My Dream NASCAR Schedule

George S.
4 hours ago
3 min read

NASCAR is in a weird place as they have to balance tradition, growth, and competitive integrity, and the schedule has to flow. It needs a mix of momentum, variety, and fun. Here is my dream NASCAR Schedule if there were no restrictions.

NASCAR Clash – New Smyrna

Bring it back to Florida. Holding the Clash at New Smyrna revives Speedweeks as an important part of the NASCAR Schedule and helps with building hype for Daytona. It reconnects NASCAR’s biggest stars with short-track culture and energizes local fans before the sport’s biggest event.

1. Daytona

Race cars speed on a track at Daytona, with a Sunoco sign in the foreground and a cheering crowd in the grandstand in the background.

No changes. The Daytona 500 stays exactly where it belongs in the NASCAR schedule.

2. Atlanta

Following Daytona with another drafting-style track gives NASCAR a second chance to convert 500 viewers into weekly fans.

3. Texas

COTA is a great facility, but I don't think it fits NASCAR as they perform better on shorter or narrower tracks, also Austin feels like an F1 city now and there's no changing that. Texas keeps the schedule oval-focused early too even though it needs work.

4. Phoenix

Whether fans love it or not, Phoenix produces strategy-heavy racing and belongs in the early stretch.

5. Las Vegas

Modern, competitive, and consistently solid. Wish it was closer to downtown though.

6. Los Angeles Street Circuit

With Auto Club gone, NASCAR still needs a footprint in Los Angeles. A single street race positioned for casual and new fans makes sense in the country’s biggest media market. Not sure where you would put it or if you use the Long Beach layout.

7. Darlington

A crown jewel. Unique, demanding, and puts on a great show

8. Bristol

Back-to-back intensity with Darlington sets the tone for who’s truly competitive at this point in the season.

9. Martinsville

Short-track racing belongs in this stretch. Even if the Next Gen hasn’t been perfect here, Martinsville always delivers storylines.

10. Talladega

Time to bring back drafting chaos.

11. Kansas

Quietly one of the best tracks on the calendar.

12. Nashville Superspeedway

Strong regional base and a solid lead-in to the 600.

All-Star Race – Pikes Peak International Raceway

Aerial view of a racetrack at sunset, with curved tracks and empty stands. The sky is vibrant with orange hues, creating a tranquil mood.

The All-Star Race should rotate through under-served markets. Colorado provides a fresh region and makes the event feel special again.

13. Charlotte (Coca-Cola 600)

Untouchable. NASCAR’s biggest oval race stays put.

14. Michigan

High-speed, manufacturer-heavy racing fits well after Charlotte.

15. Brands Hatch

Aerial view of a racetrack surrounded by parked cars. Green grass, trees, and nearby buildings visible. Bright, sunny day.

NASCAR needs international exposure to stay globally relevant. A rotation between Brands Hatch, Montreal, Motegi, Interlagos, and Mexico City keeps things fresh. And for Brans Hatch it's in a great location given it's proximity to London.

One-week break

16. Chicagoland

Massive market, strong racing potential.

17. Dover

Start a very short Northeast swing with an aggressive concrete oval.

18. New Hampshire

Underrated and strategically important for New England.

19. Indianapolis

Too important to racing history to ignore.

20. Iowa

A loyal fanbase that deserves consistency.

21. Sonoma

Time to diversify again with a road course.

22. Richmond

One date only. It doesn’t need two, but it still belongs.

23. Pocono

Race cars speed on a track labeled "POCONO" with a packed grandstand under a partly cloudy sky. The setting is vibrant and energetic.

Fuel mileage and strategy before the pressure of the Chase ramps up.

24. Watkins Glen

A fan-favorite road course that can shuffle the standings.

25. Daytona

With the modern format, it won’t have the same cutoff drama as before, but it still creates massive storylines heading into the Chase.

The Chase:

26. World Wide Technology Raceway

Gateway opens the Chase with a technical oval that demands discipline.

27. Darlington

the southern 500 is a big test and will let fans see who the true favorites are.

28. Bristol

No hiding at Bristol and the starts will shine here.

29. Road Atlanta

Curved race track amidst green hills, surrounded by trees. Red Ferrari Racing Days signs dot the scene. Clear, sunny weather sets a calm mood.

Instead of stacking drafting tracks, mixing up the Chase with a road course will be fun.

30. Talladega

You still need unpredictability somewhere. And Talladega will provide a key moment.

31. Las Vegas

A strong intermediate with West Coast presence.

32. Kansas

Late-season momentum builder.

33. Martinsville

A true mental test before the finale.

34. Charlotte Oval

One last traditional oval battle before the championship race. And since there's no need for the Roval it will be must see TV.

35. Homestead-Miami Speedway (Finale)

Cars race on a curving track with vibrant colors, spectators fill stands under a clear sky, creating an energetic atmosphere.

Ending the season somewhere that consistently produces great racing across every generation of car. And it crowns a champion in a major market with a championship atmosphere.

RCAP