Tentative schedule released for 2025 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

We have our first tentative schedule of the 2025 Cup Series season with the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. It is the first time in five decades that Cup cars will race at the Madhouse.

Friday, January 31 is going to be the day that haulers enter the track and the TV broadcast gets set up. Saturday, February 1, is the day when the on-track action picks up.

On Saturday the stadium modifieds are going to practice and qualify. Later, the modifieds are taking to the track. The Madhouse Classic will be a 125-lap race featuring the top 20 cars from the 2024 modified season at Bowman Gray.

Then later in the night, we have Cup Series action. The NASCAR Clash practice and qualifying sessions will be split into three groups. Practice will start the evening festivities off on TV for fans at home.

Following practice and qualifying, 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)

NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray sold out

It was announced back in November that the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium had already sold out. This is going to be an awesome way to start the new season. No, it isn’t the allure of LA Coliseum. We won’t have 50,000 people in the stands. But it will be sold out.

Sometimes it isn’t about the size of the room, it is about the crowd you can put in it. I’ll take a sold-out Madhouse over a half-filled bowl elsewhere. While this likely won’t be a long-term destination for the Clash, it is a fun one for this upcoming year.

Between Cup, Xfinity, and the Truck Series, NASCAR is returning to some classic tracks. Bowman Gray, North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, and Lime Rock Park are all on the schedules this season.

While we wait for the NASCAR Clash, teams and drivers are preparing. Let’s not forget that the 23XI Racing lawsuit could also have an effect on the Clash and who participates. There is a lot to look forward to in 2025.