NASCAR Postpones The Clash to Monday Due to Winter Storm

The annual exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina will now take place on February 2 after multiple weather delays.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 2:31pm

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NASCAR has postponed The Clash, its annual exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Monday, February 2 due to continued winter storm conditions and freezing temperatures in the area. The on-track action, including practice, qualifying, a Last Chance Qualifier race, and the main 200-lap Clash event, was originally scheduled for this past weekend but had to be pushed back multiple times due to the severe weather.

Why it matters

The Clash is an important early-season event for NASCAR, kicking off the new racing season and serving as a tune-up for the Daytona 500. Postponing the race creates logistical challenges for the teams and fans, and raises questions about whether NASCAR can successfully hold the event on Monday given the lingering winter weather conditions.

The details

The updated schedule calls for a practice and qualifying session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, followed by a 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier race at 4 p.m. and the 200-lap Clash event at 6 p.m. Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s Fahrenheit during the day, dipping back below freezing by the time the main race starts. NASCAR and local officials are working to clear the track, pit area, and surrounding roads in time for the rescheduled events.

  • The Clash was originally scheduled for this past weekend but had to be postponed due to the winter storm.
  • The updated schedule calls for practice and qualifying on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the Last Chance Qualifier at 4 p.m. and the Clash race at 6 p.m.

The players

Justin Swilling

NASCAR's senior director of marketing services and overseer of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Ben Kennedy

A NASCAR executive who showed heavy equipment already on site at Bowman Gray Stadium via social media to help clear the track and surrounding areas.

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What they’re saying

“The number one concern is always the safety of our competitors and our fans getting to and from the track. And, in consulting with the North Carolina Department of Transportation this morning and the City of Winston-Salem, we didn't feel that a Sunday schedule was best suited anymore just given what the storm had developed thus far this morning, which is the reason for our decision.”

— Justin Swilling, NASCAR's senior director of marketing services and overseer of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

“We have a tremendous amount of equipment here. We have already started to mobilize that to see how we can best clear the property as soon as the winter weather dissipates, hopefully later this afternoon or into the evening.”

— Justin Swilling, NASCAR's senior director of marketing services and overseer of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

What’s next

NASCAR and local officials will work to clear the track, pit area, and surrounding roads in time for the rescheduled events on Monday. The practice and qualifying session will air on FS2-TV, while the Last Chance Qualifier and the main Clash race will be broadcast on FOX-TV and heard on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

The takeaway

The postponement of The Clash highlights the logistical challenges NASCAR faces in holding major events during unpredictable winter weather conditions. The ability to successfully reschedule and execute the race on Monday will be a test of NASCAR's flexibility and coordination with local authorities to ensure the safety of competitors and fans.