With the full Cup schedule set for 2025, Ben Kennedy breaks down the changes that went into building a reimagined year of competition
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00:00Alex, we were here joined by Ben Kennedy and we know that this is the schedule that we get to look forward to for next season in our premiere series and 2025 has been released. It's official.
00:11We now have this full picture of what this full schedule will look like next season for all three series, but let's start with the cup series.
00:18So this is a milestone schedule, Ben, and I know I don't have to tell you you've been hard at work putting this together, but why was 2025 the year to debut such a reimagined schedule for the cup series?
00:31Yeah, it was a big opportunity for us and it's kind of work by juice on Hamilton and the entire team to put this schedule together.
00:39And Alex, you use the word word milestone.
00:42I think in a lot of ways, this is a milestone schedule for us.
00:45You know, you look at our schedule evolution over the past several years.
00:48You had the 2020 schedule where we shook a lot of things up.
00:51We didn't add any new venues.
00:53Went to 2021, added a few new venues.
00:5622, we added St.
00:57Louis and the Coliseum.
00:59And then we evolved to Chicago over the past couple of years, a new street race, North Wilkesboro as the all star race.
01:06And this was the next big step for us is to take a cup series internationally and importantly to Mexico and Mexico City.
01:15As a part of that is kind of the storyline.
01:17But to your point, a number of changes that we've had throughout the schedule.
01:20So, you know, part of that is our continue kind of push to be kind of calculated as we think about a lot of these changes in schedule,
01:28but also big and bold as we make these moves.
01:31And then I would say the other part is we're going into a new kind of media landscape with two new partners and Amazon and TNT taking the summer months.
01:40You have Fox and NBC that will be kicking off and closing our season with the playoffs and championship race.
01:46And then the CW throughout the Xfinity series and Fox on the Craftsman Truck Series side.
01:51So it felt like is a good opportunity for us to almost have a little bit of a reset as we think about a lot of the changes and kind of evolution within the schedule.
02:01But importantly, really keep that momentum through the entire season from, you know, the clash at Bowman Gray, the Daytona 500,
02:08our biggest event of the year, all the way through the playoffs and their championship race.
02:12So a lot of changes that you mentioned.
02:13I know we're going to talk about some of them, but, you know, a milestone schedule for sure.
02:17One of the changes, however, and fans don't need to worry, we're returning to your favorite racetracks.
02:22But for Richmond, it will be moving to one date on the schedule as opposed to two that we've seen.
02:28Homestead is shifting out of the playoffs.
02:30Michigan and Iowa Speedway dates are moving around.
02:34What can you say about those racetracks and the fact that they're still on the racing schedule?
02:39They just have kind of shifted a little bit.
02:41Yeah, they moved around a bit.
02:43And you'll see a handful of changes within the schedule.
02:46You know, as we talked about this schedule, we're going to have a handful of changes.
02:50And part of that is keeping it new and keeping it fresh, especially as you talk about the playoff schedule.
02:55Part of that is also building some day equity in a lot of our events and having some longevity to those.
03:01So, you know, the Richmond moving to one day.
03:04You know, we talked about this every time we have new venues that come on the schedule.
03:09It's both kind of the challenge and what we're dealing with is, you know, every time we add a new venue,
03:15naturally it will have to come from somewhere.
03:17Unfortunately, in this case, it is coming from Richmond.
03:20On the upside, though, is we're going to have one big event in August next year to move to Saturday night.
03:25Something I've been hearing from our fans for a long time.
03:27You know, I remember as a kid growing up going to Richmond, you know, for a number of years,
03:32Saturday night under the lights racing was always such a big part of the schedule.
03:37So to be able to do that, you know, it's going to be, you know, we want to put our best foot forward to Richmond.
03:43We feel like that is our opportunity to do so.
03:45To your point, Homestead will come out of the playoffs.
03:48It's a warm weather date.
03:49We have a lot of energy, especially a lot of casual fans tuning into the early part of the schedule.
03:54Homestead puts on great racing and to have it earlier in the year is going to be good for us.
04:00And then talk about Michigan and Iowa moving, just a few date changes there.
04:04Just the way the cards have been dealt.
04:06And then as we go into the playoffs, you know, two new venues will be adding as well with Worldwide Technology Raceway.
04:12It's had sold out crowds for the past few years.
04:15A lot of energy around that event and in St. Louis, New Hampshire Motor Speedway,
04:20and then Talladega moving to the round of eight in the playoffs,
04:23which will serve up a lot of unpredictability and excitement for our fans as we go into our championship race at Phoenix.
04:29So a handful of changes throughout next year and certainly excited to see how it all shakes out.