Bowman Gray Stadium will make a historic return to hosting a NASCAR race after more than fifty years, with an exhibition race announced for next season. The race, known as The Clash, is scheduled for Feb. 2 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, marking a significant moment as NASCAR returns to the short track for the first time since 1971.

The Clash event is relocating from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where it has been held for the past three years. This move follows a tradition that began in Florida in 1979 as the kickoff for the Daytona 500. Since March, NASCAR has taken over the management of racing operations at Bowman Gray Stadium, under a lease agreement with the city of Winston-Salem that extends until 2050.

Bowman Gray Stadium has a storied past, with NASCAR founders purchasing the venue in 1949, twelve years after its construction. The stadium hosted weekly races and Cup Series races from 1958 to 1971, establishing itself as NASCAR’s first weekly racetrack. Ben Kennedy, an executive vice president for NASCAR, highlighted the significance of bringing The Clash back to such a historic venue known as “The Madhouse.”

NASCAR introduced an innovative concept in 2022 by constructing a temporary track within the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a three-year period. Looking ahead, the Coliseum will play a prominent role in the 2028 Summer Olympics, hosting the opening ceremony and serving as the venue for track and field competitions, a role it previously held in 1932 and 1984.