Schedule changes for 2010 and more (including a wedding)

Odds and ends in the NASCAR world with the Cup series taking this weekend off (more on the wedding after the schedule)

# Daytona International Speedway has announced that qualifying for the Daytona 500 has been  moved from Sunday to Saturday, Feb. 6 as part of a tripleheader of activities at the track. That day also will feature the Bud Shootout that night and the ARCA race earlier in the day. The move was made to avoid a conflict with the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. Qualifying will take place at 1:05 p.m on Feb. 6 on Fox with ARCA race set for 4:30 pm on Speed and the Shootout at 8:10 pm on Fox. Remember, Daytona 500 qualifying only sets the first row. The rest of the field is set through qualifying races and such. With the NFL looking at pushing back the Super Bowl in 2011 to what could be the day of the Daytona 500, the track might have more changes to make down the road.

# Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway have flip-flopped dates in spring 2010. The move was made to avoid having a NASCAR race on the final day of the Masters in April. Texas' date moves to Sunday, April 18. The Phoenix race, a Saturday night race in the spring, moves to April 10.

# Las Vegas Motor Speedway is selling tickets for its Cup weekend for Feb. 26-28, although it notes its dates aren't finalized. Yet, you can be sure if they're putting the dates out there, that won't change. It is expected to remain the third race of the season after the Daytona 500 (Feb. 14) and what is expected to be Auto Club Speedway's race date of Feb. 21.

# Auto Club Speedway in California is selling tickets for the first of its two 2010 events and lists that date as Feb. 2010, thus it most likely will be Feb. 21.

# Martinsville Speedway is selling tickets for its spring race and lists the tentative date as March 28 _ the same date the NHRA series will be at the drag strip next to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

# Talladega Superspeedway is selling tickets to its spring race and listing the date as April 25.

# Darlington Raceway is selling tickets for the Southern 500 and lists the date as Saturday, May 8.

# Michigan International Speedway lists its two race dates as June 13 and Aug. 15

# Indianapolis Motor Speedway listed in its race programs that next year's race there will be July 25.

So, based on what track websites are listing, here's a look at what the early portion of next year's schedule appears to be:

Feb. 6 -- Bud Shootout  at Daytona

Feb. 14 -- Daytona 500

Feb. 21 -- Auto Club Speedway

Feb. 28 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway

March ?? -- Atlanta Motor Speedway

March ?? -- Likely off weekend

March ?? -- Bristol Motor Speedway

March 28 -- Martinsville Speedway

April 4 -- Easter (no Cup race)

April 10 -- Phoenix International Raceway

April 18 -- Texas Motor Speedway

April 25 -- Talladega Superspeedway

May 1 -- Expected to be Richmond International Raceway

May 8 -- Darlington Raceway

May 16 -- Expected to be Dover International Speedway

May 22 -- All-Star race in Concord, N.C.

May 30 -- Coca-Cola 600

June 6 -- Expected to be Pocono Raceway

June 13 -- Michigan International Speedway

June 20 -- TBA -- most likely Infineon Raceway

June 27 -- TBA -- most likely New Hampshire Motor Speedway

July 3 -- Expected to be Daytona International Speedway

July ?? -- Chicagoland Speedway

July ?? -- Likely off weekend

July 25 -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Aug. ?? -- Expected to be Watkins Glen

Aug ?? -- Expected to be Pocono Raceway

Aug. 15 -- Michigan International Speedway

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OK on to other things:

# Ray Evernham married Erin Crocker on Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

# Richmond International Raceway has a special for ticket holders attending the Sept. 12 Cup race there. For $149, fans can get a three-lap ride-along with a professional driver in a Cup race that day. Ride-alongs will take place from 8-11 a.m. that day. Reserveations are required by calling 1-800-237-3889. Also, tickets for the Cup race remain available. Go to www.rir.com for more info.

# Gene Nead has been named interim crew chief for the No. 55 team of Michael Waltrip. He replaces Bootie Barker, who will remain with the team to work to assist the engineering department with special projects.

# Mark Norman, a crew member on the No. 09 Nationwide team has been indefinitely suspended for violating NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy.

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