January 31, 2025

Ready for racing? What you need to know about 2025 NASCAR schedule

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off this weekend with the Clash exhibition race, which this year moves from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to an historic racing site: Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Then, it’s on to NASCAR’s most well-known venue, Daytona International Speedway, as the series gears up for its most famous race, the Daytona 500, on Sunday, Feb. 16. Daytona marks the first of 26 regular-season races that will take drivers all over the country and to all different types of ovals, not to mention road and street courses.

Much like the regular season starts at Daytona, it ends there, too, with the speedway hosting the final race before the 10-race playoff commences. The playoffs will begin Aug. 31 at Darlington Raceway, and the 2025 Cup Series champion will be crowned Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway.

Here’s what to know about the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, including TV channels and streaming options:

When does the 2025 NASCAR season begin?

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the weekend of Feb. 1-2 with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The race will be held Sunday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET (Fox).

The action begins Saturday, Feb. 1 with practice and qualifying at 6 p.m. ET (FS1), followed by heat races at 8 p.m. ET (FS1). On Sunday, a last-chance qualifying race at 6 p.m. ET and a pre-race show at 7:30 p.m. (both on Fox) will precede The Clash.

When is the 2025 Daytona 500?

The 2025 Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET (Fox) at Daytona International Speedway.

Leading up to the legendary race, the track will hold Daytona Speedweeks with pole qualifying on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 8:15 p.m. ET (FS1), followed by the twin Daytona Duel races on Thursday, Feb. 13, beginning at 7 p.m. ET (FS1). Daytona then hosts the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Friday, Feb. 14, for its opening race of 2025, followed by the first NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the year on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Watch most NASCAR Cup races on Fubo

When does the 2025 NASCAR season end?

The 2025 season ends on Sunday, Nov. 2 with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway (3 p.m. ET, NBC).

Who is the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion?

Team Penske driver Joey Logano won the 2024 NASCAR Championship Race and will be back in the No. 22 Ford.

What TV channels are broadcasting NASCAR in 2025?

Fox or FS1 will televise all NASCAR Cup Series races between Feb. 1 and the All-Star Race on May 18. Amazon Prime Video will broadcast five races, beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. TNT will then pick up the action June 28 in Atlanta for five races before ceding the remainder of the season to USA and NBC beginning Aug. 3.

2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

All times p.m. and Eastern unless noted

  • Sun., Feb. 2: Clash at Bowman Gray, 8 | Fox
  • Sun., Feb. 16: Daytona 500, 2:30 | Fox
  • Sun., Feb. 23: Atlanta, 3 | Fox
  • Sun., March 2: COTA (Austin, Texas), 3:30 | Fox
  • Sun., March 9: Phoenix, 3:30 | FS1
  • Sun., March 16: Las Vegas, 3:30 | FS1
  • Sun., March 23: Homestead-Miami, 3 | FS1
  • Sun., March 30: Martinsville, 3 | FS1
  • Sun., April 6: Darlington, 3 | FS1
  • Sun., April 13: Bristol, 3 | FS1
  • Sun., April 27: Talladega, 3 | Fox
  • Sun., May 4: Texas, 3:30 | FS1
  • Sun., May 11: Kansas, 3 | FS1
  • Sun., May 18: All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, 8 | FS1
  • Sun., May 25: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, 6 | Prime Video
  • Sun., June 1: Nashville, 7 | Prime Video
  • Sun., June 8: Michigan, 2 | Prime Video
  • Sun., June 15: Mexico City, 3 | Prime Video
  • Sun., June 22: Pocono, 2 | Prime Video
  • Sat., June 28: Atlanta, 7 | TNT
  • Sun., July 6: Chicago Street Race, 2 | TNT
  • Sun., July 13: Sonoma, 3:30 | TNT
  • Sun., July 20: Dover, 2 | TNT
  • Sun., July 27: Indianapolis, 2 | TNT
  • Sun., Aug. 3: Iowa, 3:30 | USA
  • Sun., Aug. 10: Watkins Glen, 2 | USA
  • Sat., Aug. 16: Richmond, 7:30 | USA
  • Sat., Aug. 23: Daytona, 7:30 | NBC
  • *****PLAYOFF RACES*****
  • Sun., Aug. 31: Darlington, 6 | USA
  • Sun., Sept. 7: WWTR (Madison, Illinois), 3 | USA
  • Sat., Sept. 13: Bristol, 7:30 | USA
  • Sun., Sept. 21: New Hampshire, 2 | USA
  • Sun., Sept. 28: Kansas, 3 | USA
  • Sun., Oct. 5: Charlotte Roval, 3 | USA
  • Sun., Oct. 12: Las Vegas, 5:30 | USA
  • Sun., Oct. 19: Talladega, 2 | NBC
  • Sun., Oct. 26: Martinsville, 2 | NBC
  • Sun., Nov. 2: Championship Race at Phoenix, 3 | NBC

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY