NASCAR has officially unveiled the 2025 Cup Series schedule, marking a transformative season with historic returns, international expansion, and a reimagined playoff format.
Historic Returns and International Expansion
The season kicks off on February 2 with the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina, the first Cup Series event at the venue since 1971 . A significant milestone occurs on June 15, when the series heads to Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for its first points-paying race outside the U.S. since 1958 .
In-Season Tournament and Broadcast Innovations
A new in-season tournament debuts in 2025, featuring 32 drivers competing for a $1 million prize. Seeding is determined based on three races streamed on Amazon Prime Video, with the tournament itself broadcast on TNT Sports and Max . This initiative, inspired by driver Denny Hamlin, aims to inject fresh excitement into the summer stretch.
Broadcasting sees a significant overhaul: FOX Sports covers the season’s first 12 races, Prime Video streams five mid-season events including the Coca-Cola 600, TNT Sports handles the subsequent five races, and NBC Sports concludes the season with the final 14 races, encompassing the playoffs
Playoff Restructuring
The playoffs commence on August 31 with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Notable changes include World Wide Technology Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway joining the playoff roster, while Homestead-Miami Speedway returns to an early-season date on March 23 . The championship finale remains at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.
With these dynamic changes, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series promises a season of renewed excitement and global outreach.
