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NASCAR America: Analysts give their take on 2018 Cup schedule changes

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NASCAR's decision to make Indianapolis the regular-season finale the most controversial of the 2018 schedule changes.

On Monday’s edition of NASCAR America, analysts Kyle Petty, Steve Letarte and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett talked about all the changes that are coming for 2018, including drivers in new rides, new rules for the season and new rules for the Daytona 500.

They also talked about the significant changes to the makeup of the schedule.

Among those changes are Chicagoland Speedway moves from the start of the 10-race playoffs to July 1, Richmond moves from the last race of the regular season to the second race of the playoffs, the Brickyard 400 moves from July to the final race of the 26-race regular season.

Also, Dover moves from the Round of 16 opening round to the Round of 12, Charlotte moves to the final race of the Round of 16 and will be contested partly on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval and for the first time, will also be contested partly on the track’s infield road course.

Gone is Loudon’s annual second race; it’s been replaced by the opening race of the playoffs in Las Vegas.

“I like that they’re willing to move things around, for the fan base as much as anything else,” Kyle Petty said. “But I’ll say this straight up, I don’t like Indianapolis being the last race of the regular season. ... It is a big event, but it is not the race that I want to see as the final (regular) season race.

”... But any of the other changes, I am a big fan of mixing it up, I have to admit that.”

Added Letarte, “So it doesn’t happen often, but KP (Petty) and I are completely at odds on this one. I think Indianapolis as the final race of the season is a spectacular place. It gets it out of the heat of the summer for the fan base.

”... There’s not a lot of opportunity for a crew chief to do something strategy-wise at Richmond because tires are so important. But when I come to the Brickyard, a large facility, 2.5-mile racetrack, when I come to pit road and don’t lose a lap, that opens up a ton of different pit options and maybe creates an opportunity not for a surprise winner, but definitely a surprise front-runner.

“I think the Brickyard as the regular season finale has a lot of opportunity.”

Check out more of the analysts’ thoughts in the video above, and also check out the 2018 NASCAR Cup schedule below.



Date

Location

Network

Race Start

Radio

2/11

Daytona 500 Qualifying at

Daytona International Speedway

FOX

12 p.m. ET

MRN

2/11

The Clash at

Daytona International Speedway

FS1

3 p.m. ET

MRN

2/15

The Duel at

Daytona International Speedway

FS1

7 p.m. ET

MRN

2/18

DAYTONA 500 at

Daytona International Speedway

FOX

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

2/25

Atlanta Motor Speedway

FOX

2 p.m. ET

PRN

3/4

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

FOX

3:30 p.m. ET

PRN

3/11

Phoenix Raceway

FOX

3:30 p.m. ET

MRN

3/18

Auto Club Speedway

FOX

3:30 p.m. ET

MRN

3/25

Martinsville Speedway

FS1

2 p.m. ET

MRN

4/8

Texas Motor Speedway

FS1

2 p.m. ET

PRN

4/15

Bristol Motor Speedway

FOX

2 p.m. ET

PRN

4/21

Richmond International Raceway

FOX

6:30 p.m. ET

MRN

4/29

Talladega Superspeedway

FOX

2 p.m. ET

MRN

5/6

Dover International Speedway

FS1

2 p.m. ET

MRN

5/12

Kansas Speedway

FS1

8 p.m. ET

MRN

5/19

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at

Charlotte Motor Speedway

FS1

6 p.m. ET

MRN

5/19

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at

Charlotte Motor Speedway

FS1

8 p.m. ET

MRN

5/27

Charlotte Motor Speedway

FOX

6 p.m. ET

PRN

6/3

Pocono Raceway

FS1

2 p.m. ET

MRN

6/10

Michigan International Speedway

FOX

2 p.m. ET

MRN

6/24

Sonoma Raceway

FS1

3 p.m. ET

PRN

7/1

Chicagoland Speedway

NBCSN

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

7/7

Daytona International Speedway

NBC

7 p.m. ET

PRN

7/14

Kentucky Speedway

NBCSN

7:30 p.m. ET

PRN

7/22

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

NBCSN

2 p.m. ET

PRN

7/29

Pocono Raceway

NBCSN

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

8/5

Watkins Glen International

NBC

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

8/12

Michigan International Speedway

NBCSN

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

8/18

Bristol Motor Speedway

NBCSN

7:30 p.m. ET

PRN

9/2

Darlington Raceway

NBCSN

6 p.m. ET

MRN

9/9

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

NBCSN

2 p.m. ET

IMS

9/16

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

NBCSN

3 p.m. ET

PRN

9/22

Richmond International Raceway

NBCSN

7:30 p.m. ET

MRN

9/30

Charlotte Motor Speedway

NBC

2 p.m. ET

PRN

10/7

Dover International Speedway

NBCSN

2 p.m. ET

MRN

10/14

Talladega Superspeedway

NBC

2 p.m. ET

MRN

10/21

Kansas Speedway

NBC

2 p.m. ET

MRN

10/28

Martinsville Speedway

NBCSN

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

11/4

Texas Motor Speedway

NBCSN

3 p.m. ET

PRN

11/11

Phoenix Raceway

NBC

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN

11/18

Homestead Miami Speedway

NBC

2:30 p.m. ET

MRN