NASCAR releases 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series schedule, and it looks awfully familiar

NASCAR has apparently found the schedule it likes.

A year after a schedule reboot which saw, among other things, a second race added to Vegas, track changes for two Chase races and the switch to the Charlotte road course for the Chase, the 2019 schedule release this week had a lot less drama.

In fact, the 2019 schedule is the exact same as the 2018 schedule in terms of order of races and track locations.

The season will again start off two weeks after the Super Bowl, with the Daytona 500 running on Feb. 17. With Easter falling three weeks later on the calendar in 2019 that it did in 2018, the season’s first bye week will be April 21, after Race 9 at Richmond.

Despite some speculation that the All-Star Race could be moved from its traditional Charlotte location, NASCAR confirmed in a news release Tuesday that Charlotte will again host back-to-back weekends of racing. The All-Star Race will be May 18 with the Coca-Cola 600 happening May 26.

Once again, the Chase will begin in Las Vegas (Sept. 15) and conclude with the season finale in Homestead, Fla., on Nov. 17.

Here is the full schedule, including Speedweeks competitions in Daytona:

DATE — RACE

Sun., Feb. 10 — Daytona 500 (Qualifying)

Sun., Feb. 10 — The Clash

Thurs., Feb. 14 — Daytona 500 (Duels)

Sun., Feb. 17 — Daytona 500

Sun., Feb. 24 — Atlanta

Sun., March 3 — Las Vegas

Sun., March 10 — ISM Raceway

Sun., March 17 — Auto Club

Sun., March 24 — Martinsville

Sun., March 31 — Texas

Sun., April 7 — Bristol

Sat., April 13 — Richmond

Sun., April 28 — Talladega

Sun., May 5 — Dover

Sat., May 11 — Kansas

Sat., May 18 — All-Star Open (Charlotte)

Sat., May 18 — All-Star Race (Charlotte)

Sun., May 26 — Charlotte

Sun., June 2 — Pocono

Sun., June 9 — Michigan

Sun., June 23 — Sonoma

Sun., June 30 — Chicago

Sat., July 6 — Daytona

Sat., July 13 — Kentucky

Sun., July 21 — New Hampshire

Sun., July 28 — Pocono

Sun., Aug. 4 — Watkins Glen

Sun., Aug. 11 — Michigan

Sat., Aug. 17 — Bristol

Sun., Sept. 1 — Darlington

Sun., Sept. 8 — Indianapolis

Sun., Sept. 15 — Las Vegas

Sat., Sept. 21 — Richmond

Sun., Sept. 29 — Charlotte

Sun., Oct. 6 — Dover

Sun., Oct. 13 — Talladega

Sun., Oct. 20 — Kansas

Sun., Oct. 27 — Martinsville

Sun., Nov. 3 — Texas

Sun., Nov. 10 — ISM Raceway

Sun., Nov. 17 — Miami

–Field Level Media