2025 NASCAR Clash to Take Place at Bowman Gray Stadium

The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2025 for the season-opening Clash exhibition race.

The non-points event is scheduled for February 2. The Clash had been held the past three seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile short track, holds a special place in NASCAR history as the longest-running weekly racetrack. Earlier this year, NASCAR took over management of the municipal stadium’s racing operations. The venue has held weekly NASCAR events since the 1949 season, earning the nickname “Madhouse,” as much for its enduring “Madhouse Scramble” lineup format as the rowdy crowd.

“Bringing our Cup Series back there for the first time since the 1970s, it’s going to be another historic event,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer. “I’d say in a lot of ways, this is going to be an opportunity to celebrate our roots, our history and celebrate our NASCAR regional series.”

Bowman Gray Stadium hosted Cup Series points events from 1958–1971 and its list of winners includes Richard and Lee Petty, David Pearson and Bobby Allison. Next year’s Clash will mark the first NASCAR Cup Series event at the racetrack 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 made at LA, so I’m all for it,” said Ryan Preece, driver of Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 41 Ford. “I’m all for going to short tracks. I think it’s all about doing something different. As far as the fans being around there, all the way around the stadium, it’d 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 that will focus on preparations for The Clash in 2025.

“This is the next evolution of The Clash for us,” Kennedy said. “One of the areas where we feel like there’s an opportunity for us to continue to switch it up and go to new markets and new venues is an exhibition race like The Clash.”

The Clash was introduced in 1979 as a non-points invitational at Daytona International Speedway for the Cup Series’ pole winners from the previous season. The event served as host of the unofficial kickoff to Daytona’s Speedweeks until the first Los Angeles event in 2022.