"It's like going home." For Richard Petty, NASCAR's visit to Bowman Gray wasn't just about a season opener. The post NASCAR Legend Richard ‘The King’ Petty Reminisces His Iconic 100th Victory at Bowman Gray appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Chase Elliott claimed NASCAR's first checkered flag of 2025 on Sunday night in Winston-Salem, winning the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium for his first victory in the Cup Series' preseason event.

The Clash got a jolt of energy at the North Carolina short track. Will it return in 2026, or will NASCAR look elsewhere?

By so many metrics, the NASCAR Cup Series’ season-opening event was a hit.

Formerly known as the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, this year's event moves to the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium, a track known for its tight quarters and intense short-track racing. With drivers battling for bragging rights and early-season momentum, expect plenty of action from green flag to checkered.

Ryan Blaney was a little kid the first time he raced at Bowman Gray Stadium and remembers it being the coolest thing he’d ever done in motorsports.

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro, took home the win in the first Cup event at Bowman Gray in the modern era. This marks the fourth season the Clash has been held outside Daytona International Speedway, where it was traditionally raced on the famed high banks through the 2020 season.

NASCAR viewership numbers for Bowman Gray Stadium The first race of the 2025 NASCAR season is in the books. On Sunday, Bowman Gray Stadium hosted The Clash featuring the NASCAR Cup Series. See NASCAR TV ratings below.