In a significant shift for the world of stock car racing, NASCAR has announced that its annual Awards ceremony will be moving to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2024. This marks the first time the NASCAR Cup Series Awards will be hosted in the Queen City, a location deeply rooted in racing history and home to many of the sport’s drivers, race teams, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The 2024 NASCAR Awards are scheduled for Friday, November 22, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The event will honor champions from all three national series:
- NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Xfinity Series
- NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Fans can catch the celebration on Sunday, November 24, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW network.
Michelle Byron, EVP and Chief Partnership and Licensing Officer at NASCAR, expressed enthusiasm about the move: “We are pleased to announce our move to the Queen City for our postseason celebrations. Being able to trace many of our sport’s racing roots back to the North Carolina area, you can feel the energy and passion for NASCAR from the fans in Charlotte. We’re excited to officially crown our champions in the Queen City.”
The NASCAR Awards ceremony has a rich history dating back to 1981 when it was first held in New York City. Over the years, the event has found homes in various cities:
- New York City (1981-2008)
- Las Vegas (2009-2019)
- Nashville (2019-2023)
- Charlotte (starting 2024)
Last year’s ceremony in Nashville honored Ryan Blaney as the 2023 Cup Series champion, Cole Custer as the Xfinity Series champion, and Ben Rhodes as the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion.
The move to Charlotte represents a homecoming of sorts for NASCAR, bringing its year-end celebration to a city steeped in racing culture and history. As the sport continues to evolve, this change promises to add a new chapter to NASCAR’s storied tradition of honoring its champions.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
