NASCAR’s 2027 schedule is shaping up to be a season where teams will have little time to settle in before the next challenge arrives. From the speed of Daytona and Talladega to the tight confines of Bristol and Martinsville, the calendar moves through nearly every type of track NASCAR has to offer, forcing drivers and teams to adjust constantly. No single stretch lets one setup or racing style carry a team for long, making versatility, execution, and the ability to respond quickly just as important as raw speed.
Daytona International Speedway — Feb. 13, 21 & Aug. 28
Daytona opens the season with the road-course Clash on Feb. 13 before hosting the 69th Daytona 500 on Feb. 21. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will be back on Aug. 28, giving teams one final superspeedway test before the regular season ends. The three dates make Daytona an important part of both the season-opening buildup and the final push toward the Chase.
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) — Feb. 28 & July 18
Atlanta keeps its two-date schedule and continues to feature the perimeter-style pack racing that has become a defining part of the venue. The Craftsman Truck Series also returns for the first time since 2008. Both weekends will test how teams handle Atlanta’s unusual combination of speed, drafting and aggressive pack racing.
Circuit of The Americas — Mar. 5–7
COTA provides the first major road-course challenge of the season. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races March 6 before the Cup Series takes the green March 7. The early-season weekend forces teams to quickly transition from oval racing to braking, cornering and road-course strategy.
St. Petersburg Street Course — Mar. 6
The Truck Series returns to the streets of St. Petersburg for its second-ever street-course appearance. Drivers will have little margin for error as they navigate concrete barriers and a narrow temporary circuit alongside IndyCar. The event adds another completely different challenge to the early-season schedule.
Phoenix Raceway — Mar. 12–14 & Oct. 22–24
Phoenix receives two major weekends, including a spring event shared with IndyCar on March 14. Its October return places the track in a critical postseason position as championship contenders fight to advance. The two dates give teams an opportunity to measure how much their short-track and intermediate programs develop during the season.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway — Mar. 21 & Oct. 10
Las Vegas retains its two dates, giving teams an early-season benchmark on the 1.5-mile intermediate. The track returns Oct. 10 to provide another opportunity to measure postseason pace. Its two appearances make it an important reference point for teams searching for consistency on intermediate tracks.
Darlington Raceway — Apr. 2–4 & Sept. 4–5
Darlington features a spring tripleheader before returning for the Southern 500 on Sept. 5. The race closes the Cup regular season and determines the 16-driver Chase field, while the O’Reilly Series finishes its regular season Sept. 4. The track’s abrasive surface and unique layout make both weekends important tests of tire management and driver discipline.
Bristol Motor Speedway — Apr. 9–11 & Aug. 14
Bristol keeps its spring weekend, but the traditional Bristol Night Race shifts to Aug. 14. Moving the event outside the postseason gives the regular season another major short-track showdown. The change also gives teams an additional opportunity to build momentum before the Chase begins.
Martinsville Speedway — Apr. 17–18 & Nov. 5–7
NASCAR’s oldest active track receives an early-season date before returning in November for the final elimination round. The late-season Martinsville weekend could determine which drivers reach the championship finale. Its tight confines and short-track intensity make it one of the most consequential events on the calendar.
Talladega Superspeedway — Apr. 25 & Oct. 29–31
Talladega delivers two high-risk drafting weekends. The April race provides an early superspeedway test, while the October tripleheader places the unpredictable 2.66-mile track directly in the Chase. With drafting partners and track position playing major roles, both races can dramatically change the championship picture.
Texas Motor Speedway — May 2
Texas hosts a spring tripleheader weekend, giving teams another opportunity to evaluate their intermediate-track programs early in the season. The 1.5-mile oval presents a different challenge from the other intermediate venues on the schedule. Teams will use the weekend to identify strengths and weaknesses before the summer portion of the season.
Dover Motor Speedway — May 15–16
Dover returns to the points-paying schedule after serving as the 2026 All-Star venue. Its concrete surface and high-speed corners will once again put a premium on tire management and mechanical grip. The return gives teams another demanding short-track race where setup changes can quickly affect performance.
North Wilkesboro Speedway — May 21–23
North Wilkesboro regains the All-Star Race, with Trucks competing May 21, the O’Reilly Series May 22 and Cup on May 23. The weekend marks the track’s first short-track appearance since 1985 and adds another historic venue to the schedule. Its return also gives fans another opportunity to see NASCAR’s national divisions compete at one of the sport’s most historic tracks.
Pocono Raceway — June 11–13
Pocono receives a single summer weekend highlighted by the Cup Series on June 13. The O’Reilly Series and Truck Series provide additional racing throughout the weekend. The track’s three distinct corners continue to demand a setup that balances speed across very different sections of the circuit.
Chicagoland Speedway — June 25–27
Chicagoland strengthens NASCAR’s presence in the Midwest with a Cup race June 27, supported by the O’Reilly Series and ARCA. The return gives teams another opportunity to compete at the 1.5-mile oval. Its late-June placement also provides an important summer benchmark before the regular season reaches its final stretch.
Iowa Speedway — July 4 Weekend
Iowa hosts the Cup Series for the fourth time at its 0.875-mile oval. A fresh repave changes the track’s grip and tire-wear characteristics, creating a new challenge for teams that have already competed there. The July 4 weekend will show which teams can adapt fastest to the changing surface.
World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway) — Aug. 21–22
Gateway moves out of the postseason and into late August. The placement keeps championship pressure high as teams approach the regular-season cutoff. The track’s unique shape and heavy braking zones make it another test of mechanical grip and driver precision.
Richmond Raceway — Sept. 10–11
Richmond moves back into the postseason and opens the Chase with a short-track battle. The O’Reilly Series races Sept. 10 before the Cup Series takes the track Sept. 11. Opening the Chase at Richmond immediately puts pressure on championship contenders to perform on a demanding short track.
Watkins Glen International — September
Watkins Glen brings a road-course test into the heart of the postseason. Its combination of high-speed corners, braking zones, and technical sections creates a sharp contrast from the short-track and superspeedway races surrounding it. Drivers who can manage speed while protecting their tires and equipment will have an important opportunity to gain ground.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway — Sept. 25–26
New Hampshire returns to the Chase schedule as the third race of the opening round. Its position between Richmond and Talladega creates a demanding mix of short-track precision and superspeedway unpredictability. The race could become particularly important for drivers entering the final race of the opening round needing a strong result.
Homestead-Miami Speedway — Nov. 12–14
Homestead-Miami once again serves as the championship destination for all three national divisions. The Trucks race Nov. 12, the O’Reilly Series competes Nov. 13 and the Cup Series crowns its champion Nov. 14. The track’s multiple racing grooves and progressive surface make it a fitting venue for the season finale.
The Defining Feature of the 2027 Calendar
The defining feature of the 2027 calendar is the constant change in demands. Teams will move from Daytona’s drafting tactics to road-course braking zones, then into short-track aggression before returning to the high speeds of intermediate and superspeedway racing. By the time the championship reaches Homestead-Miami, the teams that survive the full range of conditions will have separated themselves from those that excel only in one discipline.
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