2008 Sprint Cup Series Schedule
- Earlier Start Time for Races This Year? UPDATE: [Humpy] Wheeler [president of Lowe’s Motor Speedway] said the start times for many Sprint Cup races this coming season will be earlier, a departure from the mid-afternoon green flags used to try and entice West Coast viewers. “I think we all yielded to pressure from the networks a little more than we should have,” Wheeler said. “We paid the price for it, and we’re getting back to sanity again.”(NASCAR.com)
AND: Wheeler says, “It’s not a fancy sport. It’s guys with big hands and getting sweaty and getting out there and banging on each other and knocking each other around and all-American fans sitting there having a good time.” Earlier and more consistent starting times is the first move to correct that. When NASCAR announces starting times on Tuesday, races beginning at 2:00pm or earlier will go from 15 to 18 on the 36-race schedule.(1-22-2008)(ESPN.com)(1-22-2008)
UPDATE: Broadcast times for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season have been announced, beginning with FOX’s broadcast of the non-points Budweiser Shootout at 8:30pm/et on Feb. 9 at Daytona International Speedway. The 2008 season marks the second year of an eight-year partnership between NASCAR and FOX, TNT, ABC, ESPN and SPEED. This year, in an effort to standardize the start times and better accommodate the fans, 18 races on the 2008 Sprint Cup Series schedule will have a 2:00pm/et Sunday start time, up from 15 in 2007. All Sprint Cup Series points events will be seen on FOX, TNT, ABC and ESPN. In addition, two other non-points events – the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (2:00pm/et on Feb. 14) and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (7:30pm/et on May 17 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway), will be broadcast by SPEED. FOX will broadcast the first 13 Sprint Cup events, beginning with the 50th running of the Daytona 500 (Feb. 17, 3:20pm/et) and ending with the June 1 event at Dover International Speedway at 2:00pm/et. TNT will broadcast the next six series events, beginning with the Pocono 500 at 2:00pm/et on June 8 at Pocono Raceway and ending with Chicagoland Speedway’s first night race, July 12 at 8:00pm/et. ESPN and ABC will broadcast the final 17 Sprint Cup events. ESPN will broadcast six, beginning with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at 2:00pm/et on July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and ending with the Aug. 31 event at California Speedway (8:00pm/et). ABC completes the season with 11 broadcasts, beginning with race No. 26, the cutoff event for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 6 at 7:30pm/et. ABC will also air the entire Chase, encompassing the final 10 series events. The season ends with ABC’s broadcast of the Ford 400 at 3:45:00pm/et on Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(NASCAR PR)(1-23-2008) - 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Scheduled Announced: The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule was announced today, a 36-race slate that kicks off with the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. The 2008 season also marks NASCAR’s 60th year as stock car racing’s longest operating sanctioning body. Following the “Great American Race” the series travels to Southern California, then to the bright lights of Las Vegas before returning to the southeast for races at Atlanta and Bristol. The first scheduled off date for the series will be in March during the Easter holiday. Following the race in Martinsville, the series makes another swing to the southwest, racing at Texas and Phoenix in early April. The second scheduled off weekend occurs in mid-April. The series then picks back up with races at Talladega, Richmond and Darlington prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “By running five consecutive points events before the first scheduled break in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the 2008 schedule is designed to be even more fan friendly,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. Another adjustment to the 2008 schedule is that the Chicago race will be run Saturday night. “Night racing provides an additional element of intrigue and excitement,” said France. “Running under the lights at Chicagoland on a Saturday night will be even more exciting for the fans in the stands as well as those watching from home.”
Other key dates:
* The 30th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will be held on Feb. 9.
* On Sunday, July 27, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
* On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 6, Richmond International Raceway will be the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
* The week after Richmond, on Sunday, Sept. 14, New Hampshire again will have the kick-off event in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, which covers the season’s last 10 races and determines the series champion.
* On Sunday, Nov. 16, Homestead-Miami Speedway will again host the season finale, where the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will be crowned.(NASCAR PR)(9-26-2007)
CLICK on the track location to go to that track’s past news and links page.
CLICK on the race name to go to the ‘next race’ page for each race(when available).
