NASCAR releases 2013 Nationwide Series schedule

The Sports Xchange

NASCAR today announced the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a lineup that includes a trip to the 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course Mid-Ohio for the first time in series history.

The inclusion of the Lexington, Ohio, track marks the return of NASCAR national series racing to Ohio, the home state of the series' entitlement sponsor, Nationwide Insurance. The NASCAR Nationwide Series will visit the track on Aug. 17.

"With Mid-Ohio on the schedule, the NASCAR Nationwide Series has another opportunity to lead the way at a new venue," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operation. "This gives us the opportunity to bring the series' signature side-by-side racing to a new fan base, and build enthusiasm among race fans that have yet to experience the unparalleled experience of attending a NASCAR event."

As normal, the 33-race schedule will begin at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 23 and finish up at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov.16. The series will visit Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second consecutive year on July 27.

The Kentucky race on June 28 is the qualifying event for the 2013 "Dash 4 Cash" bonus program. The subsequent four races make up the 2013 "Dash 4 Cash" events: Daytona (July 5), New Hampshire (July 13), Chicagoland (July 21) and Indianapolis.

The complete 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule is below.

2013 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES SCHEDULE

Date Site

2/23 Daytona International Speedway

3/2 Phoenix International Raceway

3/9 Las Vegas Motor Speedway

3/16 Bristol Motor Speedway

3/23 Auto Club Speedway

4/12 Texas Motor Speedway

4/26 Richmond International Raceway

5/4 Talladega Superspeedway

5/10 Darlington Raceway

5/25 Charlotte Motor Speedway

6/1 Dover International Speedway

6/8 Iowa Speedway

6/15 Michigan International Speedway

6/22 Road America

6/28 Kentucky Speedway

7/5 Daytona International Speedway

7/13 New Hampshire Motor Speedway

7/21 Chicagoland Speedway

7/27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

8/3 Iowa Speedway

8/10 Watkins Glen International

8/17 Mid-Ohio

8/23 Bristol Motor Speedway

8/31 Atlanta Motor Speedway

9/6 Richmond International Raceway

9/14 Chicagoland Speedway

9/21 Kentucky Speedway

9/28 Dover International Speedway

10/5 Kansas Speedway

10/11 Charlotte Motor Speedway

11/2 Texas Motor Speedway

11/9 Phoenix International Raceway

11/16 Homestead-Miami Speedway