DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Daytona 500 will be a week later in 2012, allowing NASCAR to shorten its season and avoid a potential conflict with the NFL’s Super Bowl.
The Daytona 500 will be Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.
The new date allows NASCAR officials to eliminate a traditional off week following the first three races of the season. It also gets NASCAR ahead of any potential changes to the NFL schedule, including an 18-game schedule or NFL labor strife that might force the Super Bowl in Indianapolis to be delayed a week.
The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 5.
NASCAR has not determined other dates for 2012 Speedweeks, including the exhibition Budweiser Shootout. Officials could move all the races into one week.
