NASCAR’s official 2027 Cup Series schedule has yet to be released, but early projections suggest the 10-race Chase could undergo another major adjustment. After the return of the Chase format in 2026, NASCAR is expected to continue refining the postseason with a bigger emphasis on complete performance rather than simply surviving each elimination round.
The current direction points toward a championship stretch designed to test drivers across multiple disciplines. Short tracks, intermediate speedways, superspeedways and road courses would all play a role, leaving fewer opportunities for teams to rely on one specific strength. The biggest changes center around three current Chase venues that are projected to move back into the regular season.
Bristol Motor Speedway is expected to be one of the most notable moves. The 0.533-mile high-banked oval is projected to shift its Night Race back to late August, returning to the late-summer window where the event remained for 44 consecutive years from 1976 through 2019. The move would help create more separation within the postseason calendar while also avoiding potential conflicts with the massive crowds that travel to nearby Knoxville for University of Tennessee football weekends.
The Bristol Night Race has long been one of NASCAR’s most anticipated events, and moving it outside the Chase would give the regular season another marquee moment. Darlington Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway are also expected to leave the postseason. However, Darlington’s Southern 500 is not expected to lose its Labor Day weekend date.
The 1.366-mile track’s crown jewel event is projected to become the regular-season finale in 2027 instead of opening the Chase, putting even more pressure on teams fighting for playoff positioning. Gateway, meanwhile, is expected to return to a summer date after spending time in the postseason rotation.
Replacing those venues would be Richmond Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International. Richmond’s 0.75-mile D-shaped oval and New Hampshire’s 1.058-mile flat track would bring two different short-track challenges back into the championship fight. Yet, Watkins Glen carries the most intrigue.
The 2.45-mile road course would add another layer of difficulty to the Chase, forcing drivers to manage braking zones, tire wear and race strategy during the most important stretch of the season. A September date would also place road-course racing back into the postseason conversation after the Charlotte Roval was removed from the Chase lineup.
If the projected changes become official, the 2027 Chase would feature one of the most diverse championship schedules NASCAR has assembled. Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway would provide short-track battles, while Phoenix Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway would test teams on different oval configurations.
Talladega Superspeedway would bring the unpredictability of superspeedway racing, while Watkins Glen would demand a completely different skill set. The variety would force championship contenders to succeed everywhere instead of depending on one track type. That kind of balance is perhaps the biggest goal behind the proposed changes. A driver who dominates mile-and-a-half tracks but struggles on short tracks or road courses could find themselves in trouble during the Chase.
Even so, the format would reward teams capable of adapting from week to week. Outside of the championship battle, NASCAR still has several schedule decisions to finalize. The future of NASCAR in Chicago stands as one of the biggest questions. The organization wants to keep its presence alive in the area, but whether that means continuing with a street race, returning to Chicagoland, or exploring another option has not been decided.
The San Diego event at Naval Base Coronado is also expected to return after its debut, with the 3.4-mile temporary street circuit potentially moving from June to August. North Wilkesboro Speedway remains another key part of NASCAR’s future plans, with the historic 0.625-mile short track considered the leading candidate to host the All-Star Race again. However, none of these changes are official until NASCAR releases the 2027 schedule.
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