“These fans know what’s happening” - William Byron makes straightforward admission about ‘intimate’ Bowman Gray setting

William Byron shared his excitement about the potential return of the Cup Series to Bowman Gray Stadium, a historic short track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Known as the "Madhouse," the venue currently hosts events like the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and modified exhibition races.

Byron expressed appreciation for the track’s legacy and claimed that the local fans 'know what's happening.'

Byron drives the #24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series. Over seven years, he has achieved 25 wins across NASCAR's divisions, including 13 in the Cup Series. A North Carolina native, Byron boasts a decorated career, with highlights including the 2017 Xfinity Series championship and the 2016 Truck Series regular-season title.

In a recent interview by Sportsnaut, renowned NASCAR journalist Matt Weaver interviewed several Cup Series drivers and asked them to share their thoughts on competing at the Short Oval. On being posed with the question, the 27-year-old HMS driver said:

“A more intimate setting, a lot of fans yelling at you. The Coliseum was great but the fans were just watching the cars and wondering what’s happening. These fans know what’s happening and will be into it.”

Byron was Hendrick Motorsports' lone representative in the 2024 Championship Race. Over 36 starts, Byron secured 21 top-ten and 13 top-five finishes, culminating in an impressive overall P3. Additionally, the #24 driver claimed three race wins, highlighting a consistent and clean campaign.

Bowman Gray Stadium last saw Cup Series action in 1971 when NASCAR Hall of Famer and former Cup Series champion Bobby Allison drove his #49 First-Gen Ford Mustang into victory lane. The Clash at the Winston-Salem facility is scheduled for Feb. 2, at 8:00 PM Easter time. Can William Byron start his 2025 campaign with a win? Catch the race on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM to find out.

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"I hope it’s like that": William Byron's HMS teammate Kyle Larson outlines his expectations from Clash at Bowman Gray

Former Cup Series champion Kyle Larson recently expressed his views on the return of the Bowman Gray Stadium in the Cup Series schedule. Despite being a pre-season race, several fans and notable athletes, including William Byron's teammate have expressed their excitement to race at the quarter-mile asphalt track.

In the aforementioned interview, Larson, who drives the #5 Chevrolet, reminisced about his visits to Bowman Gray Stadium as a fan and hoped that the upcoming event at the short track could recreate the electric atmosphere he experienced during his visits:

“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. 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.”

Moreover, a recent update suggests that the pre-race inspection for the Clash will be held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, on account of not having enough space for haulers.