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NASCAR revamps calendar for 2020, Phoenix to be season finale

The NASCAR Cup Series calendar has undergone a vast shuffle for the 2020 season, with changes including the season finale moving to Phoenix

The Cup champion has been decided at Homestead every year since 2001, but the last round will take place at Phoenix next year and be held around two weeks earlier than usual on November 8.

While the 2020 Cup season will begin with the Daytona 500 as usual, there is significant date movement after that.

Daytona will be followed by a West Coast swing comprising Las Vegas, Fontana and Phoenix, before Homestead slots in on March 22.

Other changes during the 26-race regular season include the move of the first race at Martinsville Speedway from March to May 9, Indianapolis moving from September to the July 4 weekend traditionally occupied by Daytona's second event, and Pocono hosting a double-header of two races across June 27-28 instead of the usual two separate races on different summer weekends.

Daytona's second date will move to August 29 and become the regular season finale - the final chance for drivers to win their way into the playoffs.

"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," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's executive vice president and chief racing development officer.

"These changes are a result of unprecedented consensus-building with our racetracks and broadcast partners; something we look to continue into 2021 and beyond."

There are further changes to the playoffs section of the schedule beyond the finale's move to Phoenix.

Darlington Raceway will now host the playoff opener on September 6, while Las Vegas - the first venue of the championship deciding stint for 2018-19 - becomes the first race of the second round on September 27.

NASCAR will also add another short track to the playoffs, as the Bristol night race moves to September 19, the cutoff race of the first round.

With Phoenix's move to the season finale, Martinsville's autumn race will become the cutoff race of the semi-final round of the playoffs on November 1 - after which just four drivers will remain in title contention heading to the last event.

2020 NASCAR Cup schedule

Date Venue
February 9 The Clash (Daytona)
February 13 Duels (Daytona 500 qualifying races)
February 16 Daytona 500
February 23 Las Vegas
March 1 Fontana
March 8 Phoenix
March 15 Atlanta
March 22 Homestead
March 29 Texas
April 5 Bristol
April 19 Richmond
April 26 Talladega
May 3 Dover
May 9 Martinsville
May 16 All-Star (Charlotte)
May 24 Charlotte
May 31 Kansas
June 7 Michigan
June 14 Sonoma
June 21 Chicagoland
June 27 Pocono
June 28 Pocono
July 5 Indianapolis
July 11 Kentucky
July 19 New Hampshire
August 9 Michigan
August 16 Watkins Glen
August 23 Dover
August 29 Daytona
September 6 Darlington
September 12 Richmond
September 19 Bristol
September 27 Las Vegas
October 4 Talladega
October 11 Charlotte Roval
October 18 Kansas
October 25 Texas
November 1 Martinsville
November 8 Phoenix

Bold: Playoff round
Italics: Non-championship event

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