The 2012 Daytona 500 will be pushed back a week to February 26th, shortening the Sprint Cup season, NASCAR announced yesterday.

Steve O’Donnell, a senior vice president with NASCAR, said:

We have a very short offseason. This gives us a little more time shortening up the season.

O’Donnell also said that NASCAR decided to move the date in case the National Football League decides to extend its season from 16 games to 18 games, which would push the Super Bowl later in February.

And while the date of the Budweiser Shootout has not been set, there are no plans to shorten Speedweeks at this point.