The cold front hovering over North Carolina since this past weekend is remaing problematic for NASCAR.
The Clash is scheduled for this Saturday (1/31) and Sunday (2/1) at Bowman Gray Stadium. However, as previously reported, below freezing temperatures that invaded the state this past weekend is forecasted to continue through the upcoming race events.
With another storm dropping a wintery mix and snow looming, NASCAR is looking at possible schedule alterations to possibly hold the 200-lap event on Sunday.
Tech is Happening
Sources say the already scheduled tech inspection for the NASCAR Cup Series cars will be held on Thursday (1/29) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Winston Salem Fairgrounds Event Center. Haulers will be staged in the morning, unloaded at 10 a.m. and enter the building at 10:45 a.m. to prepare for inspection.
Once that is completed for the exhibition race, cars will be covered up and impounded. Forecasted weather calls for 28 degrees during the unloading process with no precipitation.
The only scheduled event to take place on Friday is the Hauler Parade starting at 2:30 p.m. to arrive at BGS for parking at 3 p.m.
Ben Kennedy Gives Update
Via his X account on Wednesday, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Senior VP, Racing Development and Strategy, posted a photo of the 0.25-mile track. It showed the racing surface was cleared with snow still on the infield.
“Snow has been cleared from the track and garage areas at Bowman Gray,” Kennedy wrote. “Hoping for a warm(er) day or two in Winston-Salem to accelerate clean up. We’re continuing to monitor more weather this weekend and will communicate schedule changes, if any.”
An hour later, he updated his previous post.
“The track team has made progress on clearing the track,” he said. “We’re monitoring one more snowstorm arriving Friday evening / Saturday. Our goal is to host the Clash at Bowman Gray, but we’ll communicate schedule changes as we learn more.”
Snow way? Yes way
The snowstorm Kennedy is referring to is forecasted to start at 9 a.m. on Saturday and continue through until 5 a.m. on Sunday with 6 to 8 inches of accumulation. Also, the high temperature on Saturday shows 22 degrees and 26 degrees on Sunday.
Slated for Saturday are the four heats to determine who makes The Clash 200-lap feature and who has to race their way in via the Last Chance Qualifier on Sunday. The first on-track action for the NCS is a practice/qualifying session from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday to determine the four heat line-ups.
The first heat is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. when the temperature could be 15 degrees during a snowfall.
Heats Might be Heaved
The above conditions would leave NASCAR with no choice but to cancel the heats, plus the NASCAR Whelan Modified and Sportsman races schedule for earlier on Saturday.
If the sanctioning body would still move forward for The Clash on Sunday, word is they could set the field by the top 23 points finishers from the 2025 season. However, the forecasted temperature for race time is 18 degrees, with a feel like of six degrees, winds of 15 mph and gusts up to 22 mph.
That scenario would mean Carson Hocevar and the No. 77 Chevrolet of Spire Motorsports, who finished 23rd in points, would be the last one to make the race. In turn, Erik Jones and the No. 43 Toyota team of Legacy Motorsports would be out after finishing 24th in 2025.
The overall industry consensus is, Mother Nature needs to find a new place to hang out.
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