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Fox’s Lackluster Promotion of The Clash at Bowman Gray Raises Eyebrows in NASCAR Community

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
January 30, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Fox’s Lackluster Promotion of The Clash at Bowman Gray Raises Eyebrows in NASCAR Community

Apr 20, 2024; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; During the Season Opener at Bowman Gray Stadium at Bowman Gray Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The Clash is back where it belongs. After 54 years, NASCAR’s historic Bowman Gray Stadium is set to host a major race once again, bringing the preseason exhibition event back to its grassroots origins. The Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray promises to be an electric night of racing, yet for some reason, the event has been largely ignored by the very network broadcasting it—Fox Sports.

As the race rapidly approaches, there’s a glaring lack of buzz. NASCAR’s return to one of its most iconic short tracks should have been a massive promotional event, yet the marketing efforts have been shockingly minimal. Compare that to IndyCar’s preseason hype, and the disparity is clear.

Why is Fox seemingly downplaying the return of The Clash? And is NASCAR losing the promotional battle to IndyCar in 2025?


Fox’s Promotional Silence: A Stark Contrast to Previous Years

When The Clash debuted at the L.A. Coliseum in 2022, the build-up was massive. NASCAR and Fox marketed the event as a groundbreaking spectacle, bringing stock cars to the heart of Los Angeles for a first-of-its-kind event. Even in its second year, the Coliseum Clash received plenty of TV spots and social media engagement.

This year, however? Crickets.

Fox has done little to generate excitement, a fact that hasn’t gone unnoticed by NASCAR insiders. Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, discussing the issue on ‘The Teardown’ podcast, were baffled by the lack of promotion.

“This year, it’s been very quiet… It certainly doesn’t seem like it’s getting the same promotion on TV that it did once.” – Jordan Bianchi

That’s a stark contrast to how things were just a couple of years ago. And when you compare it to Fox’s treatment of IndyCar, the issue becomes even more glaring.


IndyCar Getting the Star Treatment on Fox

Fox is all-in on IndyCar in 2025. The network recently secured the exclusive TV rights for the series, meaning all IndyCar races will air on Fox or FS1 this year. With that deal comes a significant boost in marketing.

Fox has already rolled out multiple high-production trailers featuring top IndyCar stars Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou. These videos have been all over social media and during commercial breaks.

Meanwhile, NASCAR’s Clash has barely gotten a mention.

“I’ve seen a lot of IndyCar commercials because that is Fox’s new partner, but I haven’t seen a lot of commercials for the Clash,” Bianchi noted. “Maybe it’s just me and I missed it, but it doesn’t seem like it’s the same.”

That’s a major red flag for NASCAR fans who have been accustomed to seeing their sport treated as Fox’s flagship motorsports property.


Did NASCAR’s New Media Deal Backfire?

One potential reason for this shift in focus is NASCAR’s new TV rights deal, which split coverage between Fox, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, and TNT Sports starting in 2025.

With Fox’s NASCAR coverage reduced, the network may have shifted resources toward IndyCar, where it now has exclusive, long-term control over broadcasts. Simply put, IndyCar may be a bigger priority for Fox now than NASCAR.

“The buzz and the excitement and the energy [around The Clash] is certainly trampled down.” – Jordan Bianchi

If this is the case, NASCAR may have underestimated the consequences of dividing its TV package. By giving part of its schedule to Amazon and TNT, it may have unintentionally diminished its value in Fox’s eyes, resulting in less marketing and promotion.


Why This Matters: The Clash Deserves More Hype

The return of The Clash to Bowman Gray Stadium is a huge moment for NASCAR. Known as “The Madhouse,” this quarter-mile bullring is one of the most historic venues in the sport, and NASCAR’s decision to bring the preseason race back to its roots should have been a slam dunk for fans and media alike.

Instead, it feels like an afterthought.

The Clash has always been NASCAR’s big season kickoff event, designed to generate momentum heading into the Daytona 500. But without proper promotion, the race risks losing its significance.

For Fox to downplay the first NASCAR event at Bowman Gray in over five decades while pouring resources into IndyCar’s promotional push is a telling sign of shifting priorities.


Final Thoughts: NASCAR Needs to Reclaim Its Spotlight

NASCAR cannot afford to be overshadowed by IndyCar in the U.S. motorsports market. While F1 has made inroads with younger audiences, NASCAR has historically dominated the American racing scene. If Fox is pushing IndyCar harder, NASCAR needs to step up its own promotional efforts.

The Clash at Bowman Gray should have been the talk of the motorsports world this week. Instead, it’s being drowned out by IndyCar’s preseason hype.

It’s a wake-up call for NASCAR’s marketing team: If they don’t fight for the sport’s visibility, someone else will steal the spotlight.

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