Shane van Gisbergen in action at Watkins Glen. Image: Supplied
Stock car racing’s governing body released the schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
This year’s Chase is devoid of any road courses, but that will change next year with Watkins Glen moving from May to September.
It could have big implications for van Gisbergen, whose Watkins Glen win this year has played a big part in his quest to make the Chase.
The regular season will feature three road course races at Circuit of the Americas, Sonoma and San Diego.
“You know, over time, we’ve certainly been running more and more road courses,” said NASCAR Cup Series managing director Brad Moran.
“Fifteen years ago or so, you’d bring the ringers in and they’d run up front. That really doesn’t happen much nowadays — other than we’ve got SVG, who’s just a worldwide star. One of the best drivers in the world.
“We have road courses in our regular season, so it only seems fitting that we have a good historical road course, a true road course, in The Chase.
“It will fit our series well and our drivers. It’s that one road course that kind of evens things up because we have some great road-course stars – and if they’re in The Chase, that’s one they can circle.”
Arguably the biggest change is the return of the pre-season Clash to Daytona International Speedway for the first time since 2020.
NASCAR moved from the speedway at Daytona to the road course in 2021 before a three-year deal to race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2022-2024).
Speed week will begin in earnest on Sunday, February 14 (AEDT) with the Clash.
More recently, Bowman Gray Stadium has hosted the Clash (2025-2026). However, the short oval will not return to the calendar in 2027 in any capacity.
One of the biggest changes for 2027 is moving the NASCAR All-Star Race from Dover to North Wilkesboro on May 24.
That means Dover will return as a points-paying race a week prior on May 17.
On Wednesday, NASCAR also confirmed the second running of the Coronado Naval Base race in San Diego on August 2.
There have been some changes to the Chase, with Richmond Raceway moving from a regular season spot to the first race of the 10-race run to the championship decider.
Richmond Raceway moves to September 12 and replaces Darlington Raceway, which will act as the final race of the regular season on September 6.
Daytona’s second date has also moved. It was the final race of the regular season in 2026 but will become the penultimate race on August 29.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway moves from the regular season to the Chase as well on September 27. The rest of the Chase remains unchanged.
Though there was some speculation that the venue for the championship race would be rotated, NASCAR has confirmed Homestead-Miami will return.
“The 2027 NASCAR national series schedules reflect the continued momentum of our sport and the strong collaboration across our industry to deliver an innovative and balanced schedule for our fans that challenges the best drivers in the world,” said NASCAR chief operating officer Ben Kennedy
“From the return of NASCAR San Diego and the Wheatley Vodka Clash at Daytona to the NASCAR Championship at Homestead-Miami, this schedule brings together marquee events, iconic venues and key markets while continuing to honour NASCAR’s heritage and evolve for the future.”
2027 NASCAR Cup Series calendar
Round
Date
Event / Racetrack
NC
Saturday, February 13
Wheatley Vodka Clash (Daytona International Speedway)
NASCAR Regular Season
1
Sunday, February 21
DAYTONA 500
2
Sunday, February 28
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
3
Sunday, March 7
Circuit of the Americas (Austin)
4
Sunday, March 14
Phoenix Raceway
5
Sunday, March 21
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, March 28
OFF WEEK
6
Sunday, April 4
Darlington Raceway
7
Sunday, April 11
Bristol Motor Speedway
8
Sunday, April 18
Martinsville Speedway
9
Sunday, April 25
Talladega Superspeedway
10
Sunday, May 2
Texas Motor Speedway
11
Sunday, May 9
Kansas Speedway
12
Sunday, May 16
Dover Motor Speedway
13
Sunday, May 23
NASCAR All-Star Race (North Wilkesboro Speedway)
NC
Sunday, May 30
Charlotte Motor Speedway
14
Sunday, June 6
Nashville Superspeedway
15
Sunday, June 13
Pocono Raceway
16
Sunday, June 20
Michigan International Speedway
