Editorials NASCAR Cup Series

The Old and New Venues Set For the 2021 NASCAR season

Posted by AR1 staff

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series will mark the 73rd season for the stock car racing, which began in the 1950s. It will also be the 50th season of the modern era of the Cup Series. In 2021, NASCAR’s top three series will be more diverse than they have been before because of new venues and different layouts on some of the usual ones. Here are the old and new venues set for the 2021 NASCAR schedules.

Bristol Motor Speedway

The Bristol Motor Speedway is a 0.553-mile oval track that will be converted to dirt in 2021 with a banking of 24-28 degrees in turns. The Truck Series will join the Cup Series during the Bristol spring weekend. It will be among the first two dirt track appearances for trucks in 2021. As a motorsport enthusiast, you can find a promo code here as you get ready for the season to begin. Furthermore, the Cup Series will make its first appearance on dirt since 1970. The venue will host the Truck series on March 27 and Cup Series on March 28.

A general view of the track prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. It will be covered with clay for NASCAR. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Circuit of the Americans

Located in a 1,500 acre complex outside Austin, Texas, this venue was first opened in 2012. It is a 3.42 miles Grand Prix with 20 turns. It also has a short course of 2.2 miles with 15 turns. The track usually hosts Formula 1’s US Grand Prix and MotoGP’s Grand Prix of the Americans. Moreover, the venue has hosted several other series, including IndyCar, IMSA, and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The track’s notable features are a 133-foot uphill climb into the blind, left-hand Turn 1 and a 251-foot observation tower placed beside the Turn 16-17-18 section. The 2021 schedule includes Xfinity & Truck Series on May 22 and Cup Series on May 23.

COTA is also home to the US Grand Prix. LAT Images

Nashville Superspeedway

This Lebanon, Tennessee track is 1.33 mile concrete oval with a banking of 14 degrees in turns and 11 degrees on the front stretch. The track was launched 20 years ago but has been closed for the past decade. However, it’s set to make a big comeback in 2021.

In its initial years, from 2001 to 2011, it hosted Xfinity, the Truck Series, and the IndyCar. But, it never got the chance to host a prized Cup date. This is set to change. In June, NASCAR’s top division will make its debut visit to Middle Tennessee since 1984.

The 2021 schedule for the track includes the Truck Series on June 18, Xfinity Series on June 19, and Cup Series on June 20.

Road America

Located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the 4.048 miles and 14 turns track hosted its first and only Cup race almost 65 years ago. It is set to make a comeback to the top division in July 2021. The road course boasts of several passing zones and elevation changes and has been considered one of the world’s best circuits. In 2021, the venue will host the Xfinity Series on July 3 and the  Cup Series on July 4.

Road America is also home to IndyCars

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

The IMS road course is 2.439 miles with 14 turns. It’s been one year since Xfinity Series shifted from Indy’s oval to this twisting road course. In 2021, the Cup Series is set to follow suit. The Cup’s debut on the IMS road course will be another IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader weekend. The road course will host the Xfinity Series on August 14 and Cup Series on August 15.

Knoxville Raceway (Iowa)

The Knoxville Raceway is a half-mile dirt oval that has been the home of the Knoxville Nationals Spring car event for a long time. The venue is set to host NASCAR for the first time in July. It was initially a horse racing track in the late 1870s. Later in 1901, the track hosted the first auto race. During the inaugural NASCAR weekend, Knoxville will also host the USAC National Sprint Car Series and the POWRi War Sprints. It will host the Truck Series on July 9.

Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International

This a 2.45 miles road course with 7 turns. The track is known as the home for the Cup and Truck Series. In 2021 it will host what will likely be a regular-season finale for the trucks. Fans should expect a lot of aggression from those in their last gasp to make the playoffs.