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

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.

Bowman Gray Stadium, the longest-running weekly track in racing history, is the site for the Cup Series’ preseason Clash on Sunday night. The legendary quarter-mile track near downtown Winston-Salem — among the smallest venues to host NASCAR races — is set for its first NASCAR race in 54 years.