The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season opener at Bowman Gray Stadium was a throwback to the roots of stock car racing—a tight bullring, a passionate crowd, and a fan-favorite taking the checkered flag.
But as soon as the checkered flag dropped, the debate began: Should NASCAR keep The Clash at Bowman Gray in 2026, or should the event move to a new venue?
Three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano has mixed feelings—acknowledging the electric atmosphere at Bowman Gray while also advocating for new venues to expand the sport’s reach.
The Case for Keeping The Clash at Bowman Gray
🏁 Short-track racing at its finest—balanced drama and competitive action
📣 A passionate, hardcore crowd that doesn’t need Cup stars to fill the stands
🎟️ Intimate venue packed to the brim, delivering an old-school NASCAR feel
For Logano, one of the biggest positives of Bowman Gray was the energy of the fans, who didn’t need big-name drivers to draw them in—they came because they love racing.
“I mean, from what I hear, they pack this place out every weekend, without the star power of Cup guys. People who come here are just race fans. Like, they just like racing. Remember, it’s not a huge stadium, right? So, you pack it out, and it looks good, and the energy is real… This is like, standing room only—it’s a special feel.”
That grassroots energy is something that can’t be faked—and it’s what made the return to Bowman Gray feel so authentic.
Why NASCAR Should Consider Moving The Clash
🔄 New tracks = new fans—expanding NASCAR’s footprint to markets that don’t usually see Cup racing
📡 Avoiding stagnation—keeping things fresh and preventing the event from feeling repetitive
🏆 Success of NASCAR’s new venues—tracks like Chicago Street Course and L.A. Coliseum have shown how racing in new locations can bring in new audiences
Logano sees the value in rotating the event to different locations, just as NASCAR has done successfully in recent years.
“I would say it’s very important for us to move things around. You know, we’ve seen the success of our sport moving to new racetracks, and I’m a big fan of going to new places and bringing the racetrack to the fans that don’t typically get to see us.”
He believes exposure in new markets is critical—because while Bowman Gray is a historic NASCAR venue, keeping The Clash in one place too long could lead to the event losing some of its luster.
“We’ve done that, right? Over the last five, six years, we’ve added new racetracks quite often. So, I think that’s successful, you know, doing the same thing, eventually gets stale. But I don’t think that’s going to happen here anytime soon.”
What Should NASCAR Do for 2026?
With the Bowman Gray return exceeding expectations, NASCAR is now faced with a tough decision—double down on its success or keep The Clash rotating to new locations.
Many fans and drivers believe NASCAR should at least race one more year at Bowman Gray before making any major changes. The 2025 event was a success, and keeping it at The Madhouse for 2026 would cement its place as a true Cup Series classic.
That being said, Logano’s argument about expansion holds weight—NASCAR’s recent push into new venues has been widely successful, and moving The Clash could help grow the sport’s audience even further.
Final Verdict: The Best of Both Worlds?
A compromise could be NASCAR’s best bet—host The Clash at Bowman Gray for at least one more season, then explore another iconic short track or a completely new concept in 2027.
This approach honors Bowman Gray’s history while still keeping the door open for future fresh, innovative locations.
So what should NASCAR do? Stick with Bowman Gray, or take The Clash to another market in 2026?
One thing’s for sure—the debate is just getting started.