The ‘next race’ pages are added the week or so before the race
and cover the weekend schedule, TV, Qualifying, news etc
All times Eastern and are PM unless noted and are RACE START TIMES
NOT when coverage begins for the pre-race.
All times are tenative and could change
| Race# | Date | Location (click track for info) |
Race (click name for race info if available) 2007/2008 Winner |
Laps | Track Size Miles |
Race Length Miles |
TV Radio |
Race Start TV Start Time |
Qualifying Time/TV |
Happy Hour Final Prac Time/TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | 2/9 Sat |
Daytona, FL | Budweiser Shootout* 2008: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
70 | 2.5 | 175 | Fox MRN |
8:30 8:00 |
2/7 7:00 draw SPEED 8:00 |
2/8 6:30 SPEED |
| * | 2/14 Thur |
Daytona, FL | Gatorade Duels* 2008: 1) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2) #11-Denny Hamlin |
60 | 2.5 | 150 | SPEED MRN |
2:10 2:00 |
2/10 1:15 Fox |
2/13 2:05 SPEED |
| 1 | 2/17 Sun |
Daytona, FL | Daytona 500 2008: #12-Ryan Newman |
200 | 2.5 | 500 | FOX MRN |
3:20 2:00 |
2/10 1:15 FOX |
2/16 10:35a SPEED |
| 2 | 2/24 Sun |
Fontana, CA | Auto Club 500 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
250 | 2.0 | 500 | Fox MRN |
4:00 3:30 |
2/22 6:40 SPEED |
2/23 5:00 SPEED |
| 3 | 3/2 Sun |
Las Vegas, NV | UAW-Dodge 400 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
267 | 1.5 | 400.5 | Fox PRN |
4:30 3:30 |
2/29 6:40 SPEED |
3/1 2:50 SPEED |
| 4 | 3/9 Sun |
Hampton, GA | Kobalt Tools 500 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
325 | 1.54 | 500.5 | Fox PRN |
2:00 1:30 |
3/7 6:45 SPEED |
3/8 12:20 SPEED |
| 5 | 3/16 Sun |
Bristol, TN | Food City 500 2008: #31-Jeff Burton (Last race to use 2007 Owners Points) |
500 | 0.533 | 266.5 | Fox PRN |
2:00 1:30 |
3/14 3:40 SPEED |
3/15 12:50 SPEED |
| 3/23 Sun |
Easter – OFF | Easter Bunny 500 | ||||||||
| 6 | 3/30 Sun |
Martinsville, VA | Goody’s Cool Orange 500 2008: #11-Denny Hamlin (2008 Owners Points in effect) |
500 | 0.526 | 263 | Fox MRN |
2:00 1:30 |
3/28 3:40 SPEED |
3/29 12:20 SPEED (t) 9:00 |
| 7 | 4/6 Sun |
Fort Worth, TX | Samsung 500 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
334 | 1.5 | 500.5 | Fox PRN |
2:00 1:30 |
4/4 4:40 SPEED |
4/5 1:20 SPEED |
| 8 | 4/12 Sat night |
Phoenix, AZ | Subway Fresh Fit 500 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
312 | 1.00 | 312 | Fox MRN |
8:30 8:00 |
4/10 8:10 SPEED |
4/11 8:00 SPEED |
| 4/20 | OFF | off weekend | ||||||||
| 9 | 4/27 Sun |
Talladega, AL | Aaron’s 499 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
188 | 2.66 | 500.08 | Fox MRN |
2:00 1:30 |
4/26 11:00a SPEED IMPOUND |
4/25 4:00 SPEED |
| Race# | Date | Location (click track for info) |
Race (click name for race info if available) 2007 Winner |
Laps | Track Size Miles |
Race Length Miles |
TV Radio |
Race Start TV Start Time |
Qualifying Time/TV |
Happy Hour Final Prac Time/TV |
| 10 | 5/3 Sat Night |
Richmond, VA | Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 2008: #07-Clint Bowyer |
