“I hope it’s like that”: Hendrick Motorsports’ ace eager for a ‘crazy’ night at NASCAR’s returning venue

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson expects an exciting and nostalgia-laden race as NASCAR's top tier returns to the Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since 1971. The pre-season Busch Clash will be held on the track in February.

NASCAR will return to the Bowman Gray Stadium for the Busch Clash, which was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum between 2022 and 2024. Although not a part of the championship, this event is looked upon with much excitement by both fans and drivers. It serves as a warm-up before the competitive season begins at the Daytona International Speedway.

As the track is being used by the Cup Series for the first time since 1971, it is set to hold great historical value. Drivers shared their views ahead of the race. Kyle Larson, who has raced here previously during the K&N Pro Series, mentioned that he has witnessed live races in the arena as well, and is hoping for the atmosphere to be similar to that during the Clash.

"I don’t remember much about the race but I remember I went into the stands to watch the Modifieds afterwards and that was my first time just being a fan there and it was everything I was hoping it would be," Larson said via Sportsnaut. "I had watched the Madhouse documentary thing and the crowd was rowdy. We went back once or twice since then but the crowd was really crazy that night so I hope it’s like that."

This race will mark the sport's attempt to preserve its heritage. Located in North Carolina, the quarter-mile circuit, sometimes referred to as the "Madhouse" is known for the intense competition it provides. It is a challenge to race without any incidents on a compact track like this one. It hosted Cup Series races between 1958 and 1971.

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NASCAR's Clash at Bowman Gray is already sold out

Authorities confirmed earlier in November that the pre-season event at the Bowman Gray was sold out. This reflected the excitement among the fans ahead of the race on the historical track. Notably, the 2024 edition of the Busch Clash wasn't sold out, although there were other factors contributing to this, such as the seating size and the rescheduling.

Reacting to the tickets getting sold out, NASCAR’s Justin Swilling, Project Lead for the NASCAR Clash, expressed his positive thoughts ahead of the race.

"The sellout of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium speaks volumes about the monumental nature of the event at this historic venue," he said in a statement. "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."

The clash is scheduled for Feb. 1-2, 2025, and will be live on FOX.