The scene is set from one of the largest showcase race venues to one of the smallest. The ROLEX 24 just ran with a full, around the clock, visual spectacle of sports car technology on the edge of invention. The Daytona Intentional Speedway is known the world over and the badges that just raced there are a testament to the speed and notoriety of that track.
One week later, we look at a much different stage. From Daytona, we move a few states north to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and an odd little nook of racing history. Bowman-Gray Stadium, realistically a football venue for Winston-Salem State University, is also one of the longest running race tracks in the country. Midget racing was first on track, then early stock car racing which, over the years, turned to late models and into a staple of modified series racing. Now, NASCAR has expanded the endorsement there and has taken management control of the racing at Bowman-Gray. With that, they are putting the invitational, pre-season “CLASH” on the track as a showcase of 2025 Cup racing.
It wasn’t too long ago that the setting was the same for IMSA and NASCAR and it was the cars and the series that flipped. The reality or the dream of changing things up from a constant string of “speed weeks” from Daytona is currently a non-issue as it has changed. The CLASH moved from Daytona to Los Angeles and the staged and tight racing oval “built” inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The race was there for 3 seasons before the move to Bowman-Gray.
Now, it’s on. There have been safety upgrades added with fencing, “safer” barriers and surface enhancements as needed for the heavier and more powerful NASCAR Cup cars. The racing surface is essentially the same, quarter mile size as what was set in Los Angelas. There is no doubt that having the race back in “NASCAR” home territory and at a venue with the established racing roots is going to be a show to see.
However, tickets are the definition of premium as the show is just days away. February weather is hit or miss in North Carolina but it is shaping up temperatures in the tolerable range (with a jacket or two…). Fortunately, the show is on the box in your living room. The main show, the NASCAR Cup Cookout Clash, is on FOX TV on Sunday, February 2 at 8PM. MRN and SiriusXM have audio broadcasts available. FS1 has qualifying and heat races on Saturday, February 1, starting at 6:10pm.
The NASCAR Modifieds are on tap with the Madhouse Classic as a 150 lap feature Saturday afternoon. FloRacing has the show available for streaming with their full coverage online platform. There are also viewing options through the streaming TUBI service and a NASCAR channel.
The Daytona 500 is close enough. For the new season, the Clash gets us started.