How many Cup Series races have been run on Easter?
It has not been a common site to see NASCAR racing on Easter weekend.
In its 72-year history, NASCAR has held Cup Series points-awarding races on Easter just 11 times.
The first race held on the holiday was in 1953, when Dick Passwater picked up his lone Cup Series win at the three-fourths mile dirt track Charlotte Speedway.
NASCAR held a race on Easter for five consecutive seasons from 1959 to 1963.
Richard Petty won three times on Easter Sunday, the most of any driver.
The last time NASCAR ran on Easter was in 1989, when Rusty Wallace picked up the win at Richmond Raceway.
According to Motorsports Unplugged, that race was originally scheduled in February but was moved to Easter due to inclement weather.
Additionally, NASCAR has held eight races on the Saturday before Easter (Holy Saturday) (1952, 1958, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1985).
YEARS NASCAR RAN ON EASTER
| YEAR | TRACK | WINNER |
| 1953 | Charlotte Speedway | Dick Passwater |
| 1954 | Central City Speedway | Gober Sosebee |
| 1959 | Wilson Speedway | Junior Johnson |
| 1960 | Wilson Speedway | Richard Petty |
| 1961 | Hickory Motor Speedway | Cotton Owens |
| 1962 | Martinsville Speedway | Richard Petty |
| 1963 | South Boston Speedway | Richard Petty |
| 1965 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | Junior Johnson |
| 1969 | Hickory Motor Speedway | Bobby Isaac |
| 1970 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Bobby Allison |
| 1989 | Richmond Raceway | Rusty Wallace |
SOURCES
California Digital Newspaper Collection
Kevin Laughery
Motorsports Unplugged
Racing-Reference.info