400 | 0.75 | 300 | Fox MRN |
7:30 7:00 |
5/2 5:40 SPEED IMPOUND |
5/2 11:00a SPEED 1:00(t) |
| 11 | 5/10 Sat Night |
Darlington, SC Mother’s Day Weekend |
Dodge Challenger 500 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
367 | 1.366 | 501.3 | Fox MRN |
7:20 7:00 |
5/9 5:15 SPEED |
5/9 2:00 SPEED |
| * | 5/17 Sat Night |
Lowe’s Motor Speedway | Sprint Showdown* 2008: #84-AJ Allmendinger |
40 20/20 |
1.5 | 45 | SPEED MRN |
7:30 7:00 |
5/16 5:10 SPEED |
5/16 12:00 SPEED |
| * | 5/17 Sat Night |
Lowe’s Motor Speedway | Sprint All-Star Race* 2008: #9-Kasey Kahne |
100 25/25/25/25 |
1.5 | 135 | SPEED MRN |
~9:00 7:00 |
5/16 6:15 SPEED |
5/16 1:30 SPEED |
| 12 | 5/25 Sun night |
Lowe’s Motor Speedway | Coca-Cola 600 2008: #9-Kasey Kahne |
400 | 1.5 | 600 | Fox PRN |
5:30 5:00 |
5/22 7:00 SPEED |
5/24 6:00 SPEED |
| 13 | 6/1 Sun |
Dover, DE | Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
400 | 1.0 | 400 | Fox MRN |
2:00 1:30 |
5/30 3:10 SPEED |
5/31 1:20 SPEED |
| 14 | 6/8 Sun |
Pocono, PA | Pocono 500 2008: #9-Kasey Kahne |
200 | 2.5 | 500 | TNT MRN |
2:00 12:30 |
6/6 3:40 SPEED |
6/7 11:20a SPEED 5:30(t) |
| 15 | 6/15 Sun |
Brooklyn, MI | LifeLock 400 2008: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
200 | 2.0 | 400 | TNT MRN |
2:00 12:30 |
6/13 3:10 SPEED |
6/14 1:20 SPEED |
| 16 | 6/22 Sun |
Sonoma, CA | Toyota/Save Mart 350 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
110 | 1.99 | 224 | TNT PRN |
5:00 3:30 |
6/20 7:05 SPEED |
6/21 1:50 SPEED |
| 17 | 6/29 Sun |
Loudon, NH | Lenox Industrial Tools 301 2008: #2-Kurt Busch |
300 | 1.058 | 317.4 | TNT MRN |
2:00 12:30 |
6/27 3:10 SPEED |
6/28 11:45a SPEED |
| 18 | 7/5 Sat Night |
Daytona, FL |
Coke Zero 400 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
160 | 2.5 | 400 | TNT MRN |
8:00 6:30 |
7/4 4:10 SPEED IMPOUND |
7/3 6:35 SPEED |
| 19 | 7/12 Sat |
Joliet, IL | LifeLock 400 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
267 | 1.5 | 400.5 | TNT MRN |
8:00 6:30 |
7/10 8:40 SPEED |
7/11 6:20 SPEED |
| 7/20 | OFF | off weekend | ||||||||
| Race# | Date | Location (click track for info) |
Race (click name for race info if available) 2007 Winner |
Laps | Track Size Miles |
Race Length Miles |
TV Radio |
Race Start TV Start Time |
Qualifying Time/TV |
Happy Hour Final Prac Time/TV |
| 20 | 7/27 Sun |
Indianapolis, IN | Allstate 400 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
160 | 2.5 | 400 | ESPN IMS |
2:00 1:00 |
7/26 10:00a ESPN2 |
7/26 2:00 ESPN2 |
| 21 | 8/3 Sun |
Pocono, PA | Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
200 | 2.5 | 500 | ESPN MRN |
2:00 1:00 |
8/1 3:40 ESPN2 |
8/2 11:20a ESPN2 |
| 22 | 8/10 Sun |
Watkins Glen, NY | Centurion Boats at The Glen 2008: #18-Kyle Busch |
90 | 2.45 | 220.5 | ESPN MRN |
2.00 1:00 |
8/8 3:40 ESPN2 |
8/9 1:20 ESPN2 |
| 23 | 8/17 Sun |
Brooklyn, MI | 3M Performance 400 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
200 | 2.0 | 400 | ESPN MRN |
2:00 1:00 |
8/15 3:40 SPEED |
