The entire NASCAR Cup Series field poses for a photo prior to practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

For the first time in over five decades, the NASCAR Cup Series will return to Bowman Gray Stadium, as the 2025 season kicks off with the Cook Out Clash on Sunday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dubbed “The Madhouse,” the historic quarter-mile track will host NASCAR’s premier series for the first time since 1971, marking a return to one of the sport’s most storied venues.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 SUNNYD Chevrolet and Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota drive during practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

After a successful three-year run at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, NASCAR has decided to bring the Clash back to its roots. Bowman Gray Stadium first hosted a Cup Series event in 1958 and was a staple on the schedule until 1971. The 2025 Clash marks the 47th running of the annual exhibition race, and just the fourth time it will be held outside of Daytona International Speedway.

The return to Bowman Gray is generating significant excitement among drivers and fans alike. Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, is among those eager to take on the tight confines of the legendary track. “I’ve been in the stands before as a fan but haven’t raced there before,” Chastain said. “It should be wild. It’s sold out, it’s a unique place, has a lot of history in this sport, and it’s cool we’re getting the opportunity to race there.”

The event’s format will test drivers’ short-track prowess, with multiple practice sessions setting the stage for four 25-lap heat races. The top five finishers from each heat will advance to the 200-lap main event, with additional spots being filled through a last-chance qualifier and one provisional entry based on 2024 Cup Series points standings. The 23-car field will then battle in a race where only green flag laps

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota Burt Myers, driver of the #50 Citrusafe Cleaners Chevrolet and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota drive during practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

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Several drivers in the field have prior experience at Bowman Gray, albeit in lower divisions. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Ryan Preece are among those who have competed at the track in K&N East or Modified competition. Preece, in particular, has an impressive history at the stadium, winning a Whelen Southern Modified race in 2013 while leading all 199 laps.

“I’m sure it’ll be tough to pass this weekend,” Larson said. “I hope we can give the fans the kind of exciting racing they’re used to seeing on a Saturday night in the summer. I’m sure the energy will be high in the stands – and be crazy on the track, too.”

Sunday’s race will also feature two drivers with deep ties to Bowman Gray’s Modified division: Tim Brown and Burt Myers. Brown, a 12-time Bowman Gray Modified champion with 101 wins, will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut. Myers, an 11-time track champion with 97 wins, has long been a fan favorite at the stadium and will look to use his home-track advantage.

A general view of cars during practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

From a historical perspective, the Clash has produced some of NASCAR’s most legendary winners. Dale Earnhardt leads all drivers with six Clash victories, while Denny Hamlin leads active drivers with four. Hamlin’s most recent victory came in 2024 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, making him a prime contender heading into Bowman Gray.

Team success has also played a significant role in Clash history. Joe Gibbs Racing leads all organizations with 12 victories, eight of which have come in the last 24 years. Chevrolet remains the most successful manufacturer in the event with 22 wins, though it has only won twice in the last 14 years.

Among the drivers to watch on Sunday, Kyle Busch stands out as a consistent performer in the Clash. He has finished on the podium in each of the last four years, including a win at the Daytona Road Course in 2021. Busch, along with Kyle Larson and William Byron, was among the few drivers to consistently perform well during the Clash’s tenure at the Coliseum.

“The track is even smaller than the Coliseum, so I’ll be interested to see if that expands at all for us, if they move some things around,” said William Byron said, driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet. “But I think that it’s just a really tight quarters race track and it’s going to create some bumping and banging naturally because that’s the only way to pass.”

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Leidos Toyota and Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Delaware Life Chevrolet. drive during practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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Sunday’s race will be the first Clash held at a track with such a storied history in grassroots racing. Bowman Gray has long been known for its intense rivalries, aggressive racing, and passionate fan base. The track has hosted more than 1,000 NASCAR-sanctioned races, and in 2024, NASCAR took over management of the facility, ensuring its place in the sport’s future.

The Clash also serves as an early indicator of performance for the upcoming Cup Series season. Over the years, several drivers have won both the Clash and the Daytona 500 in the same season, including legends like Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, and Jeff Gordon. The winner of the Clash often gains momentum heading into the official season opener at Daytona.

Broadcast coverage of the event will be led by veteran announcer Mike Joy, who celebrates his 25th season with FOX. He will be joined in the booth by Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick, while Larry McReynolds, Jamie Little, and Regan Smith provide analysis and pit road coverage.

The excitement surrounding the Clash’s return to Bowman Gray is reflected in the fan response, as the event has already sold out. The unique setting, historic significance, and competitive format are expected to create one of the most thrilling events in recent memory

As the engines fire up on Sunday night, NASCAR will officially turn back the clock to one of its most iconic venues while setting the stage for a new era of racing. The Madhouse is ready, the drivers are prepared, and the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is about to begin with a spectacle unlike any other.