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Is NASCAR Ready to Take ‘The Clash’ Global? Bowman Gray Success Reignites International Expansion Talk

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 3, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Is NASCAR Ready to Take ‘The Clash’ Global? Bowman Gray Success Reignites International Expansion Talk

Feb 2, 2025; WInston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) during the Clash at Bowman Gray at Bowman Gray Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium delivered exactly what NASCAR had hoped—an electric, throwback short-track spectacle that reconnected the sport with its grassroots. But while fans soaked in the nostalgia of racing at “The Madhouse,” NASCAR’s long-term vision appears to be much bigger—potentially taking ‘The Clash’ to international destinations in the coming years.

Could the sport’s pre-season exhibition race become NASCAR’s global ambassador?

🌍 The Time is Right for International Expansion

With The Clash no longer tied to Daytona, NASCAR has used this event as a testing ground for new venues—from the Los Angeles Coliseum to Bowman Gray. Now, the sport has a golden opportunity to expand beyond North America.

🚨 According to Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern, NASCAR is seriously considering hosting The Clash internationally, with Brazil being a possible destination for 2026.

🗣 Stern’s report:
“NASCAR is using its season-opening Clash exhibition this year to go back to a classic venue that the Cup Series hasn’t run at since 1971 in Bowman Gray Stadium, but next year the event could be held overseas, possibly Brazil, as the racing property also looks to grow globally.”

Given NASCAR’s growing presence in Brazil, Mexico, and Europe, the move makes sense. The Cup Series will host its first-ever points race outside the U.S. in 2025 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, marking a major step in the sport’s global ambitions.

So why stop there?

🛞 NASCAR Has Been Here Before

NASCAR has previously experimented with international exhibition races. Between 1996 and 1998, the Cup Series ran three races in Japan at Suzuka Circuit and Twin Ring Motegi. Those events saw wins from Rusty Wallace, Mike Skinner, and a near-miss from Jeff Gordon.

But after those one-off events, NASCAR never returned to Japan or anywhere else overseas—a missed opportunity that the sport may now be eager to correct.

🌟 Why an International Clash Makes Sense

✅ Low-risk, high-reward:
As a non-points event, The Clash is the perfect race to test international venues without disrupting the championship calendar.

✅ NASCAR’s growing global audience:
The sport has expanded in popularity across Latin America and Europe, making regions like Brazil, the UK, and Australia prime candidates for an event.

✅ Motorsport’s global expansion is accelerating:

  • Formula 1 has aggressively expanded, adding U.S. races in Miami and Las Vegas while growing its international presence.
  • IndyCar has raced in Brazil, Australia, and Japan in the past.
  • Even MotoGP and World Endurance Championship (WEC) have increased their global reach in recent years.

NASCAR must keep pace with this trend or risk falling behind.

🧐 Challenges NASCAR Must Overcome

While the concept of a Clash in Brazil, Canada, or Europe is exciting, there are logistical and cultural challenges to consider:

🚛 Transport & Logistics:

  • NASCAR’s heavily modified stock cars require specific infrastructure—would foreign tracks be ready?
  • Hauling 30+ cars, equipment, and crews across the Atlantic or Pacific is a major logistical hurdle.

🇺🇸 Maintaining NASCAR’s American Identity:

  • While international expansion is great for business, some NASCAR purists believe the sport should remain rooted in the U.S..
  • Can NASCAR balance American tradition with global ambition?

🏟 Choosing the Right Venue:

  • Should NASCAR go for a road course (like Mexico City) or an oval (like the Brazilian Stock Car Series runs)?
  • Does the international market even have a true short-track equivalent to Bowman Gray?

🚦 So, What’s Next?

With Mexico City set to host its first NASCAR Cup points race, NASCAR has already taken its first major step into international expansion.

But could we see The Clash in São Paulo, London, or even Tokyo in the near future? Given the sport’s recent push into streaming (Amazon Prime Video partnership) and global branding, it’s no longer a question of if—but when.


📢 Debate: Should NASCAR push to host The Clash internationally, or should it stay in America? Where should they race next? Drop your thoughts! 👇

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