2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule taking form

The 2011 Sprint Cup schedule is set to be released Wednesday but here's a sneak peak of what it will look like. If you notice, the season will start a week later as NASCAR works to keep away from Super Bowl weekend.

Confirmed dates in bold.

Feb. 12 -- Bud Shootout at Daytona

Feb. 20 -- Daytona 500

Feb. 27 -- Phoenix (moves up to this date and is reduced from 600K to 500K and is a day race)

March 6 -- Las Vegas (only one date, so expect Homestead to remain the season finale)

March 13 -- Off Weekend

March 20 -- Bristol

 March 27 -- California (loses 1 of 2 dates and falls back from Feb. date)

 April 3 -- Martinsville

April 9 -- Texas (Saturday night race, track's first Cup night race)

April 17 -- Talladega

April 24 -- Off weekend (Easter)

April 30 -- Richmond

May 7 -- Darlington

May 15 -- Dover

May 21 -- All-Star race

May 29 -- Coca-Cola 600

June 5 -- Kansas (new date for track)

June 12 -- Pocono

June 19 -- Michigan

June 26 -- Sonoma

July 2 -- Daytona

July 9 -- Kentucky (first Cup race at track. Will be a night race)

July 17 -- New Hampshire   

July 24 -- Off Weekend

July 31 -- Indianapolis

Aug. 7 -- Pocono

Aug. 14 -- Watkins Glen

Aug. 21 -- Michigan

Aug. 27 -- Bristol

Sept. 4 -- Atlanta (only Cup date for track)

Sept. 10 -- Richmond (Again the last race before the Chase)

Sept. 18 -- Chicagoland Speedway (first race in the Chase -- new Chase race)

Sept. 25 -- New Hampshire

Oct. 2 -- Dover

Oct. 9 -- Kansas

Oct. 15 -- Charlotte

Oct. 23 -- Talladega (flip-flops with Martinsville to get off Halloween weekend)

Oct. 30 -- Martinsville (moves back a week from 2010)

Nov. 6 -- Texas

Nov. 13 -- Phoenix

Nov. 20 -- Homestead

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