A look at the Bowman Gray Stadium. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

NASCAR plans to run Clash at Bowman Gray, won't move race to Daytona

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 7:35 PM ET

Regardless of the winter weather that is forecasted to hit Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this weekend, NASCAR seems adamant about running the exhibition Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

On Tuesday evening, Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass reported that Cup Series teams have been told that the "plan is race Sunday and if postponed, then Monday, then Tuesday, etc. Issue will likely be more about people safely attending. NASCAR says can race in cold."

Pockrass also reported that, despite talk of NASCAR potentially moving the Clash to Daytona, NASCAR will still run the race at Bowman Gray, doing so in the middle of next week if necessary.

Running the Clash on Daytona's normal 2.5-mile layout would require teams to run a superspeedway car that they need for Daytona 500 practice, qualifying, duel races and the 500 itself, as well as the second race weekend of the season at EchoPark Speedway.

Forecast says 6-10 inches of snow possible Saturday but also somewhat uncertain. Tech will be tomorrow. Teams been told plan is race Sunday and if postponed, then Monday, then Tuesday, etc. Issue will likely be more about people safely attending. NASCAR says can race in cold. https://t.co/N6MnnAKZpU
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 28, 2026

There was some chatter in the industry to possibly run Clash at Daytona. Superspeedway cars needed though for rest of Speedweeks and Atlanta. Do it on the short track on the backstretch? ... But sounds like NASCAR will try to get it in Sun or Mon (and then if not, Tue? Wed?) https://t.co/gulHCezltu
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 28, 2026

Weather will play a factor

Pockrass also reported that while NASCAR can race in the very cold temperatures that will be present, the main safety issue will be regarding fans traveling to Bowman Gray. The weekend forecast in Winston-Salem calls for potential snow, though the mid-week forecast on Feb. 2, Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 is clear.

That could lead to a weekday race to unofficially kick off the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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