According to an announcement by NASCAR on Monday, tickets for the February 2 “Clash at Bowman Gray ” are now sold out. With nine weeks and three days left until the short-track season opener in Winston-Salem, North Carolina fans believed they’d have ample time to acquire tickets for the event. This is the first time a cup race will be held at the track since Bobby Allison’s controversial win on August 6, 1971. A heads-up was given in March when NASCAR officially announced it had secured a lease to Bowman Gray Stadium and would add the venue to the 2025 schedule.
The hype, coupled with BG’s rich history, was responsible for the influx and subsequent sell-out of tickets. Still, fans are encouraged to check out the exhibition race on Saturday, but limited ticket quantities are available. NASCAR is preparing to write a new chapter in history with the re-addition of the 87-year-old venue, but many fans are skeptical, leading to harsh criticism. Will this hinder the venue’s future success?
Bowman Gray Stadium Size Criticism
The rapid sale of tickets to the “Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium” capitalizes on the event’s astronomical importance. According to NASCAR’s Director of Marketing Services, Justin Swilling, it’s an honor to resurrect and spotlight the race in Winston-Salem. However, many diehard NASCAR fans criticize the size of Bowman Gray Stadium compared to previous venues in Los Angeles and Daytona. The short-track venue only has a capacity of 17,000 seats and 2000 standing spots versus Daytona’s 101,500 and Los Angeles’ 77,500.
Sarcasm ensued when famed motorsports Journalist Bob Pockrass took to X to announce tickets were sold out for the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Responses seemed to mock the announcement based on the venue’s holding capacity, saying it was a real shock that all seats for the smaller-scale venue were sold out. Other comments were critical of North Carolina’s February weather conditions. The real controversy stems from NASCAR pulling out of Daytona, or so it seems. Daytona International Speedway hosted the event from 1979 to 2021, but it was abruptly moved to the Los Angeles Coliseum in 2022.
How the Event Came To Be
The idea was to add a new brand of flair by marrying the spectacle with the Hollywood Entertainment District. However, the venue wasn’t as welcomed as NASCAR had hoped, and its extravagance angered diehard fans. From mid-race concerts to over-the-top presentations, it was a far cry from the tradition of high-speed thrills and the riveting excitement of Daytona. Attendance numbers indicated this was the first year in Los Angeles, with 50,000 fans in 2022 and an astounding 15,000 in 2024. Now that Bowman Gray Stadium has been resurrected, there’s fear that it won’t be as exciting as Daytona and meet the same fate as Los Angeles.
“The sell-out of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium speaks volumes about the monumental nature of the event at this historic venue,” said Project Lead for the NASCAR Clash. “We’re honored to bring such an incredible race weekend to Winston-Salem that will provide an opportunity to place the stars of Bowman Gray Stadium’s Modified Division in the national spotlight.”
How It Could Be Problematic For Drivers
Forget the grievances aired by fans over the Bowman Gray Stadium’s revival. There are also concerns for the drivers. Daytona International Speedway, which is 50 feet wide, allows drivers plenty of space to move freely. In contrast, BG’s quarter-mile short track is notorious for collisions due to narrow lanes and a limited infield. Veteran NASCAR Whelen driver Burt Meyers issued a stern warning about the track, capitalizing on his experience earning ten championship wins at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Myer feels there will be a lot of fatalities because Cup vehicles will not be as palpable as the watered-down modified version. Yet, that’s not the only thing that concerns drivers. Temperatures in Winston-Salem in February are expected to range between 50 to 35 degrees. The record low is expected to be 34 degrees, and Denny Hamlin wonders if the track is appropriate for the preseason. He’s also voiced concerns similar to Meyers’ because he feels the race will be more chaotic as drivers fight to keep their positions in such close quarters.
Even so, the chaos is said to take the intensity of the sport to a whole new level, which is what fans eagerly await. Newly retired driver Martin Truex Jr. feels the “Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium” will be a sensation, as will the recently sold-out Clash at the Madhouse. Both will be the perfect mixture of speed, modernism, and tradition all rolled into one. Still, some remain skeptical of NASCAR’s decision to rekindle the nostalgia of Bowman Gray Stadium. Regardless of the criticism, the event is slated to be one of the most iconic in racing history and will likely change many people’s minds.
“Obviously, my concern is more like the temperature,” “It’s going to be absolutely freezing if you have it preseason up there,” Denny Hamlin on Bowman Gray Stadium. “There’ll be more rooting and gouging, which is what people want,” said Martin Truex Jr.
Final Thoughts
Even though the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is met with a lot of optimism, it begins a new chapter for NASCAR and its drivers. The hope is to merge history with the franchise so the flame that once burned so brightly can be reignited by bringing back excitement. Keeping fans interested is half the battle with the sport. Viewership only increased by a single percent in 2024, so it seems time to take things up a notch, and we are here for it. This is precisely why Bowman Gray Stadium was factored back into NASCAR’s equation, and it’s sure to be an enchanting event.
