Daytona to Host NASCAR’s 2027 Clash, Leaving Winston-Salem Behind
After two successful seasons at the Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR’s iconic preseason Cup Series exhibition, the Clash, is set to make its return to the Daytona International Speedway in Florida in 2027. This marks a significant shift from the historic quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem, which was initially chosen for its vibrant local audience.
Though the inaugural event in the Triad witnessed sell-out crowds, the following year’s competition faced challenges due to adverse weather, with snow and ice affecting the proceedings. According to Robert Mulhearn, Public Assembly Facilities Manager, the decision to relocate the event aligns with the original five-year contract with the city. “From the beginning, we knew it wouldn’t be the Clash all five years,” Mulhearn commented, indicating that the city was prepared for a change after a few seasons. “We didn’t know if it’d be two or three, maybe four. But I think we knew the back half of that agreement was going to be some other NASCAR race series event.”
In the upcoming years, Winston-Salem is likely to host a variety of other NASCAR events, potentially including an All-Star race or a truck series, as suggested by Mulhearn. The revenue generated by these events is earmarked for enhancing the stadium’s facilities, including the addition of a new million-dollar video board at Bowman Gray.
