Sprint Cup: 2011 Schedule - Hello Kentucky

Here it is race fans, the 2011 Sprint Cup Schedule, for some, notably Kansas and Kentucky, this will be good news. For some, this will be “be careful what you wish for, it might come true,” and for some, perhaps in Atlanta and Los Angeles or where dates have been moved around, this could be bad news. Still, the undeniable reality is that NASCAR brass is challenged to provide the most successful stages for Sprint Cup races. Full race tracks with paying customers provide greater benefit than just the gate receipt. While the cameras minimize empty seats, folks at home are aware. Empty seats aren’t good publicity for sure.

The recently added day off before Labor Day has been eliminated making July 25th the last weekend off for Sprint Cup. The placement of the lone Fontana race between Bristol and Martinsville certainly makes logistics more taxing, but perhaps the brain trust thought positioning Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Fontana together would be West Coast overkill. That’s probably true but perhaps a little later into April would be more sensible, perhaps on or about where the first Phoenix race was held.

So here it is… (Additions or major changes noted in capital letters.)

2/12 Bud Shootout

2/17 Gatorade Duel 125’s

2/20 Daytona 500

2/27 PHOENIX

3/6 Las Vegas

3/13 …OFF DATE…

3/20 Bristol

3/27 FONTANA, CA

4/3 Martinsville

4/9 Texas

4/16 Talladega

4/24 …OFF DATE…

4/30 Richmond

5/7 Darlington

5/15 Dover

5/21 All Star Race

5/29 Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte

6/5 KANSAS

6/12 Pocono

6/19 Michigan

7/26 Sonoma/Infineon Raceway

7/2 Daytona: Coke Zero 400

7/9 KENTUCKY

7/17 Loudon, NH

7/24 …OFF DATE…

7/31 Indianapolis: Brickyard 400

8/7 Pocono

8/14 Watkins Glen

8/21 Michigan

8/27 Bristol

9/4 Atlanta

9/10 Richmond

9/18 CHICAGO **Chase Begins

9/25 Loudon, NH

10/2 Dover

10/9 Kansas

10/15 Charlotte

10/23 Talladega

10/30 Martinsville

11/6 Texas

11/13 Phoenix

11/20 Homestead, Ford 400