NASCAR insider on potential Clash track switch with Bowman Gray under Winter Storm Watch

Clash Weather News Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET •By Graham Shaw

This is not the start NASCAR wanted to its 2026 season as all roads lead to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash this weekend (Sunday, 8pm ET, FOX).

NASCAR’s big problem is those roads in Winston-Salem are freezing right now, as is the track, in the grip of an icy blast from the motorsport Gods.

All week the news out of North Carolina has been very grim from a weather perspective - unless you are a youngster looking to get a sled out or throw snowballs.

FOX insider Bob Pockrass took to social media late on Wednesday to provide an update on what the brass in Charlotte might be thinking right now. He discussed the talk of moving the venue for the Clash, and more likely a date change for the first race of the 2026 season.

Bob Pockrass on NASCAR clash plans

Pockrass says there has been ‘chatter’ about a potential move to Daytona, but it sounds way more likely that NASCAR will move heaven and earth to get the race on at Bowman Gray. That may involve moving it one, two or maybe even three days in the hope of better weather.

He wrote: “There was some chatter in the industry to possibly run Clash at Daytona. Superspeedway cars needed though for rest of Speedweeks and Atlanta. Do it on the short track on the backstretch? ... But sounds like NASCAR will try to get it in Sun or Mon (and then if not, Tue? Wed?)”

Right now the weather forecast for Bowman Gray looks bleak in terms of being able to stage the race on its planned Sunday evening date (. Sources say NASCAR can race in the cold, but in snow and ice?

This will likely be a decision just as much with spectators in mind - if they cannot travel safely to the track and attend safely, then we are likely to get ourselves a postponement.

Winter Storm Watch incoming

Right now the track has been given a Winter Storm Watch weather warning, beginning Friday January 30 and running through 1pm local time on Sunday. Temperatures on race day are forecast to be a high of -2 with a low of -11. Never above freezing.

Before that, on Friday and Saturday, we are forecast snow on both days (possibly 6-10 inches on Saturday alone) as North Carolina shivers thanks to an unusually cold start to the year.