8/16 1:50 SPEED |
| 24 | 8/23 Sat Night |
Bristol, TN | Sharpie 500 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
500 | 0.533 | 266.5 | ESPN PRN |
8:00 7:00 |
8/22 3:30 SPEED |
8/22 6:00 SPEED |
| 25 | 8/31 Sun Night |
Fontana, CA | Pepsi 500 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
250 | 2 | 500 | ESPN MRN |
8:00 7:00 |
8/29 6:30 SPEED |
8/30 8:00 SPEED |
| 26 | 9/6 Sat Night |
Richmond, VA | Chevy Rock n. Roll 400 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
400 | 0.75 | 300 | ABC MRN |
7:30 7:00 |
9/5 6:00 ESPN2 IMPOUND |
9/5 11:00a ESPN2 |
| The Chase Starts | ||||||||||
| Race# | Date | Location (click track for info) |
Race (click name for race info if available) 2007 Winner |
Laps | Track Size Miles |
Race Length Miles |
TV Radio |
Race Start TV Start Time |
Qualifying Time/TV |
Happy Hour Final Prac Time/TV |
| 27 | 9/14 Sun |
Loudon, NH | Sylvania 300 2008: #16-Greg Biffle |
300 | 1.058 | 317.4 | ABC PRN |
2:00 1:00 |
9/12 3:00 ESPN2 |
9/13 12:00 ESPN2 (t) 6:00 |
| 28 | 9/21 Sun |
Dover, DE | Camping World RV 400 2008: #16-Greg Biffle |
400 | 1.30 1:00 |
400 | ABC MRN |
2:00 1:00 |
9/19 3:00 ESPN2 |
9/20 1:20 ESPN2(t) 6:00 |
| 29 | 9/28 Sun |
Kansas City, KS | Camping World RV 400 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
267 | 1.5 | 400.5 | ABC MRN |
2:00 1:00 |
9/26 4:10 ESPN2 |
9/27 1:50 ESPN2(t) 6:30 |
| 30 | 10/5 Sun |
Talladega, AL | AMP Energy 500 2008: #20-Tony Stewart |
188 | 2.66 | 500.08 | ABC MRN |
2:00 1:00 |
10/4 12:15 SPEED IMPOUND |
10/3 3:45 SPEED |
| 31 | 10/11 Sat Night |
Charlotte, NC | Bank of America 500 2008: #31-Jeff Burton |
334 | 1.5 | 501 | ABC PRN |
7:25 7:00 |
10/9 7:00 ESPN2 |
10/10 6:30 ESPN2 |
| 32 | 10/19 Sun |
Martinsville, VA | TUMS QuikPak 500 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
500 | 0.526 | 263 | ABC MRN |
1:30 1:00 |
10/17 3:30 ESPN2 |
10/18 ? ESPN2(t) 7:00 |
| 33 | 10/26 Sun |
Hampton, GA | Pep Boys Auto 500 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
325 | 1.54 | 500.5 | ABC PRN |
2:00 1:00 |
10/24 7:00 ESPN2 |
10/25 12:00 ESPN2(t) 6:00 |
| 34 | 11/2 Sun |
Fort Worth, TX | Dickies 500 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
334 | 1.5 | 500.5 | ABC PRN |
3:30 3:00 |
10/30 4:40 ESPN2 |
11/1 1:50 ESPN2(t) 6:00 |
| 35 | 11/9 Sun |
Phoenix, AZ | Checker Auto Parts 500(k) 2008: #48-Jimmie Johnson |
312 | 1.00 | 312 | ABC MRN |
3:45 3:00 |
11/7 5:40 ESPN2 |
11/8 2:50 ESPN2 |
| 36 | 11/16 Sun |
Homestead, FL | Ford 400 2008: #99-Carl Edwards |
267 | 1.5 | 400 | ABC MRN |
3:45 3:00 |
11/14 3:10 ESPN2 |
11/15 3:00 ESPN2 |
| Race# | Date | Location (click track for info) |
Race (click name for race info if available) 2007/2008 Winner |
Laps | Track Size Miles |
Race Length Miles |
TV Radio |
Race Start TV Start Time |
Qualifying Time/TV |
Happy Hour Final Prac Time/TV |
All times Eastern and are PM unless noted
All times are scheduled RACE START TIMES; NOT when coverage begines for the pre-race.
*Non-Points Race
(t) = tape delayed
SC = SPEED