DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Just hours before the start of today's Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III announced that the 2012 race will be held a week later on Sunday, Feb. 26.
"The decision to kick-off to the NASCAR racing season one week later was made in close partnership with the sanctioning body, our broadcast partners including FOX, community partners and others within the industry," Chitwood said. "This move shortens the racing season by one week, which is something the teams and competitors will surely enjoy, and it eliminates the off-weekend typically scheduled in March, which many fans and media partners have said created a drop in momentum in the early part of the racing season."
Chitwood added the announcement was made today so that fans can have as much advance notice as possible in planning their visit. The dates of Daytona International Speedway's other racing events that comprise Speedweeks, in addition to the motorcycle events in March, will be determined in the near future, Chitwood said.