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Daytona won’t host NASCAR’s Championship Weekend but what other tracks might?

Daytona International Speedway will not be among the tracks considered for NASCAR’s Championship Weekend, a senior executive said Tuesday. So, no, the season won’t start and end at Daytona for those who suggest it. But what tracks could be considered for the season finale? NASCAR announced Tuesday that Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile track, will host […]

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Daytona International Speedway will not be among the tracks considered for NASCAR’s Championship Weekend, a senior executive said Tuesday.

So, no, the season won’t start and end at Daytona for those who suggest it.

But what tracks could be considered for the season finale?

NASCAR announced Tuesday that Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile track, will host the season finale for Cup, Xfinity and the Craftsman Truck Series on Nov. 6-8, 2026. Homestead hosted Championship Weekend from 2002-19.

NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400

NASCAR will begin rotating sites for the championship race in 2026.

Phoenix, which has hosted the title races since 2020, will be among the tracks that will rotate to host the season finale.

Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue & racing innovation officer, said not to expect Daytona International Speedway to be among the tracks in the rotation for the Championship Weekend. He said the focus is on short tracks and intermediate tracks where NASCAR will crown its champions.

“Never say never, but I think we’ve unanimously agreed that (the title race) needs to look and feel like what we would expect traditional NASCAR racing to look and feel like,” Kennedy said. “So short tracks, intermediate tracks, mile tracks are all on the board. Superspeedways, I think, we all feel right now we wouldn’t consider that as a championship venue, not that Daytona isn’t a championship-caliber venue.

“… We want to make sure that when we go to Homestead-Miami or Phoenix or wherever it might be in the future, that there is a lot of strategy and that a lot of our championship drivers are also contending for the victory at the end of that race.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400

From Jimmie Johnson’s record-tying seventh Cup title to Chase Elliott becoming the youngest Xfinity champion, Homestead has witnessed much through the years.

Kennedy also noted that road courses fall into a similar category as superspeedways in not being a candidate to host a championship event.

That would eliminate the following tracks from consideration: Daytona, Talladega (superspeedway), Atlanta (Superspeedway-style racing), Circuit of the Americas (road course), Sonoma (road course), Watkins Glen (road course), Charlotte Roval (road course) and Mexico City (road course). This is the third and final year of the current contract for the Chicago Street Race and no extension has been announced.

NASCAR will look at other factors in selecting its host for the championship weekend.

“As you think about a championship race, ideally a warm weather kind of climate location,” Kennedy said. “You can’t race everywhere in the world, especially in early November, so there’s a handful of venues and properties that we tend to gravitate towards.”

Other tracks likely eliminated because of weather or some other factor would be Michigan, New Hampshire, Pocono, Dover, Indianapolis, Iowa, Richmond and World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.

Darlington likely would not be considered because the Southern 500 is traditionally held on Labor Day weekend. NASCAR knows the wrath of fans with taking that race off that weekend and won’t repeat that.

Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile concrete track, could tap into the city’s excitement but the track is about 30 miles from the city and also could use additional facilities.

AUTO: MAY 04 NASCAR Cup Series Wurth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY

A look at the winners and losers from Sunday’s Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Martinsville would be intriguing but weather could be an issue and the limited number of suites at the historic track, along with not being in a major city, would be factors.

Bristol has the facility to host a championship race but the weather in early November could be a question.

If the NASCAR season could end in mid-October, then that could give stronger consideration to Bristol — and others. But how to end the season early will be difficult in coming years, especially if the NFL adds an 18th regular-season game and moves the Super Bowl back a week into when the Daytona 500 typically is. That would affect the rest of the series schedule. NASCAR already tried mid-week races and TV viewership was not strong enough to continue that.

Among tracks, along with Phoenix and Homestead, that could be considered to host the season finale would be:

— Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile track that has hosted a playoff race since 2018 when it started having two Cup dates.

— Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile track that hosted playoff races from 2005-23.

— Kansas Speedway, a 1.5-mile track that has hosted playoff races since 2004 but weather could keep it from hosting the title race unless the end of the season is moved up.

— Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile track that hosted playoff races on the oval from 2004-17 before the playoff race was moved to the track’s Roval. Any finale there would be on the oval.





