“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

The team intended to run the full year, but EGR needed sponsorship to do so. The team said that it would run through last weekend’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but would need more sponsorship to continue running. Apparently, sponsorship could not be found.

The team is 37th in owner’s points, 59 out of 35th place and guaranteed starting spot.

It’s been rumored that this could lead to Martin Truex Jr leaving the team for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson finished second.

Top 5: Gordon, Johnson, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth.

Mark Martin, Juan Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, and Carl Edwards rounded out the top 10.

Notables: David Reutimann (11th), Denny Hamlin (12th), Ryan Newman (15th), Kyle Busch (18th), Kasey Kahne (19th), Dale Earnhardt Jr (20th), Clint Bowyer (22nd), Kevin Harvick (27th), and Bobby Labonte (40th).

Earnhardt Jr had an eventful day. On lap 221, Jr’s team missed a lugnut and he had to come back in. When he came back in, he missed his pit box and had to come around again. With about 40 laps to go, he was running in the top 10 when he scraped the wall and had to make a green flag pit stop. He went a lap down. He finished 20th.

Kyle Busch cut a tire after making contact with John Andretti. He also was hit with a pit road speeding violation later. He finished one lap down in 18th.

Top 5: Busch, Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski, David Ragan, and Paul Menard.

Matt Kenseth, Mike Bliss, Jeff Burton, David Reutimann, and Justin Allgaier finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Joey Logano (12th), Jason Leffler (13th), Steve Wallace (14th), Carl Edwards (18th), Michael Waltrip (19th), and Dale Earnhard Jr (20th).

Top 5 starters: Busch, Kenseth, Paul Menard, David Ragan, and Jeff Burton.

Carl Edwards, Terry Cook, Tony Stewart, and Dale Earnhardt Jr will roll off sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Joey Logano (11th), Justin Allgaier (12th), Michael Waltrip (19th), David Reutimann (20th), Dennis Setzer (22nd), Steve Wallace (30th), David Green (32nd), Kenny Wallace (38th), Brad Keselowski (42nd).

Keselowski wrecked on his warmup lap, and did not make an attempt. His starting position was determined by points.

Notables Who Did Not Qualify: Scott Wimmer, Kerry Earnhardt

Kerry is the son of the seven-time Sprint Cup champion, and half-brother of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeffrey is the grandson of Dale Sr.

RWR fields that No. 31 and No. 41 Chevys in the series. The No. 31 will be the focus of the team, with the No. 41 running on a part time basis.

Jeffrey was, and still is, a developmental driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc. DEI and RWR formed an alliance, and DEI will provide some Chevys to RWR.

Jeffrey is slated to drive  at Dover International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Michigan International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  Jeffrey may also race at Iowa Speedway and Auto Club Speedway, but those would have to be switched for other races to keep Jeffrey eligible for Rookie of the Year in 2010.

Kerry Earnhardt will run “several” races for the team, making his debut with the team at Texas Motor Speedway. He is also expected to run at Talladega Superspeedway and Atlanta.

In addition to the Earnhardts, Stanton Barrett, Derrike Cope, Travis Kittleson, Tim Brown and Tim Andrews drive for RWR.

The No. 5 Chevy will be split among team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr, all-time series wins leader Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, and Scott Wimmer.

Jr will drive at Texas Motor Speedway in April, Talladega Superspeedway in April, Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May, Daytona International Speedway in July and Atlanta Motor Speedway in Sept. in Chevys that will be sponsored by Fastenal, Godaddy.com, and Unilever.

Martin will drive the Chevy at Richmond International Raceway in May with Lipton as a sponsor. Tony Stewart will drive at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Oct. with Delphi as a sponsor. Stewart already has one victory in the series this season, winning the Camping World 300 at Daytona in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevy.

Newman will drive the No. 5 Fastenal Chevy in four races: Dover International Speedway in May, Chicagoland Speedway in July, Michigan International Speedway in Aug., and Kansas Speedway in Oct.

Wimmer will also pilot the No. 5 Fastenal Chevy for six races: Darlington Raceway in May, The Milwaukee Mile in June, O’Reilly Raceway Park in July, Iowa Speedway in Aug., Bristol Motor Speedway in Aug., and Richmond International Raceway in Sept.

Wimmer said in a JR Motorsports press release:

I am really excited to be associated with JR Motorsports and a great sponsor like Fastenal. I will be running at tracks that have been good for me in the past and look forward to my first event with JR Motorsports at Darlington in May. Hopefully, we can get the Fastenal car in the Winners Circle.

