The NASCAR season is set to begin on February 1st with the Clash at Bowman Gray. The weather has raised question marks around the clash’s status, but for now, the event is still scheduled to take place as expected.
Connor Zilisch is the biggest name in a new spot in 2026. The rookie will drive the number 88 for Trackhouse Racing, replacing Daniel Suarez. He took the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series by storm, and many have extremely high hopes for the rising star.
Suarez will remain in the NASCAR Cup Series behind the wheel of the Spire Motorsports number seven. Justin Haley had occupied that seat, but a lack of performance forced their hand to make a driver change. Suarez will look to rejuvenate his career, which has become a bit stagnant in recent years.
Corey Lajoie will be racing for the injured Brad Keselowski during the clash at Bowman Gray. This will be a one-off performance as the former champion is expected back for the Daytona 500. Lajoie will also be attempting to get into the biggest race of the season, competing in the number 99 for RFK Racing.
Bowman Gray is a quarter-mile short track that is hosting the opening clash of the NASCAR season for the second consecutive season. Last season was the first NASCAR race to be held at the historic track since 1971.
Chase Elliott took home the victory in 2025 at Bowman Gray, giving the fans something to cheer about as soon as the season began. He is a yearly lock for fan favorite driver and has taken home that award for eight consecutive seasons.
The race format is not that of a traditional Cup Series race. The weekend will start with two heat races consisting of 25 laps each, only counting green flag laps. The winners of each will start in the front row, and the top five will advance to the main feature. The 20 drivers who do not advance originally will take part in a last chance qualifier.
The main feature will have a 23-car field consisting of drivers from the heat races and the last chance qualifier. The race will be run over 200 laps, once again, only counting green flag laps.
The NASCAR season is sure to be an exciting one with the returning Chase format and increased horsepower. The Bowman Gray race will be the first time fans get to witness these new drivers and team combinations and what they have to offer. As long as the weather permits, Bowman Gray will kick off the NASCAR season on Sunday, February 1st.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
