Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR
Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

There are a few significant changes coming next year. 

On Wednesday, NASCAR released the Cup Series schedule for next year. And there are some big changes that fans should be aware of when planning their viewing for 2022.

The most significant changes comes to a preseason event: the Busch Clash is moving to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It had been on the road course at Daytona International Speedway.

Another big change comes to the playoff schedule.

The first round will be held at Darlington-Kansas-Bristol. Kansas is replacing Richmond; that course previously hosted the third round.

The second round will be at the Texas-Talladega-Charlotte road course, replacing Vegas.

And the third round will be held at Las Vegas-Homestead-Martinsville. Vegas flips spots with Texas; Homestead replace Kansas in the third round.

Instead of four Saturday night races, next year’s schedule features only three. The rest of the Cup Series races will be on Sundays — including Easter Sunday.

St. Louis is getting an event at the Gateway (formally named the World Wide Technology Raceway) on June 5. The race, which had been at Pocono Raceway, leaves Pocono with one race next year instead of two.

2022 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

  • Feb. 6: Clash at LA Coliseum
  • Feb. 20: Daytona 500
  • Feb. 27: California (Fontana)
  • Mar. 6: Las Vegas
  • Mar. 13: Phoenix
  • Mar. 20: Atlanta
  • Mar. 27: Circuit of the Americas
  • Apr. 3: Richmond
  • Apr. 9: Martinsville
  • Apr. 17: Bristol dirt
  • Apr. 24: Talladega
  • May 1: Dover
  • May 8: Darlington
  • May 15: Kansas
  • May 22: All-Star at Texas
  • May 29: Charlotte
  • June 5: Gateway
  • June 12: Sonoma
  • June 26: Nashville
  • July 3: Road America
  • July 10: Atlanta
  • July 17: New Hampshire
  • July 24: Pocono
  • July 31: Indianapolis road course
  • Aug. 7: Michigan
  • Aug. 14: Richmond
  • Aug. 21: Watkins Glen
  • Aug. 27: Daytona
  • Sept. 4: Darlington
  • Sept. 11: Kansas
  • Sept. 17: Bristol
  • Sept. 25: Texas
  • Oct. 2: Talladega
  • Oct. 9 Charlotte road course
  • Oct. 16: Las Vegas
  • Oct. 23: Homestead
  • Oct. 30: Martinsville
  • Nov. 6: Phoenix
Tab has written about MLB, the NHL and the NFL for more than a decade for publications including The Fourth Period, Bleacher Report and La Vida Baseball. He is the author of two books about the Chicago Blackhawks and has been credentialed for the MLB All-Star Game and postseason and multiple Stanley Cup Finals. He is the co-host of the Line Drive Radio podcast.