Denny Hamlin: NASCAR should keep moving Clash around

Denny Hamlin had a tremendous time at Bowman Gray Stadium during the 2025 iteration of The Clash, as NASCAR brought the Cup Series to Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Still, he’s not convinced that’s where the circuit should head in 2026 for the event. During the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, the Cup Series veteran explained why he believes The Clash should continue to rotate, and bring NASCAR to areas that don’t normally experience it.

“I think you’ve probably got to keep moving it,” Hamlin said, regarding whether Winston Salem should be an option for The Clash in 2026. “You know, I think that’s what kind of — I think people tuned in to Bowman Gray because it’s a track they had not seen before. I think they tuned in to LA the first year so much because it’s a track they had not seen before. Like, how are these guys going to navigate it? How are they going to adapt to it? I think, if you go back in consecutive years, there’s a little bit of a — there’s not a wow or a shock factor.

“The racing could be better. We could end up with a great side-by-side finish. You never know, but I just think there’s — not fatigue, but there’s just, there’s a known to it, versus the unknown that you have when you go to somewhere new for the first time.”

When it comes down to it, Hamlin believes fans will tune in to the Cup Series in a new location, regardless of where it is. Whether it’s Brazil, Portland or Montreal, NASCAR will draw if they end up in a location not normally on their schedule.

“I think fans watching, it doesn’t — you can put them wherever,” Hamlin added. “You can put them in Portland, Oregon. They’re going to watch because it’s, ‘Hey, we’ve never seen the Cup cars there. Let’s see how it turns out,’ right? So, that’s my point, is that people tune in to see the unknown.

“Once they know it and see it, if you just keep fitting in more of it, eventually they’ll get tired of it. So, it’s just that. That’s the ebbs and flows of sports.”

Evidently, Hamlin thinks Bowman Gray will lose its novelty if NASCAR returns The Clash to the track in 2026. He’s not the only one with that opinion, but other drivers have pushed back on that notion, as Joey Logano actually championed the track, praising the venue and believing the Cup Series should return next season.

Time will tell what the sport’s decision-makers come up with, but Denny Hamlin is never shy to voice his thoughts on the matter. Whether it’s at Bowman Gray or not, The Clash will continue to be a must-see event in 2026 for the NASCAR Cup Series.