For the only time this NASCAR Cup Series season, there won’t be a NASCAR race this weekend. The competition is taking a one-week break after running for 17 consecutive weekends.
That will give fans a chance to whet their racing appetite as the regular season rolls toward its crescendo.
The Cup Series season is scheduled to wrap up on the first Sunday of November with the final playoff race — same as the 2021 season, which included a two-week Olympic break.
Here’s everything you need to know about NASCAR’s one-week hiatus, as well as when the Cup Series will roar back into action.
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Is there a NASCAR race this weekend?
There is a NASCAR race this weekend. But it won’t be involving drivers from the competition’s premier division, the Cup Series, which is taking the weekend off.
Race fans who were pining for action were able to tune in to the Truck Series race at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa on Saturday, June 18.
Those hoping to see the Cup Series will have to wait a weekend. The series is scheduled to resume on Sunday, June 26, with the Ally 400 at Nashville.
Why isn’t there a Cup Series race this weekend?
The simple answer is that the 2022 Cup Series season kicked off one week later than the 2021 season. Presidents Day, which is observed on the third Monday of February, fell on Feb. 21 this year — the latest date it could have possibly been.
That means the Daytona 500, which was held on Feb. 15 last year, ran on Feb. 20 this year. The much-adored event kicks off the NASCAR Cup Series season and has been held on Presidents Day weekend for much of the past 50 years.
Despite the late start, the 2022 Cup Series season is still slated to end on the first Sunday of November. Last year, all three tiers of NASCAR (Cup, Xfinity and Truck) took a two-week break for the Tokyo Olympics.
All your favorite Cup Series drivers will return to the track on June 26 for the Ally 400. Series TV coverage is moving from Fox and FS1 to NBC and USA Network from now through the season’s finish.
NASCAR Cup Series schedule 2022
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| June 26 | Ally 400 | Nashville Superspeedway | 5 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| July 3 | Kwik Trip 250 | Road America | 3 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| July 10 | Quaker State 400 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA | PRN |
| July 17 | Ambetter 301 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA | PRN |
| July 24 | Explore the Pocono Mountains 500 | Pocono Raceway | 3 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| July 31 | Verizon 200 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course | 3 p.m. | NBC | IMS Radio |
| Aug. 7 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| Aug. 14 | Federated Auto Parts 400 | Richmond Raceway | 3 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| Aug. 21 | Go Bowling at the Glen | Watkins Glen International | 3 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| Aug. 27 | Coke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway | 7 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
NASCAR schedule 2022: Playoff races
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV | Radio |
| Sept. 4 | Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | 6 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| Sept. 11 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | 3 p.m. | USA | MRN |
| Sept. 17 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | 7:30 p.m. | USA | PRN |
| Sept. 25 | AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | USA | PRN |
| Oct. 2 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Oct. 9 | Bank of America Roval 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL | 2 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| Oct. 16 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| Oct. 23 | Dixie Vodka 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Oct. 30 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | MRN |
| Nov. 6 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC | MRN |