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Charlotte Motor Speedway Coke 600 weekend schedule, TV info for NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck

Charlotte Motor Speedway once again will be the NASCAR hub for the Cup, Xfinity and Truck series on one of the biggest motorsports weekends of the year. The Memorial Day weekend extravaganza will begin with an ARCA-Truck doubleheader Friday night at the 1.5-mile oval. Tanner Gray (ARCA) and Nick Sanchez (Trucks) won the races last […]

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Charlotte Motor Speedway once again will be the NASCAR hub for the Cup, Xfinity and Truck series on one of the biggest motorsports weekends of the year.

The Memorial Day weekend extravaganza will begin with an ARCA-Truck doubleheader Friday night at the 1.5-mile oval. Tanner Gray (ARCA) and Nick Sanchez (Trucks) won the races last year.

Chase Elliott is the defending winner of Saturday’s 300-mile race in the Xfinity Series.

Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the Cup Series schedule, was shortened to 374 miles last year because of rain with Christopher Bell taking the victory.

NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children's 500

Cup drivers will compete in the longest race of the season Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.


Coca-Cola 600 schedule at Charlotte Motor Speedway

(All Times Eastern)

Friday, May 23

Garage open

  • 1 – 6 p.m. — Xfinity
  • 10:30 a.m. – 11:55 p.m. — Truck Series
  • 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. — ARCA

Track activity

  • 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. — ARCA practice
  • 2:30 – 2:50 p.m. — ARCA qualifying
  • 3:35 – 4:30 p.m. — Truck Series practice (FS2)
  • 4:40 – 5:30 p.m. — Truck Series qualifying (FS2)
  • 6 p.m. — ARCA race (100 laps, 150 miles, FS1)
  • 8:30 p.m. — Truck race (134 laps, 201 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 30, Stage 2 at Lap 60; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Saturday, May 24

Garage open

  • 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Cup
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. — Xfinity

Track activity

  • 11 – 11:55 a.m. — Xfinity practice (CW App)
  • 12:05 – 1 p.m. — Xfinity qualifying (CW App)
  • 1:35 – 2:35 p.m. — Cup practice (Prime)
  • 2:45 – 3:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (Prime)
  • 4:30 p.m. — Xfinity race (200 laps, 300 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 45, Stage 2 at Lap 90; CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, May 25

Garage open

  • 3 p.m. – 11:55 p.m. — Cup

Track activity

  • 6 p.m. — Cup race (400 laps, 600 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 1, Stage 2 at Lap 200, Stage 3 at Lap 300; Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Weekend weather

Friday: Partly cloudy with a high of 78 degrees and winds from west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph. It’s expected to be 76 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the start of the ARCA race. It’s expected to be 73 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the start of the Truck race.

Saturday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a high of 78 degrees and winds from the northwest at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 76 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the start of the Xfinity race.

Sunday: Cloudy skies with a slight chance of a rain shower, a high of 78 degrees and winds light and variable. It’s expected to be 77 degrees with a 15% chance of rain at the start of the Cup race.





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Alpine Partners Extends Kalitta Motorsports Partnership, Deploys Aflac Branding

Alpine Partners extended its Kalitta Motorsports partnership and will sponsor Doug Kalitta’s Top Fuel Dragster at the upcoming Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., the team announced. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Season resumes May 30-June 1 at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H. Alpine will deploy Aflac branding […]

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Alpine Partners extended its Kalitta Motorsports partnership and will sponsor Doug Kalitta’s Top Fuel Dragster at the upcoming Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., the team announced. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Season resumes May 30-June 1 at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.

Alpine will deploy Aflac branding on Kalitta’s car for the race set for the Tennessee mountains June 6-8, 2025. Alpine Partners and Aflac, the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S.1, will host their clients and guests at the Kalitta Motorsports VIP hospitality area during the Thunder Valley Nationals as well as many of the remaining races on the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing schedule.

In addition, company executives from both Alpine and Aflac will join other Kalitta Motorsports partners at the team’s annual Business-to-Business Summit at the Kalitta Air headquarters in Ypsilanti, Mich., in late June. 

“We joined Kalitta Motorsports last year because it is an iconic NHRA team led by a true legend in the sport, Connie Kalitta,” Alpine Partners President Neil Browder said. “We extended that partnership this year because of this team’s strong business-to-business focus. Their successful B2B program is right in our wheelhouse of growing our Employee Benefits industry business, and we look forward to attending the summit late next month. We are also thrilled to deploy the Aflac brand with primary placement in Bristol, and this race is just the beginning. We look forward to additional partnership in the near future.”

“It’s great to have Alpine Partners back with us this year,” Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. “We were able to introduce them to NHRA Drag Racing last year, and they had a good experience so we’re happy they’re back with their partners from Aflac this year. We look forward to a growing, mutually-beneficial partnership in the future.”

