WINSTON SALEM, NC — NASCAR has announced that the 2025 preseason Clash will be held at the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 2. This marks the return of the NASCAR Cup Series to the quarter-mile track for the first time since 1971.
Bowman Gray Stadium, renowned for its racing history and as the backdrop for the docuseries “Madhouse,” has been a fixture in the motorsports community. The track, which hosted NASCAR Cup events from 1958 to 1971, continues to be a venue for weekly races during the summer and various NASCAR regional and Modified events.
Owned by the city of Winston-Salem and also serving as the home field for the Winston-Salem State University football team, the stadium has remained a key fixture in regional motorsports. This year, NASCAR acquired the promotional rights to events at Bowman Gray, further strengthening its role in the stadium’s racing operations.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, expressed excitement for the event, noting the track’s rich motorsports heritage and its significance in NASCAR history. Details regarding the start time and race format are still under wraps, but the event is scheduled to air two weeks before the Daytona 500.
In conjunction with the race, a one-hour documentary will be produced celebrating the return of Cup racing to Bowman Gray Stadium, a venue that has not hosted a Cup event in more than five decades.
The announcement comes after three years of hosting The Clash at a temporary track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. While NASCAR’s full 2025 schedule has yet to be released, the choice of Bowman Gray Stadium is a nod to NASCAR’s roots and historic venues.
