"The energy in that place is palatable": NASCAR EVP explains "Bowman Gray piece of the puzzle" to Kevin Harvick amid return to the Clash

Former Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick recently conversed with NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Venue and Racing Officer, Ben Kennedy. Harvick and Kennedy spoke about NASCAR's return to Bowman Gray Stadium for the 2025 pre-season Clash, replacing the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Kevin Harvick has an illustrious stock car racing career, competing in over 800 Cup Series races and earning 60 victories. The 2014 Cup Series champion also captured the regular-season championship in 2020, adding to his impressive resume. Harvick’s success also extends to the Busch Series (now Xfinity), where he won two championships, further cementing his legacy as one of NASCAR's elite drivers.

In a recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, NASCAR VP and Chief Venue and Racing Officer Ben Kennedy was asked to share his thoughts on the decision to bring Bowman Gray back to the schedule.

"Now we're going to a place that's very well-educated on the history of our sport, the things that happen. So, just explain the whole Bowman Gray 'piece of the puzzle' from all of those aspects" Kevin Harvick inquired

Ben Kennedy responded to the question, explaining the historical importance of the venue, the fans, and the ever-energetic atmosphere witnessed at the quarter-mile short oval track.

"I'm really excited about it. I was there when we announced it a couple of weeks ago and the energy in that place every Saturday night, it doesn't matter if you show up in the middle of May or the middle of August or whatever it might be, the energy in that place is palatable, its incredible. The fans bring it every single week" [00:36]

Kennedy further extended his views saying:

"People talk about what makes Bowman Gray so special, and it is on track product, it is the infrastructure, the history that you feel inside the stadium[...]It's an opportunity for us to give back to the fans, an opportunity to speak to our history and our roots, but then also an opportunity to put the spotlight on weekly short-track racing."

Another noteworthy change includes an international trip for the Cup and Xfinity Series races, as the teams would be heading to Mexico to race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Road Course on June 15, 2025, replacing the Cup race at Richmond Raceway.

Following his retirement from the sport, Kevin Harvick joined as a commentator for NASCAR on Fox and co-owns the zMAX CARS Tour regional series with NASCAR veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr.

---

Kevin Harvick backs veteran to win this year’s NASCAR Cup Series championship

As NASCAR heads into the 2024 playoffs, veteran Kevin Harvick has picked his favorite to win this year's title. The regular season ended with 14 different race winners, providing for an exciting clash in the playoffs.

Harvick thinks that JGR driver Denny Hamlin will finally clinch his first Cup Series title. In a recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick said:

“I’m sticking to my guns, Denny Hamlin. I think when Denny looks at the way that they run this year, the way that they ran at Phoenix, he’s got to know he’s running out of shots."

Hamlin, who has accumulated 54 wins in NASCAR's premier division, made history this season by securing a playoff spot for the 11th time, further solidifying his position as a championship contender.