Alpine Benefits was established using its 50+ year experience in group benefits to bring high quality employee benefits to brokers, agencies and employers. With a commitment to service excellence and cutting-edge technology, Alpine helps companies create benefits programs that attract and retain top talent, all while reducing administrative burdens. Alpine’s client-first approach ensures that its clients receive the personalized attention and tailored solutions necessary to succeed in today’s competitive environment.

This story was originally published on May 22, 2025. Drag IllustratedDrag Illustrated





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Listen to the Live Radio Broadcast

This Sunday, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio brings you live coverage of all 400 laps of the historic 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 How to Listen to the Live Radio Broadcast May 25, tune in to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on satellite channel 90 and the SiriusXM app and web […]

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This Sunday, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio brings you live coverage of all 400 laps of the historic 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Coca-Cola 600

How to Listen to the Live Radio Broadcast

May 25, tune in to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on satellite channel 90 and the SiriusXM app and web player to hear coverage of every second of every lap.

Plus, experience live driver audio from Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Jimmie Johnson.

Full SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Broadcast Schedule

3pm ET SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Pre-Race Show
5pm ET NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
(Green flag at approximately 6pm ET)
11pm ET SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Post-Race Show

Driver Channels

Kyle Larson #5 Channel 990
Christopher Bell #20 Channel 991
Jimmie Johnson #84 Channel 992

About SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Every race and everything in between: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio takes you inside the sport with unparalleled access to the drivers, crew chiefs, team owners, and other racing insiders. From post-race interviews in victory lane and in the garage, you’ll get the latest news and information from your trusted source for all things NASCAR.



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Why IHOP Rode With Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Amazon NASCAR Debut

IHOP already had Amazon Prime Video and Thursday Night Football on its sponsorship plate, but it wanted to sweeten the proposition by targeting young families on the go. With that in mind, Amazon pointed out that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR had room in the passenger seat for another brand. NASCAR’s new $7.7 billion rights […]

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IHOP already had Amazon Prime Video and Thursday Night Football on its sponsorship plate, but it wanted to sweeten the proposition by targeting young families on the go. With that in mind, Amazon pointed out that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR had room in the passenger seat for another brand.

NASCAR’s new $7.7 billion rights deal with Amazon, NBC Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox kicks off for Amazon on May 25 when it airs the Coca-Cola 600 out of Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s the first of a five-race series for Amazon stretching into late June that’s seen the company nearly sell out of inventory for NASCAR on Prime Video and create a two-box commercial format for the whole season so sponsors don’t have to break into race coverage.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s four-part documentary about the Earnhardt racing family—”Earnhardt”—debuted today ahead of the first race on Prime.

From personal experience, Lenna Yamamichi, IHOP’s vp of brand creative, saw an opportunity to meet busy families on the move through streaming.

“I am a huge fantasy football fan, and 10 years ago, I used to not leave the house on Sundays, which meant the kids were at home and I couldn’t interact with them because Mommy had to sit in front of the TV,” Yamamichi said. “So now that we’re on the go, I can go to Disneyland with the family, and also have my streaming property.”

Earlier this year, Jay Johns—a six-year IHOP president, and 16-year veteran of IHOP parent company Dine Brands—announced his retirement and succession as IHOP’s leader by former Yum! Brands chief innovation officer Lawrence Kim. That made Yamamichi and her team take a look at their ad spending, where they saw that they had the back half of the upfront to spend with Amazon. 

Seeing a trend at the last upfront toward streaming live sports, IHOP approached Amazon with a brief and partnered with them. Amazon came back with seven ideas, one of them being NASCAR.

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NASCAR TV schedule this week: Cup Series, Xfinity, Truck and ARCA head to Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. –  It’s Coca-Cola 600 Weekend!  After a crazy All-Star Race, NASCAR heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the next crown jewel race of 2025.  William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliot finished in the top ten last week, so they will be looking to continue their momentum as they take on stock car […]

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CONCORD, N.C. –  It’s Coca-Cola 600 Weekend! 

After a crazy All-Star Race, NASCAR heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the next crown jewel race of 2025. 

William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliot finished in the top ten last week, so they will be looking to continue their momentum as they take on stock car racing’s longest night. 

For, Kyle Larson that night will begin a bit earlier.

On Sunday, Larson will compete in the 2025 Indianapolis 500, starting from 21st. Afterwards, Larson will travel east for the final leg of the #Hendrick1100 — Charlotte’s 600-mile main event. 

