MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 5, 2016) - In a major departure from its traditional late-summer, early fall time period, NASCAR today released the 2017 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, giving teams, fans and other interested parties plenty of time to make plans.

“Announcing the 2017 national series schedules this early in the season is another example of the collaborative spirit across the NASCAR industry,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “It is an exciting time in NASCAR, with some of the most intriguing racing we’ve seen in years. With the 2017 schedule solidified, the industry can now concentrate on the remainder of this season, while planning for the future much earlier than in previous years.”

It also gives NASCAR time to announce the identity of the new series sponsor. Sprint is leaving the sport at the conclusion of the 2016 season.

The only major change in the 2017 schedule is the swapping of dates in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup between Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway in the second round of the playoffs. That puts the 1.5-mile Kansas oval as the cutoff race for narrowing the championship field from 12 to eight instead of Talladega.

Last year, the “wild-card” restrictor-plate race at Talladega was the cutoff race, and many teams and drivers complained because of the nature of the racing there. With wounded cars playing pivotal roles in several late-race restarts, including two crashes, the race’s outcome led to the elimination of drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

The second round opens at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as it did last year, on Oct. 8, and Talladega will follow on Oct. 15. Kansas’ new date is Oct. 22.

Texas Motor Speedway’s spring Cup race shifts to Sunday, April 9, and Dover International Speedway’s spring date moves to June 4, a week after the 600-miler at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 28). Michigan International Speedway’s second race will return to its traditional early August slot, on Aug. 13.

2017 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

Date      Site       

2/18      Daytona International Speedway (Unlimited)    

2/19      Daytona International Speedway (Qualifying)        

2/23      Daytona International Speedway (Duel)             

2/26      Daytona 500     

3/5        Atlanta Motor Speedway           

3/12      Las Vegas Motor Speedway       

3/19      Phoenix International Raceway

3/26      Auto Club Speedway     

4/2        Martinsville Speedway 

4/9        Texas Motor Speedway

4/23      Bristol Motor Speedway             

4/30      Richmond International Raceway           

5/7        Talladega Superspeedway         

5/13      Kansas Speedway          

5/20      Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR All-Star Race)        

5/28      Charlotte Motor Speedway       

6/4        Dover International Speedway 

6/11      Pocono Raceway            

6/18      Michigan International Speedway          

6/25      Sonoma Raceway          

7/1        Daytona International Speedway           

7/8        Kentucky Speedway      

7/16      New Hampshire Motor Speedway          

7/23      Indianapolis Motor Speedway  

7/30      Pocono Raceway            

8/6        Watkins Glen International        

8/13      Michigan International Speedway

8/19      Bristol Motor Speedway             

9/3        Darlington Raceway      

9/9        Richmond International Raceway           

9/17      Chicagoland Speedway

9/24      New Hampshire Motor Speedway          

10/1      Dover International Speedway 

10/7      Charlotte Motor Speedway       

10/15    Talladega Superspeedway         

10/22    Kansas Speedway          

10/29    Martinsville Speedway 

11/5      Texas Motor Speedway

11/12    Phoenix International Raceway

11/19    Homestead-Miami Speedway