The long history with NASCAR at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC was highlighted in a big way to open the 2025 season. The “Cookout Clash” pre-season NASCAR Cup race put the top tier series on the 1/4 mile track that hasn’t run there in over 50 years. (*Racing at Bowman-Gray has been sanctioned by NASCAR all along with a broad series of modifieds, late models, sportsman and more)
Often referred to as the “Madhouse”, the stadium also tagged the Sunday Clash with the NASCAR Modified “Madhouse Classic” on Saturday. Track champions, series winners, NASCAR connected drivers and more formed a 22 car field that put the “madhouse” title front and center.
It seemed like the contacts, bumps, spins and pushes threw the caution flag more than a football gets passed when Winston-Salem State University plays on the field. Attrition narrowed the field but it was still a career marking drive as Chris Fleming drove through the full traffic after an early spin. Fleming’s son, Jordan, was close on at 2nd place but his engine lost power allowing Burt Myers to close in. Fleming managed to keep the multiple season track champion in position to cross the checkers for the win.
The top five at the line wer Chris Fleming, Burt Myers, Dan Speeney, John Holleman IV and Brandon Ward. Replay and highlights are available with FloRacing.
Saturday wasn’t over. The Clash practice sessions and qualifying heat races set a preview for the 200 lap main on Sunday. The heats put 10 / 9 cars on track and the top 5 were set for the final with lap times setting the order. The bottom half of each heat were carried over to the “last chance” heat race before the main.
The Saturday heats did show a bit of the touch and go contact of the Modified race. There was a definite effort to protect the cars but the pressure to make it in did show. All said and done, it was Chase Elliott coming through with the pole for the Clash. The tension for the last chance on Sunday was turned it up a notch or two. At the finish, from mid pack, Kyle Larson and Josh Berry drove their way in to fill in the available spots.
Bowman-Gray Stadium was filled to capacity. This was a show fans were excited to watch. The history of NASCAR Cup racing there and coming back combined with the “madhouse” style of racing that is showcased there was an irresistible double-up.
The 1/4 mile track packed the field into a constant mix like egg beaters in a bowl. Early concerns about side by side racing and passing with the larger and more powerful Cup cars in a full field had fallen away quickly. It was a test but could be done.
Elliott was still the driver to chase for most of the 200 laps. Denny Hamlin, the Clash winner last year in Los Angeles, managed to pull the lead from Elliott for a bit. Ryan Blaney came up in the hunt also. The finish, however, belonged to Elliott carrying the race for over 170 laps. Hamlin had it for a short pace in the middle and Blaney might have had it but could not catch.
The field was marked with bumps, spins and torn bumpers and fenders. For the fans it was a race that reinforced the nickname “madhouse”. This was a history marker moving forward and will be one of those “I was there when…” races.
Next up is the Daytona 500 and all that goes with it. Next up for the Clash is still in discussion.
