The NASCAR Cup Series schedule for 2020 is notable simply because of the massive changes that have been made and will continue to be made. Multiple races have moved dates for 2020, creating a scheduling shakeup that is sure to impact how the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion is decided.
The biggest change as it pertains to the Cup Series playoffs, many say, is the fact that Daytona's second date on the schedule is now the last race of the regular season. Such an unpredictable and wide-open event being the last chance for teams to make the playoffs is a formula for made-for-TV chaos.
Among the other big changes, which are detailed below: Pocono Raceway hosts a doubleheader in June — one race on Saturday and one on Sunday. Homestead-Miami Speedway no longer hosts the championship race; now Phoenix Raceway gets that honor. The Bristol night race is now a playoff race. The Brickyard 400 is now the series' July 4th weekend showcase.
“The fans and the industry as a whole have been vocal about the desire for sweeping changes to the schedule, and the 2020 slate is a reflection of our efforts to execute against that feedback,” NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officerSteve O’Donnell said when the schedule was announced last March. “These changes are the result of unprecedented consensus-building with our race tracks and broadcast partners; something we look to continue into 2021 and beyond."
Below is the complete NASCAR Cup Series schedule for 2020, including start times, TV channels, radio stations and the winners of each race.
NASCAR schedule 2020
| Date | Race | Track | Start time | TV channel | Radio | Winner |
| Feb. 16 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway | 2:30 p.m. ET | Fox | MRN | Denny Hamlin |
| Feb. 23 | Pennzoil 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. ET | Fox | PRN | Joey Logano |
| March 1 | Auto Club 400 | Auto Club Speedway | 3:30 p.m. ET | Fox | MRN | Alex Bowman |
| March 8 | FanShield 500 | Phoenix Raceway | 3:30 p.m. ET | Fox | MRN | Joey Logano |
| March 15 | Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | Fox | PRN | - |
| March 22 | Dixie Vodka 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | Fox | MRN | - |
| March 29 | O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | FS1 | PRN | - |
| April 5 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | FS1 | PRN | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| April 19 | Toyota Owners 400 | Richmond Raceway | 2 p.m. ET | Fox | MRN | - |
| April 26 | Geico 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. ET | Fox | MRN | - |
| May 3 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Dover | Dover International Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | FS1 | MRN | - |
| May 9 (Sat.) | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Martinsville | Martinsville Speedway | 8 p.m. ET | FS1 | MRN | - |
| May 16 (Sat.) | All-Star Race | Charlotte Motor Speedway | 9 p.m. ET | FS1 | MRN | - |
| May 24 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | 6 p.m. ET | Fox | PRN | - |
| May 31 | Kansas 400 | Kansas Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | FS1 | MRN | - |
| June 7 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | FS1 | MRN | - |
| June 14 | Toyota / Save Mart 350 | Sonoma Raceway | 3 p.m. ET | FS1 | PRN | - |
| June 21 | Chicagoland 400 | Chicagoland Speedway | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| June 27 (Sat.) | Kids Free 325 | Pocono Raceway | 3 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| June 28 | Worry-Free Weather Guarantee 350 | Pocono Raceway | 3:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| July 5 | Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. ET | NBC | IMS Radio | - |
| July 11 (Sat.) | Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart | Kentucky Speedway | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN | PRN | - |
| July 19 | Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. ET | NBCSN | PRN | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aug. 9 | Consumers Energy 400 | Michigan International Speedway | 3 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| Aug. 16 | Go Bowling at The Glen | Watkins Glen International | 3 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| Aug. 23 | Drydene 400 | Dover International Speedway | 3 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| Aug. 29 (Sat.) | co*ke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBC | MRN | - |
NASCAR schedule 2020: Playoff races
| Date | Race | Track | Start time | TV channel | Radio | Winner |
| Sept. 6 | Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | 6 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| Sept. 12 (Sat.) | Federated Auto Parts 400 | Richmond Raceway | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN | MRN | - |
| Sept. 19 (Sat.) | Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN | PRN | - |
| Sept. 27 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 7 p.m. ET | NBCSN | PRN | - |
| Oct. 4 | Alabama 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. ET | NBC | MRN | - |
| Oct. 11 | Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC | PRN | - |
| Oct. 18 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC | MRN | - |
| Oct. 25 | Texas 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. ET | NBCSN | PRN | - |
| Nov. 1 | NASCAR Cup Series Fall Race at Martinsville | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | NBC | MRN | - |
| Nov. 8 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. ET | NBC | MRN | - |
NASCAR race schedule changes for 2020
Below are the major changes for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule compared to prior seasons.
— Phoenix Raceway hosts the championship race, marking the first time since 2002 that the Cup Series will finish its season somewhere other than Homestead-Miami Speedway.
— Homestead's Cup Series date moves to the spring (March 22), making theDixie Vodka 400 the sixth race of the season rather than the last.
— For the first time in the modern era, the Cup Series has a doubleheader on the schedule. Pocono Raceway hosts theKids Free 325 on Saturday, June 27 and theWorry-Free Weather Guarantee 350 on Sunday, June 28.
— The co*ke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, which had been an early July staple on the Cup Series schedule, is now the regular-season finale. It's scheduled for Aug. 29.
— The Southern 500 at Darlington, one of the most prestigious races on the schedule, is now the first race of the playoffs. It's scheduled for Sept. 6.
— The famous Bristol night race, which previously had been run in August, is now a playoff race scheduled for Sept. 19. It will be the first cut-off race of the postseason.
— The Brickyard 400 moves up to July 4th weekend, replacing Daytona at that point of the schedule.
— The first night race of the season is ... Martinsville? The short track that recently installed lights gets its first ever 8 p.m. ET start time on May 9.
