Not too long ago, you could cut and paste NASCAR’s Cup Series schedule from year to year. Changes were minimal if not outright nonexistent. Present-day NASCAR is far different in how it lays out its schedule, an approach that has led to an explosion of new races at exciting new venues over the past few years.

Now, in addition to benchmark races like the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500, NASCAR seeks out new events to add to the Cup schedule and isn’t hesitant to shift dates around.

One of the byproducts of this approach is the heightened anticipation of what the schedule will look like for the following year. What new track(s) will be added? Will any track fall off or lose a date? What will the 10-race playoffs look like?

Nothing is yet certain for the 2025 Cup schedule, but NASCAR sources indicate that they hope to announce it this month. Here is a look at some of the likely changes, based on conversations with multiple sources across the NASCAR industry.

Mexico

NASCAR’s desire to hold a points race outside the United States, something it hasn’t done since 1958, is well documented. This goal was nearly accomplished a year ago, only for negotiations with Montreal to fall apart.

The likeliest candidate this time is Mexico City, where the Xfinity Series raced for four years (2005-2008) and where Formula One has competed since 2015.

Nothing is yet finalized between NASCAR and Mexico City promoters, but confidence is high within the industry that it will eventually reach the finish line. One industry source characterized the deal as “close,” expecting it will happen.

Should Mexico City land a race, it will be a definite win for NASCAR even if it means the addition of a road course to a schedule already filled with them. The move would not be met with enthusiasm by everyone within the garage, due to logistical and safety concerns, but the overall sense this would be a positive thing for the sport’s growth. Mexican fans demonstrated quite a passion for NASCAR-style racing when Xfinity competed there, a passion that has only since grown with Mexico’s own Daniel Suárez winning the 2016 Xfinity championship and since becoming a winner at the Cup level.

Kyle Busch celebrates his win in the 2008 Corona Mexico 200, the last NASCAR event at the Hermanos Rodriguez speedway in Mexico City. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images

What would Mexico City replace

If NASCAR does race in Mexico City next year, that means an opening must be created in the schedule. How will NASCAR do that?

By dropping the spring Richmond race, according to industry sources. In recent years, the on-track action at Richmond too frequently lacks excitement, and the attendance isn’t at a level that justifies the track continuing to have two dates.

As unfortunate as it would be to have one fewer short track on the schedule, there is little support among NASCAR leadership or its teams to race at Richmond twice annually. The consensus is that this move is overdue.

The Clash

There is little known about where NASCAR will shift the exhibition race that commences each season after a three-year run at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

What we do expect is that the Clash will not return to the Coliseum for a fourth edition. The event was a success, demonstrating that NASCAR could effectively build a track inside a stadium and hold a worthwhile race on it. But the novelty is gone, the three-year contract has expired, and going back would bring diminishing returns for something that costs millions of dollars to pull off.

Could the Clash return to Daytona, as some drivers have openly wished? It would serve as a one-year stopgap until NASCAR locks down a different locale for 2026. But how would going back to Daytona be received publicly after everything went so well in L.A.? NASCAR should be able to parlay this into a similar spectacle elsewhere. Daytona wouldn’t necessarily check this box.

In recent weeks, another venue has emerged as a viable candidate, industry sources say: Bowman Gray Stadium. NASCAR’s ties to the historic quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem, N.C., date back to the 1940s, a relationship that’s only strengthened with the announcement in March that NASCAR acquired the lease to manage racing operations for the facility, effective immediately.

Holding the Clash at Bowman Gray would certainly fulfill the criteria of bringing the preseason exhibition event to a different and unique venue that wouldn’t otherwise be considered for a Cup points race. A race on the tight confines here would likely create the kind of made-for-TV-drama that NASCAR and Fox Sports, which will televise the race, are seeking to kick off the season. Think of this as the NASCAR equivalent of Major League Baseball playing a game in an Iowa cornfield.

Bowman Gray Stadium, with its lease recently acquired by NASCAR, has a shot to be the new home of the Clash exhibition race. (Grant Halverson / NASCAR via Getty Images)

Southern California

With California Speedway in Fontana in construction limbo and the Clash at the Coliseum over with, NASCAR has been steadfast that it wants to maintain a presence in Southern California. NASCAR has explored various ways to race near the country’s second-largest city, including holding one at Dodger Stadium in conjunction with Formula E or finding a partnership with the Long Beach Grand Prix.

