NASCAR Clash inspection to take place miles from Bowman Gray Stadium

When the Cup Series goes to Bowman Gray Stadium for the NASCAR Clash, things are going to have to be done differently. Prerace inspection, for instance, Bowman Gray does not have the facilities to handle it.

So, what is NASCAR going to do before the Clash to inspect cars? Well, Cup Series teams will take their cars to Charlotte Motor Speedway, an hour away. Thursday before the Clash, those cars will be inspected in Charlotte’s facility at the track.

As Zack Albert of NASCAR.com notes, once cars are inspected at CMS, they will be locked down. Then teams will load back up and head to Winston-Salem for the Bowman Gray festivities.

Updates are ongoing at Bowman Gray Stadium. New lights, SAFER barriers, and other amenities are being added. NASCAR is going to give the old track a facelift before putting it on national TV.

Now what does this mean for postrace inspection? Well, it means that it won’t be done with the high-tech Optical Scanning Station. Instead, Sunday’s inspections will be done with scales and shock equipment, the old-school way.

To me it sounds like teams might be able to get away with a little more for the NASCAR Clash. Logistics can be difficult and you have to applaud officials for doing what they can to make sure the weekend goes by smoothly and teams are acting in good faith with their equipment.

NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray has first schedule

The first tentative schedule for the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium was released yesterday. This is a major moment for the track and for the Cup Series to return to Bowman Gray.

Following practice and qualifying on Saturday, there will be four heat races of 25 laps each. Those races will be one after another.

Saturday, February 1:
11:15 AM-12:00 PM EST: Practice (Stadium Modifieds)
12:00 PM-12:45 PM EST: Qualifying (Stadium Modifieds)
1:45 PM EST: 125 Lap Madhouse Classic (Stadium Modifieds)
3:30 PM EST: Garage opens (Cup Series)
6:10 PM-8:00 PM EST: Practice/Qualifying (Cup Series)
8:30 PM EST: Heat Races 1, 2, 3, 4 (Cup Series)

The NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray will feature a last-chance qualifier on Sunday night. That race will be 75 laps. After that, we will have the main event. A 200-lap finale in front of a sold-out crowd at the Madhouse.

Sunday, February 2:
2:00 PM EST: Garage opens (Cup Series)
6:00 PM EST: Last Chance Qualifying Race – 75 laps (Cup Series)
8:00 PM EST: NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium – 200 laps (Cup Series)