After a triumphant return to Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025, NASCAR fans and racers alike are eager to know if the series will return to the fan-favorite track. “I’m looking forward to hopefully coming back next year,” said Ryan Blaney, reflecting the sentiments of many after the Cook Out Clash race. The event marked NASCAR’s first return to the stadium since 1971 and was a roaring success, with a crowd of 17,000 fans on their feet for each lap of the quarter-mile track.
Chase Elliott, a seven-time Most Popular Driver, further fueled the fans’ enthusiasm by winning the exhibition race. “I hope we didn’t disappoint. It was fun for me at least. We’ll hopefully come back here one day,” he stated, expressing hope for a return to Winston-Salem.
The big question now is whether NASCAR will indeed return to this infamous track. Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer, who has a unique connection to Bowman Gray, recently gave fans a glimmer of hope. “I think walking into that place, you could just sense and feel everything that had transpired at that track before,” he said, reminiscing about his experiences racing there between 2011 and 2013.
Kennedy’s praise for the 2025 event was effusive. “We had a great event this spring, it was a fantastic event. The energy was electric there at the track. The fans turned out in droves, partners turned out in droves – FOX did a nice job in getting it put on. We’re still going through a lot of data. I think things are trending in a really good direction. I think regardless, we want to continue to celebrate weekly racing and Saturday night racing like we were going to do from April to August every year.”
His words further ignited the possibility of a return, stating, “Could there be a place for Bowman Gray in the Cup Series? I think there could be. We just want to be very thoughtful about the timing of it, make sure it keeps the same level of energy in a second year if we decide to go down that path. We’ll still keep in Bowman Gray what makes Bowman Gray special.”
Cup Series drivers, too, are eager for a return, not just for fan popularity but also for the unique racing experience that Bowman Gray offers. Unlike newly paved tracks that often face criticism for loss of grip and altered racing experiences, Bowman Gray, with its worn surface, provides a more authentic experience.
Chase Elliott expressed his admiration for the track after winning the Clash trophy. “All of those things, that combined with the track surface having some age to it, probably had a pretty large impact on the race being better and kind of putting it a little more in your hands as far as tire management and all that stuff.”
In the meantime, NASCAR is expanding its horizons internationally. After a successful Cup Series Race in Mexico, the organization is planning to move northwards to Canada. Reports suggest that NASCAR’s Xfinity Series will travel to Canada in the Summer of 2026 for a race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, known for its high-speed action. This international growth strategy, which started with Mexico, might even extend to Brazil, which is being discussed as a potential location to host the Clash in the future.
The future of NASCAR seems to be packed with anticipation and excitement. Whether it’s a return to the beloved Bowman Gray or a thrilling race in the icy north, fans and racers alike are eager to see what’s around the bend.
