NASCAR Announces 2022 Cup Schedule with Michigan August 7th

Daytona Beach, FL — September 15, 2021

NASCAR’s 2022 Cup Series Schedule brings the cars and stars of America’s most exciting racing series to Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 7th. The press release provides a few surprises to next year’s schedule of events.

For the first time in series history, a preseason race will be held at someplace other than the “World Center of Racing in Daytona Beach.

NASCAR Clash Moving to California

NASCAR announced that the Clash – NASCAR’s prelude event to the DAYTONA 500 since 1979 – will take place somewhere other than Daytona International Speedway when NASCAR visits the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6, 2022.

Race tracks have hosted College Football games, most notably at Bristol Motor Speedway. This will be the first time a football stadium has hosted a NASCAR race event.

New Track Added to Regular Season Schedule

The NASCAR Cup Series will visit another track for the first time when the green flag flies at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside St. Louis, Mo. on June 5.

The 1.25-mile asymmetrical oval has hosted 21 Camping World Truck Series races since 1998 and was also a part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule from 1997 – 2010. Numerous NASCAR legends and champions have visited Victory Lane over the years. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998, 1999), Kevin Harvick (2000, 2001, 2010), Kyle Busch (2009), and Brad Keselowski (2010) earned wins at World Wide Technology Raceway early in their careers.

“As we demonstrated last year, we are committed to creating the most dynamic schedule for our fans, long term,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of strategy and innovation. “With the addition of new and unique venues like the Coliseum and World Wide Technology Raceway, each in markets with passionate NASCAR fans, we’re continuing to build on bold changes to deliver the best racing in the world.”

Michigan International Speedway

The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Michigan International Speedway, the two-mile track, for the 54th consecutive season. The FireKeepers Casino 400 will be held Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022.

The full weekend schedule, including support series races and broadcast times will be announced at a later date.

“Michigan International Speedway holds a special place on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule thanks to its rich history and proximity to the heart of the American automotive industry,” said Chip Wile, NASCAR Senior Vice President, and Chief Track Properties Officer. “We’re especially excited to see the Next-Gen cars race at MIS, knowing that a trip to Ruoff Victory Lane brings added bragging rights for the manufacturers.”

The much-anticipated Next-Gen car, NASCAR’s seventh-generation race car, will be raced in all NASCAR Cup Series races in 2022, making its regular-season debut at the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20.  The new car incorporates more features into the body of the car to better replicate the look and feel of each manufacturer’s streetcar. It also implements new technologies and systems to match modern passenger vehicles and bring fans closer to the sport than ever before.

Tickets for the FireKeepers Casino 400 start at $39 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Kids 12 and under also get a free Sunday Pre-Race Pass courtesy of Henry Ford Health System. Campsites are available starting at $130.

NASCAR tickets are available for purchase via phone at 888-905-7223 or online at mispeedway.com. Fans can view the full 2022 NASCAR Cup Series schedule and purchase tickets at nascar.com/tickets.

Stay connected to Michigan International Speedway on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

2022 Schedule Highlights

“This latest iteration of the schedule should lend itself to another season filled with drama and great racing on the track, starting with the DAYTONA 500 and culminating with NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway.”

In another move – and a nod to recent history – Homestead-Miami Speedway will return to the Playoff mix. The popular 1.5-mile destination track will be a key venue when it hosts the second of three Round of 8 races on Oct. 23. In addition, Texas (Sept. 25) and Las Vegas (Oct. 16) will swap dates and lead off the Round of 12 and Round of 8, respectively.

In addition, Kansas will move up in the Playoffs schedule, becoming the second race in the Round of 16 (Sept. 11).

The 2022 season will officially kick off with the running of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500 – at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 20 live on FOX – an event that will also host the regular-season points race debut of the Next Gen race car.

The Cup Series will then immediately head back out West, beginning with a stop at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 27 – the first time NASCAR will visit the high-speed two-mile oval in nearly two years – followed by Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 6) and Phoenix Raceway (March 13).

The Bristol Dirt Race returns to the schedule, this time under the lights on Easter Sunday Night (April 17). The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race will also return to Texas Motor Speedway in 2022. The annual event featuring NASCAR’s biggest stars will shift to earlier in the season when festivities get underway on May 22.

After a natural off-week (June 19) following the conclusion of FOX Sports’ Cup Series coverage, Nashville Superspeedway will again kick off the NBC Sports portion of the schedule on June 26. The action in the Music City will immediately be followed by another fan favorite, Road America, which will highlight the Fourth of July festivities for the second consecutive season.

Watkins Glen International will host the penultimate race of the regular season (Aug. 21) followed by an intense regular-season finale under the lights at Daytona International Speedway (Aug. 27) – two distinctly different but equally pivotal tracks in determining the NASCAR Playoffs field.

2022 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE