Much like the NASCAR Cup Series, a considerable amount of change is coming to the Xfinity Series and Truck Series in 2020 as well.
The sanctioning body released the schedules for both the second and third-tier tours on Wednesday and the biggest takeaway is that the Xfinity Series will race at Martinsville Speedway next fall. It’s the first time since 2006 and only the second time in the last 25 years that the division will compete at the Virginia short track.
The race will serve as the final cutoff race of the playoffs and will set the field for the Xfinity Series Championship Race. The overall event will be a tripleheader for all three national touring divisions.
Meanwhile, the Gander Outdoor Truck Series will return to Richmond Raceway for the first time since 2005. The Xfinity Series race Martinsville added to the fall was taken from the spring Richmond weekend, but the other Virginia NASCAR short track will play host to the regular season finale with it’s sole date.
Martinsville used to host what is now the season-ending race for the Xfinity Series when it was the Late Model Sportsman division.
“The NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series were both built on short track racing, and it is important that short tracks remain a prominent part of our series schedules,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR managing director of racing operations and international development. “We returned to our roots in many ways with today’s announcement. Martinsville and Richmond were part of the original Xfinity and Gander Trucks schedules, and we’re excited for their return as part of a strong overall slate.”
As announced as part of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule unveil, ISM Raceway near Phoenix will host the Championship Race for all three national series. ISM Raceway underwent a significant renovation, transforming the gem in the desert into one of the premier facilities in all of sports.
Xfinity Series drivers will hit the ‘road’ a little earlier in 2020, as Mid-Ohio moves up in the schedule to May 30. Two new cutoff races will face the Xfinity Series drivers during the Playoffs, with the Charlotte Roval (Oct. 10) and Martinsville set to pare the field from 12 to 8 to 4.
Gateway Motorsports Park will host the Playoff opener for the Gander Trucks on Aug. 21, part of a postseason reshuffle that will feature two new cutoff races. The Round of 8 will culminate with a race at Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 17), and the Round of 6 will end with Martinsville.
Once again, both series will open at Daytona International Speedway. The Gander Trucks kick off its season on Feb. 14, with the Xfinity Series following on Feb. 15. Both series will then immediately head west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, joining the Cup Series in that marquee market.
Both series will also take part in the historic Cup Series double-header at Pocono Raceway, for what will be a must-see national series quadruple header. The Gander Trucks will race on Saturday, June 27, with the Xfinity Series on June 28.
The Gander Trucks will continue racing on the dirt at Eldora Speedway on Thursday July 30 during the two week Cup Series summer break. The Xfinity Series will fill the void during the second Cup off-weekend with a race at Iowa Speedway (Aug. 1).
The complete schedules can be found below.
2020 NASCAR Gander Truck Series:
Friday, Feb. 14: Daytona International Speedway
Friday, Feb. 21: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, March 14: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Friday, March 20: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Friday, March 27: Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, April 18: Richmond Raceway
Friday, May 1: Dover International Speedway
Friday, May 15: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 30: Kansas Speedway
Friday, June 5: Texas Motor Speedway
Friday, June 12: Iowa Speedway
Friday, June 19: Chicagoland Speedway
Saturday, June 27: Pocono Raceway
Thursday, July 9: Kentucky Speedway
Thursday, July 30: Eldora Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 8: Michigan International Speedway
Friday, Aug. 21: Gateway Motorsports Park
Sunday, Sept. 6: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park
Thursday, Sept. 17: Bristol Motor Speedway
Friday, Sept. 25: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 3: Talladega Superspeedway
Friday, Oct. 30: Martinsville Speedway
Friday, Nov. 6: ISM Raceway
2020 Xfinity Series:
Saturday, Feb. 15: Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, Feb. 22: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Feb. 29: Auto Club Speedway
Saturday, March 7: ISM Raceway
Saturday, March 14: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Saturday, March 21: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Saturday, March 28: Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, April 4: Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, April 25: Talladega Superspeedway
Saturday, May 2: Dover International Speedway
Saturday, May 23: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 30: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Saturday, June 6: Michigan International Speedway
Saturday, June 13: Iowa Speedway
Saturday, June 20: Chicagoland Speedway
Sunday, June 28: Pocono Raceway
Saturday, July 4: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Friday, July 10: Kentucky Speedway
Saturday, July 18: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 1: Iowa Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 8: Road America
Saturday, Aug. 15: Watkins Glen International
Saturday, Aug. 22: Dover International Speedway
Friday, Aug. 28: Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 5: Darlington Raceway
Friday, Sept. 11: Richmond Raceway
Friday, Sept. 18: Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 26: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 10: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Saturday, Oct. 17: Kansas Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 24: Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 31: Martinsville Speedway
Saturday, Nov. 7: ISM Raceway
Source: Read Full Article