The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2025 for the season-opening exhibition race “Clash.”
The non-scoring event is scheduled for February 2. The Clash has been held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the past three seasons.
Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile short track, holds a special place in NASCAR history as the longest weekly race track. Earlier this year, NASCAR took over management of racing operations at the city-owned stadium, and it has hosted weekly NASCAR races since the 1949 season. The venue has earned the nickname “Madhouse,” both for its enduring “Madhouse Scramble” format and for the rowdy crowds.
“Bringing the Cup Series back there for the first time since the 1970s will be another historic event,” said Ben KennedyNASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Venue and Racing Innovation Officer. “I would say in many ways this will be an opportunity to celebrate our roots, our history and our NASCAR regional series.”
Bowman Gray Stadium hosted Cup Series points competitions from 1958 to 1971. Winners include Richard And Pauline Petty, David Pearson And Bobby AllisonNext year’s Clash will be the first NASCAR Cup Series event at the track in 54 years. More recently, Bowman Gray Stadium hosted several East Series races from 2011 to 2015.
“It’s the East Coast version of what they did in LA, so I’m all for it,” said Ryan PreeceDriver of the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. “I’m all for racing on short tracks. I think it’s about doing something different. As far as the fans surrounding the stadium, that would be cool.”
To commemorate the return to Bowman Gray, NASCAR Studios and FOX Sports Films are producing a one-hour documentary titled “The Madhouse: NASCAR’s Return to Bowman Gray Stadium,” which focuses on the preparations for “The Clash” in 2025.
“This is the next evolution of The Clash for us,” said Kennedy. “One of the areas where we feel we have the opportunity to continue to expand and reach new markets and new venues is an exhibition race like The Clash.”
The Clash was introduced in 1979 as a non-points-based invitational race at Daytona International Speedway for the previous season’s Cup Series pole winners. The event served as the unofficial kickoff to Daytona’s Speedweeks until the first event in Los Angeles in 2022.
