The NASCAR Cup Series has announced its calendar for the 2018 season, including a new road course in the playoffs.
NASCAR’s visit to the Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Cup playoffs will now take place on the road course, instead of the 1.5-mile oval.
It is the first time the playoff section of the calendar will include a road course, with three now on the NASCAR schedule in total – alongside Sonoma and Watkins Glen.
The season will begin with the Daytona 500 on February 18, with several other changes being made to next year’s schedule.
Indianapolis moves from late July to become the final round of the regular season, before the playoffs, on September 9.
The first race of the playoffs will take place in Las Vegas on September 16, the previous opener at Chicagoland moving to July 1.
2018 NASCAR Cup calendar:
Daytona (Clash) – February 11
Daytona (Duel) – February 15
Daytona 500 – February 18
Atlanta – February 25
Las Vegas – March 4
Phoenix – March 11
Fontana – March 18
Martinsville – March 25
Texas – April 8
Bristol – April 15
Richmond – April 21
Talladega – April 29
Dover – May 6
Kansas – May 12
Charlotte (All-Star Race) – May 19
Charlotte – May 27
Pocono – June 3
Michigan – June 10
Sonoma – June 24
Chicagoland – July 1
Daytona – July 7
Kentucky – July 14
New Hampshire – July 22
Pocono – July 29
Watkins Glen – August 5
Michigan – August 12
Bristol – August 18
Darlington – September 2
Indianapolis – September 9
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Las Vegas – September 16
Richmond – September 22
Charlotte (road course) – September 30
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Dover – October 7
Talladega – October 14
Kansas – October 21
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Martinsville – October 28
Texas – November 4
Phoenix – November 11
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Homestead – November 18
