NASCAR to race on Easter Sunday for the first time since 1989
For the first time since 1989 and only the 12th time in series history, the NASCAR Cup Series will race on Easter Sunday.
The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, officially unveiled Wednesday, consisted of a night race on the dirt configuration of Bristol Motor Speedway. The second annual Bristol dirt race will be broadcast on the main FOX network.
The move comes as a way to position NASCAR as a new holiday tradition for Easter – similar to the NFL’s connection to Thanksgiving and NBA’s connection to Christmas Day – without interfering with the holiday itself.
“I think to that end, having it later in the day, and on prime time on Sunday, we want to make sure that for fans, families, team members, drivers, that they have the opportunity to celebrate earlier on in the day,” Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, said. “Then for fans that may be tuning in at night or coming out to the track that evening, the ability to come out there and continue to be together and watch NASCAR racing we felt like was important.
Kennedy elaborated, stating the race taking place later in the evening was “a big part of the calculus of that decision”.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com
Do not think racing on Easter is the right thing to do
Why???? NASCAR drivers crews and facilities workers should be home with family. Let alone all the people that will drive hours to get to the race.
This is part of the reason that NASCAR is loosing its audience. The other reasons are all the rule changes and the “two tier” penalty system. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Just leave the penalty rules alone.