RELATED: See the patriotic paint schemes for the 5 team | 9 team | 24 team | 48 team

Hendrick Motorsports has 12 wins at the Coca-Cola 600, the most recent being Larson in 2021. Jimmie Johnson has the most wins at four, Jeff Gordon has three, Darell Waltrip has two, while Casey Mears and Kasey Kahne both have one. Which of the four current Hendrick Motorsport drivers will be the next to add their name to the list?

Check out the full TV schedule below. 

Where is NASCAR racing this weekend? 

NASCAR will race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.

What time is the NASCAR race on today?

(All times listed in eastern time)

Friday, May 23
  • 1:30 p.m. – ARCA practice, no TV
  • 2:30 – ARCA qualifying, no TV
  • 3:35 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series practice, FS2
  • 4:40 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series qualifying, FS2
  • – ARCA Race, FS1
  • 8:30 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, FS1
Saturday, May 24
  • 11:05 a.m. – Xfinity Series practice, CW
  • 12:10 p.m. – Xfinity Series qualifying, CW
  • 1:30 – Cup Series practice, Prime Video
  • 2:40 – Cup Series qualifying, Prime Video
  • 4:30 – Xfinity Series race, CW
Sunday, May 25



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Rookie Toni Breidinger learning each week in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images This season has been full of challenges for Toni Breidinger. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie has had growing pains. Breidinger came up through the USAC ranks, winning 19 races. She then spent time developing in ARCA and other series. In 2025, Toni Breidinger is taking new strides in racing […]

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Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

This season has been full of challenges for Toni Breidinger. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie has had growing pains. Breidinger came up through the USAC ranks, winning 19 races. She then spent time developing in ARCA and other series.

In 2025, Toni Breidinger is taking new strides in racing and in her other career. Breidinger spends her time not just going fast around the track but going around the country as a model and social media influencer.

Prior to racing at North Wilkesboro, a town of barely over 4,000 residents, Breidinger was on the New York City red carpet for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, in which she took part.

10 races into the season and a big weekend at Charlotte coming up, Breidinger is still learning. The Truck Series isn’t what it used to be, even a couple of years ago. The quality of racing has increased, and that has been challenging for the 25-year-old.

“Yeah, there’s honestly quite a bit of things that I was kind of surprised by this year,” Breidinger said in an interview with 5GOATs. “I knew the learning curve was going to be steep, and I knew that I had a lot to learn. But I don’t think I realized how much I was going to learn, how much I’m taking away.

“Like, after every race, I’m like wow, I feel like a new driver because I’ve learned so much. So, yeah, almost the unknown of I didn’t know how much new stuff I was going to learn. In so many different areas, from the tracks and the truck and the aero. Yeah, I’ve been learning a lot, and I’m like, I can’t believe I’ve been learning this much. Kind of crazy, but yeah.”

With millions of followers on social media, there are a lot of Toni Breidinger fans. Her recent off-track news has continued. Breidigner has signed new sponsorship deals with 818 Tequila, Kendall Jenner’s brand.

Another numerical partner will join Breidinger later this year at Lime Rock Park in 811, the “Call Before You Dig” folks, who have sponsored multiple drivers in recent years. Funding is key, even for a model, in NASCAR.

Toni Breidinger reflects on women in motorsports

This year, Toni Breidinger isn’t the only woman getting attention in NASCAR and stock car racing. She had sponsorship from the Women’s Sports Foundation earlier this season, and women have been one of the key stories to the NASCAR and ARCA season in 2025.

There are many great women in motorsports currently, and a new batch of racers is coming up through the stock car ranks right now. Asked about drivers like Isabella Robusto, Lanie Buice, Jade Avedisian, and more, Breidinger says she is excited to see so many women getting attention in the sport.

“It’s been awesome seeing the other girls come up through the sport, and obviously, Katherine Legge, with her experience in motorsports, make some Cup starts,” Breidinger said. “So, it’s been really cool to see. Been watching all their careers, and I love following along and supporting them.

“Like you said, it is tough being a female in this space, obviously male-dominated. That comes with some negatives, but I am inspired watching those girls navigate their way through the sport. So, it’s been really cool to watch.”

With a season-best finish of P18 this year, Toni Breidinger is focused on improving each and every week. Her Tricon Garage teammates provide a lot of invaluable support to her. Corey Heim, the favorite to win the Truck Series championship this year, is a great person to have in her corner.

The post Rookie Toni Breidinger learning each week in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series appeared first on On3.



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