17
Sunday, June 27
Chicagoland Speedway
NASCAR In-Season Challenge
18
Sunday, July 4
Iowa Speedway
19
Sunday, July 11
Sonoma Raceway
20
Sunday, July 18
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
21
Sunday, July 25
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
22
Sunday, August 1
San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)
NASCAR Regular Season
Sunday, August 8
OFF WEEK
23
Saturday, August 14
Bristol Motor Speedway
24
Sunday, August 22
World Wide Technology Raceway (St. Louis)
25
Saturday, August 28
Daytona International Speedway
26
Sunday, September 5
Darlington Raceway
NASCAR Cup Series Chase
27
Saturday, September 11
Richmond Raceway
28
Sunday, September 19
Watkins Glen International
29
Sunday, September 26
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
30
Sunday, October 3
Kansas Speedway
31
Sunday, October 10
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
32
Sunday, October 17
Charlotte Motor Speedway
33
Sunday, October 24
Phoenix Raceway
34
Sunday, October 31
Talladega Superspeedway
35
Sunday, November 7
Martinsville Speedway
36
Sunday, November 14
NASCAR Championship (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series calendar
Round
Date
Event / Racetrack
1
Saturday, February 20
Daytona International Speedway
2
Saturday, February 27
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
3
Saturday, March 6
Circuit of the Americas (Austin)
4
Saturday, March 13
Phoenix Raceway
5
Saturday, March 20
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
6
Saturday, April 3
Darlington Raceway
7
Saturday, April 10
Bristol Motor Speedway
8
Saturday, April 17
Martinsville Speedway
9
Saturday, April 24
Talladega Superspeedway
10
Saturday, May 1
Texas Motor Speedway
11
Saturday, May 15
Dover Motor Speedway
12
Saturday, May 22
North Wilkesboro Speedway
13
Saturday, May 29
Charlotte Motor Speedway
14
Saturday, June 5
Nashville Superspeedway
15
Saturday, June 12
Pocono Raceway
16
Saturday, June 26
Chicagoland Speedway
17
Saturday, July 3
Iowa Speedway
18
Saturday, July 10
Sonoma Raceway
19
Saturday, July 24
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
20
Saturday, July 31
San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)
21
Friday, August 13
Bristol Motor Speedway
22
Saturday, August 21
World Wide Technology Raceway (St. Louis)
23
Friday, August 27
Daytona International Speedway
24
Saturday, September 4
Darlington Raceway
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Chase
25
Friday, September 10
Richmond Raceway
26
Saturday, September 18
Watkins Glen International
27
Saturday, October 2
Kansas Speedway
28
Saturday, October 9
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
29
Saturday, October 16
Charlotte Motor Speedway
30
Saturday, October 23
Phoenix Raceway
31
Saturday, October 30
Talladega Superspeedway
32
Saturday, November 6
Martinsville Speedway
33
Saturday, November 13
NASCAR Championship (Homestead-Miami Speedway)
2027 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series calendar
Round
Date
Event / Racetrack
1
Friday, February 19
Daytona International Speedway
2
Saturday, February 27
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
3
Saturday, March 6
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
4
Friday, April 2
Darlington Raceway
5
Friday, April 9
Bristol Motor Speedway
6
Friday, April 30
Texas Motor Speedway
7
Saturday, May 8
Kansas Speedway
8
Friday, May 21
North Wilkesboro Speedway
9
Friday, May 28
Charlotte Motor Speedway
10
Friday, June 4
Nashville Superspeedway
11
Friday, June 11
Pocono Raceway
12
Saturday, June 19
Michigan International Speedway
13
Saturday, July 10
Lime Rock Park
14
Saturday, July 17
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
15
Friday, July 23
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
16
Thursday, August 12
Bristol Motor Speedway
17
Friday, August 20
Bowman Gray Stadium
18
Sunday, September 5
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase
19
Saturday, September 25
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
20
Friday, October 1
Kansas Speedway
21
Friday, October 15
Charlotte Motor Speedway
22
Friday, October 22
Phoenix Raceway
23
Friday, October 29
Talladega Superspeedway
24
Friday, November 5
Martinsville Speedway
25
Friday, November 12
NASCAR Championship (Homestead-Miami Speedway)