Should NASCAR bring Clash back to Bowman Gray? Ryan Blaney and William Byron issue verdict

NASCAR Cup Series stars Ryan Blaney and William Byron have issued their verdicts on whether they would like to see the Clash return to Bowman Gray Stadium.

The traditional Cup Series exhibition race has been taking place since 1979 and, through 2021, was held at Daytona International Speedway as part of the buildup to the Daytona 500.

However, in 2022, NASCAR changed tactics, taking the Clash to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for three years before moving it to Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025.

While last year's race went down without a hitch, the same could not be said for this year's event.

Wintry weather and snow that hit North Carolina prevented the action from taking place over the weekend, and when things finally did get underway on Wednesday, drivers had to endure rain, sleet and freezing conditions.

All of the above made for a chaotic race that lasted almost two and a half hours, saw 17 cautions, multiple red flags, and an average speed of just 21.39 miles per hour.

Should NASCAR return Clash to Bowman Gray?

Even before the race, fans were already calling for NASCAR to move the Clash elsewhere or bring it back to Daytona, and those calls have only got louder after what went down.

Speaking to the media post-race, Byron and Blaney offered their thoughts after finishing second and third to Clash winner Ryan Preece.

"I mean, I don’t really have any opinion on it," Blaney said in a press conference. "Like, I think this race last year, the first half of this race, it puts on a good race. Like, you had a lot of comers and goers even in that first half.

"The weather is the weather. It is what it is. You can’t predict that stuff. I don’t think you can judge a race or a track off of that weird weather circumstance.

"I think this place, honestly, judging off the first half, put on a good show. ... Appreciate the fans sticking around all night. I bet that was brutal in those aluminum grandstands. Cold asses up there.

"I like coming here. It was just a whacky second half of the race."

Byron: Bowman Gray track races well

That sentiment was echoed by Byron, who added: "I agree. I think the track races pretty well. It’s got good character. It’s a little narrow.

"Yeah, I think it’s been really fun. L.A. was unique. It just felt like sort of hairpin corners. This just flows a lot better. It’s got good character."