The announcement leaves two races without a named driver — the road-course events at Watkins Glen and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, both in Aug. Drivers for those races will be announced at a later date. Last season, Ron Fellows drove the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevy to victory in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, so he may be considered for that race.

Earnhardt Jr. drove at Watkins Glen last year, presumably to get more experience at road courses, so he may take one of those races.

Also, anytime you mention road courses, you have to mention Boris Said’s name. He could also be considered.

Earnhardt Jr said:

This No. 5 team carries a strong tradition and a lot of expectations, and we are fortunate to attract such quality talent to help carry on that tradition. We had a similar set-up with this team last year, and we were able to go to Victory Lane twice. Obviously with this driver line-up, there’s no reason we can’t exceed last year’s win total.

He will also start the Winn Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway in July.

The other 12 races and drivers will be decided at a later date.

Carl Edwards started the day in 16th and charged through the field, moving up to third by lap 30. On lap 57, Edwards took the lead for the first time. Edwards dominated much of the race, building huge leads multiple times during the race. On lap 264, Edwards pitted for the final time, choosing to gamble on fuel. Edwards saved fuel and ran the final 69 laps, winning the Dickies 500 from Texas Motor Speedway by over 12 seconds.

Greg Biffle started the race in 19th but he moved up to third by lap 67. He spent most of the day in the top 5, and led a couple of laps due to his pit stall location. He came home fifth.

Jeff Burton started a dismal 38th, but he moved up to 26th, by lap 25. He ran in the top 20 for most of the second half of the race. Around lap 235 he lost a lap, but got the free pass when the caution came out on lap 240 for debris on the backstretch. He finished 13th, one lap down.

Jeff Gordon start from the pole, and led the first 15 laps. By lap 87, he dropped to seventh. He ran most of the rest of the race in the top 20. Gordon decided to gamble on fuel like Edwards. It paid off, he finished second.

Clint Bowyer started third and took the lead at lap 15. He gave up the lead 33 laps later when David Reutimann passed him. He ran in the top 5 for most of the day and finished fourth.

Kevin Harvick started had a very quiet day, running in the top 15 for much of the day. He kept out of trouble and finished seventh.

Matt Kenseth had a quiet day as well, staying out of trouble and running up near the front most of the day. He finished nineth.

Tony Stewart struggled with the handle on his car. He started eighth, but by lap 143, he lost a lap to leader Edwards. By lap 257, he had lost another lap. Much like the rest of the chase, Stewart was not a factor and he finished 16th.

Kyle Busch overcame his 29th starting spot and ran up near the front all day. While he probably did not have a car capable of winning the race, he did have a top 10 car. He stayed out of trouble and finished sixth.

Dale Earnhardt Jr has a very strong car early. He charged from his fifth place starting spot and was up to second by lap 15. After the first pit stop, Earnhardt seemed to fade and settled in the top 15. He ran there and inside the top 10 for most of the day. He did lose a lap, but got it back. Much like Edwards and Gordon, Earnhardt Jr gambled on fuel. His bet, however, did not pay off. On lap 328, he ran out of fuel and had to stop. His car would not fire and he had to be pushed. He lost two laps because of this and finished 20th.

Denny Hamlin had had a very quiet day, running around the top 20. He lost a lap and never got it back. He finished 17th.

Jeff Gordon, who also gambled on fuel, finished more than eight seconds behind Edwards.

Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, and Greg Biffle rounded out the top 5.

Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, Matt Kenseth and David Reutimann finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Jeff Burton (13th), Jimmie Johnson (15th), Tony Stewart (16th), Denny Hamlin (17th), Dale Earnhardt Jr (20th).

Give a call to Juan Pablo Montoya who was running near the front all day, before an incident with David Gilliland ended his day.

Montoya said of the incident:

I was running high the lap before and he went inside of me. He ran straight to the wall and I tried to get away. He put me into the wall. So I went into [Turn 1] and I punted him just a little bit to say, ‘Hey, you’re running like 50 laps behind.’ I hit him a little bit. If I had wanted to wreck him, I would have wrecked him.

Then, Montoya got to the inside of Gilliland and passed him. As the two came off the corner, Gilliland hit Montoya hard in the rear sending him into the outside wall. Montoya suffered heavy damage. Gilliland was later parked by NASCAR.

Gilliland said:

I meant to get him loose, I didn’t mean to wreck him and ruin both of our days. It was just one of those racing deals, you know. I wanted to come down behind him and I just mis-judged and clipped him there.

Watch the video here.