NASCAR’s 2027 Cup Series schedule is still months away from becoming official, but one new report suggests fans could see some of the biggest calendar changes in years.
According to The Athletic, NASCAR is putting the finishing touches on next season’s schedule, with several notable adjustments still under consideration before the sanctioning body announces the finalized calendar. If those plans come together, the postseason could feature a significantly different look than fans have grown accustomed to over the past several years.
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Among the reported changes are a reshuffled playoff lineup, continued momentum toward another race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, an uncertain future for the Chicago Street Race, and a new frontrunner to host the All-Star Race.
Several Playoff Tracks Could Be Moving
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from The Athletic’s report centers on NASCAR’s playoff schedule.
Rather than making only minor adjustments, the report says six races could effectively swap places on the calendar, creating a noticeably different Chase.
One of the biggest reported changes would send Bristol Motor Speedway’s famed night race out of the postseason and back into its traditional August date during the regular season. Bristol served as NASCAR’s regular-season finale for decades before moving into the playoffs, where it became one of the sport’s signature elimination races.
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According to The Athletic, Bristol is expected to return to the regular season, while Darlington Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway) are also projected to leave the playoff rotation.
Taking their place would reportedly be Richmond Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International, with Watkins Glen’s move already having been announced earlier this year.
If those changes become official, the playoff schedule would feature a dramatically different mix of short tracks, road courses and intermediate ovals than drivers have faced in recent seasons.
Chicago and San Diego Both Remain in the Picture
The report also offered new insight into two of NASCAR’s biggest scheduling questions.
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Despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding funding, NASCAR is still expected to race somewhere in the Chicago area in 2027.
Whether that ultimately means a return to the downtown Chicago Street Race, a move to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, or another solution remains unresolved. The report comes just days after the Chicago Tribune reported NASCAR is seeking increased state grant funding as negotiations continue over the event’s future.
San Diego also appears increasingly likely to remain on the schedule.
Following the successful inaugural Cup Series weekend at Naval Base Coronado earlier this season, The Athletic reported it would be “highly unlikely” for NASCAR not to return in 2027, with the race expected to remain on the calendar despite some uncertainty entering its second year.
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North Wilkesboro Reportedly Leads the All-Star Race Discussion
Another notable development involves the NASCAR All-Star Race.
According to The Athletic, Dover Motor Speedway is expected to return to hosting a points-paying Cup Series race next season, leaving NASCAR searching for another home for its annual exhibition event.
North Wilkesboro Speedway is reportedly viewed as the leading candidate after hosting the All-Star Race from 2023 through 2025 before returning to points racing this season.
The report notes that keeping the All-Star Race at a Speedway Motorsports-owned facility may be the cleanest solution as NASCAR works through the broader schedule shuffle.
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As with every element of the reported 2027 calendar, none of the changes have been officially confirmed by NASCAR.
The sanctioning body is expected to announce next year’s Cup Series schedule once the remaining details are finalized, but if the report proves accurate, fans could be looking at one of the most significant postseason shakeups in recent memory.
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