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Ryan Blaney Eyes The Clash as NASCAR’s Gateway to Global Expansion

Publisher by Publisher
February 2, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Ryan Blaney Eyes The Clash as NASCAR’s Gateway to Global Expansion

Feb 1, 2025; WInston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) during practice for the Clash at Bowman Gray at Bowman Gray Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

NASCAR’s Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is making waves, not just for its return to The Madhouse after 54 years but for what it could mean for the sport’s future. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney believes this annual preseason exhibition has the perfect shot at going international, expanding NASCAR’s reach beyond the U.S. market.

Blaney’s vision? Take The Clash on a world tour.

“Yeah, I mean I said it earlier, this is the perfect race you have a chance to move it around. Go to different parts of the country, maybe even outside of the USA, to give a different part of the, an area and a fanbase something to watch. NASCAR and Cup cars in general.”

Blaney’s suggestion is bold, but it makes sense. The Clash isn’t a points-paying race, making it a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for NASCAR to explore new markets and attract fresh fans.

Could NASCAR Truly Go Global?

The No. 12 Team Penske driver isn’t alone in his thinking. His close friend and 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion echoed the sentiment, seeing The Clash as the perfect test case for an overseas event.

“I kind of like Ryan’s thought of potentially getting outside of the United States. I know we’re kind of testing the waters a little bit with the Mexico City thing this year, but I think the real test would be going overseas. And this race would be a good opportunity to do something like that that wouldn’t be, you know, committing to a points race somewhere like, a long way away.”

This year, NASCAR is already dipping its toes into international expansion with the Busch Light Mexico City Race, marking the first time the Cup Series will race south of the border since 1959. But Blaney and others are thinking even bigger—Europe, Australia, even the Middle East.

The Clash: NASCAR’s International Experiment?

If The Clash is about bringing NASCAR to the fans, why not host it somewhere completely new every year?

✅ Bowman Gray is iconic, but NASCAR has proven it’s willing to move The Clash around—Daytona, L.A. Coliseum, and now Winston-Salem.
✅ It’s an exhibition race, so there’s no championship pressure.
✅ Other motorsports do it—F1 has expanded to the U.S. successfully, and IndyCar races internationally.

The Big Question: Where Should NASCAR Go Next?

If NASCAR truly wants to go global, where should The Clash head in 2026 and beyond?

🌎 Europe? NASCAR has a dedicated fanbase in the U.K., Germany, and Spain thanks to EuroNASCAR—so could a venue like Brands Hatch or Hockenheimring be in play?
🌎 Australia? The V8 Supercars scene is massive, and a NASCAR event at Mount Panorama would be electric.
🌎 Japan? NASCAR raced at Suzuka and Motegi in the 1990s. Could a return be in the cards?
🌎 Middle East? The region has become a motorsports hotspot with F1 in Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—would NASCAR fit into that landscape?

Should NASCAR Take The Clash International or Keep It in the U.S.?

Blaney and his peers make a compelling case—The Clash is the perfect race to experiment with. It could be NASCAR’s first real international event in decades, testing new markets without committing championship points to a long-haul race.

Would you support The Clash going global, or should it stay in its American roots?

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