DAYTONA BEACH, FL :: The 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season kicks off with a Florida doubleheader and covers a combination of historic short tracks, NASCAR national series combination events and a pair of road courses.
The East portion of NASCAR’s top step on its developmental ladder will cover 16 events and culminate with the finale at the “Monster Mile” at Dover International Speedway.
New additions to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule include the season-opener at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway – followed by the return to Daytona International Speedway for the UNOH Battle At The Beach – as well as running the road course at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.
“The 2014 schedule offers fans a great opportunity to catch the sport’s rising stars at their local short track as well as a number of national series weekends,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “The calendar provides a challenging variety of tracks that will test the competitors and help prepare them to take the next step in NASCAR’s progression process.”
The 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule rundown:
New Smyrna Speedway – The season kicks off Feb. 16 as part of the half-mile track’s 48th annual World Series of Asphalt Racing. It will be the series inaugural visit to the northeast Florida track.
Daytona International Speedway – The series will return to the “World Center of Racing” on Feb. 18 for the second UNOH Battle At The Beach. The championship points event will be run on the short-course constructed on the track’s Superstretch.
Bristol Motor Speedway – The World’s Fastest Half Mile again hosts the series with the DRIVE4COPD 125 on March 15 as part of its Food City 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.
Greenville Pickens Speedway – The historic half-mile again will host two events – the first on March 22 and the return date on Sept. 6 as the penultimate race on the schedule.
Richmond International Raceway – The fast Virginia oval will bring back the East on April 25 as part of the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.
Iowa Speedway – For the eighth consecutive year, the Newton, Iowa, track will host the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West combination events. The first clash will be May 17 and the two series will again meet for bragging rights on Aug. 1. Both will be part of the NASCAR Nationwide Series weekends.
Bowman Gray Stadium – The East will make its annual visit to the “Madhouse” on May 31 to take on the tight quarter-mile track.
Five Flags Speedway – The series will return to Florida on June 13 for a mid-summer date as the Pensacola track celebrates its 60th season.
Langley Speedway – The Hampton, Va., short-track, which always provides a challenging test for drivers, will host the series on June 21.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway – The “Magic Mile” has been a long-time series staple and that will continue with a July 11 race.
Columbus Motor Speedway – The tricky half-mile brings the series back to Ohio’s capital city on July 19.
Watkins Glen International – The road course in upstate New York has featured some exciting finishes on its twists and turns and will be the first of two road courses on the schedule on Aug. 8.
Virginia International Raceway – After an inaugural NASCAR in event in 2013 left fans and competitors clamoring for more, VIR will welcome back the series on Aug. 16.
Dover International Speedway – The new NASCAR K&N East champion will be crowned at the “Monster Mile” on Sept. 26 with the Drive Sober 150 presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety as part of the track’s AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series fall weekend.
Earlier this year at Road Atlanta, Dylan Kwasniewski won his second straight NASCAR K&N Pro Series championship and first in the East. He, along with the six other NASCAR touring series champions and special award winners, will be honored at the NASCAR Night of Champions Awards on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center next to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
2014 NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST SCHEDULE
| Date | Track (Length) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sun., Feb. 16 | New Smyrna Speedway (.5-mile) | New Smyrna, Fla. |
| Tues., Feb. 18 | Daytona International Speedway (.4-mile) | Daytona Beach, Fla. |
| Sat., March 15 | Bristol Motor Speedway (.533-mile) | Bristol, Tenn. |
| Sun., March 22 | Greenville Pickens Speedway (.5-mile) | Greenville, S.C. |
| Fri., April 25 | Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile) | Richmond, Va. |
| Sat., May 17 * | Iowa Speedway (.875-mile) | Newton, Iowa |
| Sat., May 31 | Bowman Gray Stadium (.25-mile) | Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| Sat., June 13 | Five Flags Speedway (.5-mile) | Pensacola, Fla. |
| Sat., June 21 | Langley Speedway (.4-mile) | Hampton, Va. |
| Fri., July 11 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile) | Loudon, N.H. |
| Sat., July 19 | Columbus Motor Speedway (.5-mile) | Columbus, Ohio |
| Fri., Aug. 1 * | Iowa Speedway (.875-mile) | Newton, Iowa |
| Fri., Aug. 8 | Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile) | Watkins Glen, N.Y. |
| Sat., Aug. 16 | Virginia International Raceway (2.25-mile) | Alton, Va. |
| Sat., Sept. 6 | Greenville Pickens Speedway (.5-mile) | Greenville, S.C. |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | Dover International Speedway (1-mile) | Dover, Del. |
* Combination race with NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
Subject to change
