(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
NASCAR Cup Series to Compete in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for First Time Since 1971; The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will be Broadcast Live on FOX
NASCAR Studios and FOX Sports Films Documentary, “The Madhouse: NASCAR’s Return to Bowman Gray Stadium” to Debut on FS1
Today, NASCAR announced The Clash will come to historic Bowman Gray Stadium for the first-time as the opening exhibition event for the 2025 season on Feb. 2. The announcement was made by Ben Kennedy as part of pre-race for tonight’s NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series event at the racetrack. This will mark the first NASCAR Cup Series event at the racetrack in 54 years. The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will be broadcast live on FOX.
“Bowman Gray Stadium has a storied history in motorsports, so we look forward to bringing the Cup Series back to this revered racetrack for the first time since 1971,” said Kennedy, Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer, NASCAR. “As NASCAR’s first weekly racetrack, Bowman Gray Stadium holds a special place as the original home to grassroots racing. With a history of intense competition, we are proud to host The Clash at the ‘The Madhouse.’”
To commemorate the return to Bowman Gray, NASCAR Studios and FOX Sports Films are producing a one-hour documentary entitled The Madhouse: NASCAR’s Return to Bowman Gray Stadium that will premiere on FS1. The film will explore the rich and rollicking history of the Winston-Salem venue while weaving a narrative that focuses on preparations for The Clash in 2025. It’s a story that intersects two unique worlds: the biggest motorsports series in North America, and the grassroots charm of small-town America at Bowman Gray Stadium. More details on the documentary, including when fans will be able to watch on FS1, will be released at a later date.
“The city of Winston-Salem is very excited and grateful to NASCAR for selecting Bowman Gray Stadium as the site for The Clash in 2025,” said City of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. “This further solidifies our city’s relationship with NASCAR and the many fans in the region as we welcome the NASCAR Cup Series back to Bowman Gray Stadium.”
Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile short track, holds a special place in NASCAR history as the longest-running weekly racetrack. In 1949, Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, two founding fathers of NASCAR, brought motorsports to the facility as the first weekly racetrack and first paved racetrack that NASCAR competed on. Earlier this year, NASCAR took over the long-term management of racing operations at Bowman Gray Stadium in partnership with the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The racetrack hosted 29 NASCAR Grand National, now NASCAR Cup Series, races from 1958 to 1971. Bowman Gray Stadium has hosted many NASCAR legends including Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, and others. Petty won his 100th NASCAR Grand National race in the 1969 Myers Brothers 250 at the racetrack.
More recently, Bowman Gray Stadium hosted several East Series races from 2011 to 2015. Ben Kennedy, great grandson of Bill France Sr., won an East Series race there in 2013. Other winners include two-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes and Cup Series drivers Ryan Preece and Corey LaJoie.
Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, and Bubba Wallace have all competed in their professional careers at Bowman Gray Stadium.
For more information and to get on the list to purchase tickets for The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, visit NASCARClash.com. To learn more about the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series season with weekly modified, sportsman, street stock and stadium stock competition, visit bowmangrayracing.com.
I mean, might as well. Can’t be that much dumber than the coliseum.
The only dumb one here is ASSCAR bring it back to Daytona, where it belongs
Let’s face it when it comes to modified we’re snobs. Listen to Ben Dodge calling this modified country for decades and it becomes ingrained in our DNA. Who knows what or where the epicenter of the modified universe is, it sure isn’t Connecticut. Thompson only does well when it’s one of their signature bookend events and if the Tour comes mid season anything else struggles. Since the Stafford/NASCAR divorce a Tour race there is off the table. In the mean time Stafford struggling with their own mid season generic open shows but the Sizzler and Fall Final do well. NASCAR won’t go to the Speedbowl, the MMTTS will and does well but weekly shows at Waterford nothing to brag about.
It’s not about geography so much as the show these days. What promoters are offering fans and teams. Enter Bowman Gray.
Look down on Bowman Gray if you like for being the Madhouse but that place is special, a promoters dream. They not only don’t care what we think they embrace the brass knuckle brand they created. They promote it, fans love it, teams love it, what’s not to like. An island of old time racing the way it used to be when fans went banana’s for the sport in a sea of racing mediocrity.
Bringing the Clash back east to Bowman Gray the place to bring it if the LA Coliseum days are done. Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, and others all raced there the place is loaded with tradition.
Is it a retreat of sorts for NASCAR who have invested a lot of time and money to introduce their product to a new demographic? It could go either way I’m thinking. They try things, some work, some don’t so who knows what the final verdict is on the Coliseum gambit as it falls by the wayside along with dirt racing at Bristol. The Chicago road race event you may want to put in the win column.
Good for Bowman Gray getting this big event they deserve it. It may have been a stacked deck seeing as how NASCAR manages the place now but a wins a win. It will be a full Madhouse, all good seats, a lot of banging and hopefully tempers flair. They plop a Tour date on Bowman Gray in 2025 that’s even better in my view.
You know you’re going to watch it no matter what you think of the place mainly because it’s new and exciting.
Thompson is a great venue for The Clash.
Would not surprise me at all if the tour ends up opening their season down there. one of the local news sites interviewed the NASCAR employee running the show and hinted a regional series may be involved.
as for the clash it self. fine. i liked LA better. LA was better at reaching a new fan.
Rumor is this could just be a 1 year stop gap for the clash, as they are in talks with Brazil.
Remember when The Fonz jumped the shark? This is that…
Before Thompson hosts any event with a higher profile than the NWMT, the track needs to replace its rickety grandstands.