting duties for the rest of the season starting Aug. 3 at Iowa Speedway, which returns for a second season on the Cup schedule. Watkins Glen moves back to mid-August from its 2024 playoff date, with Richmond next on Aug. 16 in a Saturday night feature. The regular-season finale returns to Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 23, to finalize the 16-driver playoff field.

The 2025 postseason begins Aug. 31 at Darlington Raceway with the Southern 500 on Labor Day Weekend to lead off the Round of 16. World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway is in the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time and will host the second race of the opening round before the first elimination race on Sept. 13 at Bristol.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway returns to the postseason for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Round of 12 opener. Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval will then close the round.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the opening race of the Round of 8 before the Cup Series shifts to Talladega Superspeedway, which could dramatically shake up the playoff picture ahead of the season‘s penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway, which will set the Championship 4.

The season then concludes on Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. For a full look at the 2025 schedules, see below:

Cup Series

* = In-season tournament
# = Playoffs

Xfinity Series

# = Playoffs

Craftsman Truck Series

# = Playoffs