Cameron Bebeau

On February 2, NASCAR made its much-anticipated return, kicking off the 2025 season with the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. 
 
Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott lived up to his reputation as a fan favorite, dominating the race by leading 171 of the 200 laps and securing his first victory since early 2024. 
 
The Clash, an annual exhibition race held before the Daytona 500, allows NASCAR to test new markets that would help expand its reach. For the past three years, the event was held at the esteemed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but NASCAR opted for the equally historic Bowman Gray Stadium, located in Winston Salem, NC.  
 
This change in venue was met with joyous reactions from fans, aligning with a push to revitalize motorsports in North Carolina. In 2022, nearly $50 million in federal funds were allocated to improve 17 local racetracks, ensuring the state’s rich racing heritage remains vibrant, according to The Center Square. 
 
“The Madhouse”, as its known, is not just a racetrack – it doubles as the home field for the Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) football team. Embracing this connection, 23XI Racing hosted a watch party at WSSU’s Student Activities Center, complete with live entertainment. 
 
This event is the latest in NASCAR’s ongoing collaboration with WSSU, which remains the only HBCU in the nation to offer a Motorsports Marketing degree. The school has also worked directly with NASCAR to expand the NASCAR Campus Lab, a hands-on learning experience for students interested in motorsports. 
 
With the Daytona 500 set for February 16, sports fans are in for an action-packed month, as Super Bowl 59 takes place just a week before. 
 
For more updates, visit www.NASCAR.com.  

Photo courtesy of  Frank Albrecht on Unsplash.

Originally Published at: https://www.fsuthevoice.com/nascar-kicks-off-2025-season/