“We believe the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule will once again provide fans with what they’ve come to expect every season – the world’s most exciting and competitive form of motorsports,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “Next year’s schedule has a few adjustments that we think will be good for the fans and good for the overall flow of the season. One thing will remain constant, however, and that’s the intense competition we see week in and week out from our drivers and race teams.”

One of those adjustments takes place during NASCAR’s playoffs – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – and could affect the strategy during the championship run. Talladega Superspeedway’s Chase event moves up two weeks to Oct. 7, becoming the fourth race in the Chase. Often labeled as the wild-card track in the Chase, Talladega’s grueling test is now staged during the first half of the Chase.

Talladega swaps its Chase date with Kansas Speedway (Oct. 21) to accommodate Kansas’ repave, scheduled for after the track’s spring event. As such, Kansas’ spring date has also been moved. Kansas now will be the eighth race of the season on April 22. Talladega’s spring event moves to May 6, and Dover International Speedway’s spring event returns to its traditional spot on June 3.

As previously announced, the season-opening Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway will start one week later with the running of the preseason “non-points” Shootout at Daytona on Feb. 18. The 54th annual Daytona 500 will run on Feb. 26.

The race dates for Phoenix International Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway have likewise been moved a week later, to March 4 and March 11, respectively.

Two other featured adjustments to the 2012 schedule:

Texas Motor Speedway’s spring date will be moved to April 14, to accommodate the traditional open week for the Easter holiday.

Daytona’s summer event and Kentucky Speedway’s race will swap weekends in 2012, as the July 4th holiday falls mid-week next year. Kentucky’s race will be June 30; Daytona will run on July 7.

As in past years, FOX will broadcast the first 13 races of next year’s schedule. TNT will follow, broadcasting the next six. ESPN/ABC will broadcast the final 17 events. Race start times will be announced at a later date.

NASCAR will also release the 2012 schedules for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at a later date.

2012 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

Originally, the team planned to debut this weekend with driver Boris Said. But, upon further thought, the team decided it would be better to debut at a track where they felt like they had a legitimate chance of winning.

The team now plans to debut at the Toyota/SaveMart 350 from Infineon Raceway in June. Said has been a NASCAR regular on road courses the past few years, and is referred to as a “road course ringer.” His familiarity with the track, no doubt, has played a part in the decision.

No word on who will sponsor the team when it debuts, but it will most likely be No Fear, which has sponsored Said in the past.

Earlier this year, Said attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the No. 08 of EM Motorsports. James Hilton was slated to attempt the Daytona 500 in NFR’s No. 60, but because he did not practice, he was not able to qualify.

Busch dominated at Infineon Raceway earlier this year, and could be equally as dominant. While Busch has only one road course victory in his career, he could return to form and pull out a victory here.

In some ways, this could be a make or break weekend for Busch as he seems to be losing momentum, while Carl Edwards seems to be hitting his stride.

Another driver looking to gain some momentum is Tony Stewart, who has six road course victories to his credit, four of which came at Watkins Glen. He’s also the defending race winner, as he won after Jeff Gordon spun in the closing laps last year.

Stewart has been inconsistent in the last four races, finishing 20th, fifth, 23rd, and second. Look for him to try to capitalize on his top 5 last week, and pull out a win.

Jeff Gordon also could earn his first victory of the season here. Gordon, also a four time winner at this track, is looking to build some momentum. I’m sure he’s not comfortable with his 166 point lead over 12th place, and would like to build on it.

Coleman has been a test driver for the team since late last year.

P.J. Jones will be in the car at this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International.

Other than a third place finish at the LENOX Industrial Tools 301, which was the result of staying out when the caution came out for rain at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Yeley has posted no finish better than 24th. He also missed the race at Infineon Raceway.

The team is currently 38th in owner’s points, 196 points behind 35th place, which means Jones and Coleman will have to qualify on time.

David Gilliland, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, and Casey Mears rounded out the top 5.

Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart finished sixth through 10th respectively.

Notables: Greg Biffle (11th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th), Jeff Burton (14th), Jimmie Johnson (15th), David Ragan (24th), Denny Hamlin (27th), Kevin Harvick (30th), Kurt Busch (32nd), and Kasey Kahne (33rd).

Road course ringers: Ron Fellows (29th), Max Papis (35th), Scott Pruett (36th), Boris Said (41st), Marcos Ambrose (42nd), Brian Simo (43rd).

In the closing laps, Harvick tried to out-brake Gilliland in one of the corners, and got into the corner a little too hot. His car snapped loose and he spun. He got into the back of McMurray, who then got into the back of Stewart, sending them spinning.

Stewart rebounded, but McMurray, who ran in the top 5 for most of the day, and Harvick never fully recovered.

After the race, Marty Snyder asked Stewart about the spin. Stewart said:

I haven’t seen it yet so it wouldn’t be fair for me to comment on it.

Snyder pressed the issue, saying that this is the second time Harvick spun him, of late.

Stewart didn’t seem pleased by this and noted, again, that he hadn’t seen it and would not comment on it.

No word on a possible replacement.

Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, and Jeff Gordon round out the top 5.

Elliott Sadler, Marcos Ambrose, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, and Greg Biffle will start sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Carl Edwards (12th), Denny Hamlin (13th), Boris Said (14th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15th), Clint Bowyer (19th), Jeff Burton (20th), Juan Montoya (21st), Ron Fellows (22nd), Scott Pruett (27th), Max Papis (28th), Kyle Busch (30th), Kevin Harvick (32nd), Matt Kenseth (33rd), and Tony Stewart (39th).

J.J. Yeley, Dario Franchitti, and Scott Riggs did not make the race.

Tim wrote:

My gripe on this one doesn’t necessarily lie so much with the addition of Pruett to the team for the road course race, but moreso with the seclusion of Sorenson. I’m a huge advocate of the theory that if you hired a guy to be your driver, then for Pete’s sake, let him drive! It may seem like an unlikely scenario at this point in Sorenson’s career, but what happens if the day comes that Sorenson is competing to make the coveted Chase field?

He goes on to point out that this is not the case this year, but it could be down the road.

But, with all due respect, I disagree. I think that Ganassi has to do everything he can to keep the No. 41 in the top 35 in owner’s points. Pruett gives him a much better shot at doing that at Infineon Raceway.

Looking at this year’s stats, I would say Sorenson is on the hot seat in that No. 41. He’s finished 31st or worse in nine of 15 races, and 20th or worse in 12 out of 15 races. Removing Sorenson this weekend might be an indication of his status in the team. He’s got to be in jeopardy of losing his seat.

In this case, I think Ganassi is right for pulling Sorenson from the seat this weekend. Especially if Sorenson is not in CGR’s long term plans.