For a number of reasons, neither Dodger Stadium nor the Long Beach Grand Prix are presently viable, according to industry sources. Again, nothing is finalized, but it’s looking increasingly likely that NASCAR won’t be racing in Southern California next year.

Canada

After talks between NASCAR and Montreal broke down last year, there was a sense it would be some time before NASCAR revisited the possibility of racing on the famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. With Mexico City possibly joining in 2025, waiting a year to pursue Montreal would make sense, giving NASCAR a big addition to its 2026 calendar.

But recently, talks between NASCAR and Montreal have resumed, though to what degree varies depending on whom you talk to. One industry source estimated that it was 50-50 at best Montreal would secure a 2025 date. Another source said a lot needed to change for the odds to improve.

For now, Montreal seems unlikely for 2025, but it can’t be ruled out.

Championship race

In what won’t likely be a well-received decision, Phoenix Raceway is expected to host NASCAR’s 2025 championship weekend for its three national series, according to industry sources. There have been discussions about shifting the championship elsewhere, something for which many drivers have publicly lobbied, but the robust support in the Phoenix area was too much for NASCAR to ignore.

Ever since Phoenix first hosted championship weekend in 2020, the community has embraced the opportunity, and NASCAR recently completed a $178 million renovation project at Phoenix Raceway with the intent of turning Phoenix into a facility worthy of hosting its championship.

NASCAR didn’t receive such support in Miami, where the championship often felt overlooked, even if the quality of racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway is usually deemed considerably better. Several within NASCAR believe that, at some point, NASCAR will return its championship weekend to the 1.5.-mile South Florida oval that most drivers and many fans consider one of the best tracks in the sport. When, though, is unknown.

The City of Homestead is doing its part in working to secure the 2026 championship weekend. During a Homestead Council Meeting on April 17, city officials agreed to a resolution to begin preparing a bid to bring championship weekend back to HMS. That Homestead is targeting 2026 further indicates Phoenix will remain as host for 2025.

Circuit of the Americas

Circuit of the Americas chairman Bobby Epstein anticipates NASCAR will return to the Austin, Texas, road course in 2025 for what would be a fifth consecutive year.

Speedway Motorsports leases COTA, initially signing a three-year contract that began with the 2021 season and then later signing an extension that carried through the 2024 season. And though no contract has been signed to ensure NASCAR’s return, the expectation is that a deal will eventually be reached, Epstein told The Athletic in an email last month.

“They’ll be back,” Epstein said. “For sure they want to come back in 2025, and we are working on finalizing a date.”

The addition of COTA to the schedule in 2021 was part of an initiative by NASCAR to bring greater variety to the Cup schedule while also bringing NASCAR into either untapped or underserved markets.

Unlike with some other tracks NASCAR added in recent years, the enthusiasm surrounding COTA has remained strong. Over the past weekend, many drivers publicly voiced their support for the relationship to continue.

“It’s one of those road courses that has a little bit of every driving technique you’d need on a road course: the heavy braking, finesse, hustle areas,” Chase Briscoe said. “It’s cool to share a track with F1. There are a lot of cool road courses, but this is one we need to keep on the schedule.”

With no behind-the-scenes disapproval within NASCAR, according to industry sources, a return to COTA appears likely.

Regular-season finale

Not surprisingly, the 2025 regular season is all but certain to again conclude at Daytona after taking a one-year hiatus, according to industry sources.

Daytona isn’t hosting the finale this year only due to a scheduling quirk with NBC Sports, which is broadcasting the 2024 Summer Olympics and asked NASCAR to go quiet for a two-week period. With no Olympics next year, Daytona is expected to go back to being race 26.

Easter Sunday

After a three-year experiment racing on Easter, when it had historically taken that weekend off, NASCAR is not expected to race on Easter Sunday in 2025, industry sources say. This decision will likely be met with widespread praise within the garage.

All-Star Race

As it has since 2023, North Wilkesboro Speedway is expected to again host the All-Star Race next year, according to industry sources. Speedway Motorsports has invested a lot of money and energy into resurrecting the once decrepit track — it’s not moving.

(Top photo of February’s Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)