NASCAR star Josh Berry reveals Clash idea to support grassroots venues

Josh Berry reveals NASCAR Clash idea to support grassroots venues

NASCAR Clash News Friday, January 30, 2026 at 1:03 PM ET •By Simmey Hannifin Donaldson

NASCAR Cup Series driver Josh Berry believes that rotating the Clash around different places could breathe life into grassroots racing venues.

The traditional Cup Series curtain raiser is set to get underway at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this weekend, marking the second time the event has been held at the venue.

The Clash was moved to Bowman Gray for the first time in 2025 having had a three-year stint at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and before that, it had traditionally been held at Daytona International Speedway.

Whilst some fans would like to see it return to Daytona, Berry has another idea.

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Josh Berry talks Clash venue rotation

The Wood Brothers Racing star sat down to address the media ahead of this weekend's return to racing, and one question put to him was on the topic of the Clash being moved in the future in order to support grassroots venues, with the likes of Hickory Motor Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway, and the Nashville Fairgrounds mentioned.

“I think they're off to a great start with the investment they made into Bowman Gray, and then SMI [Speedway Motorsports] with North Wilkesboro as well. That’s a great starting point,” Berry told Oval Insider and other media.

“I think that there's definitely room with this exhibition Clash that we go around to some different places like the ones you mentioned [Hickory, New Smyrna, the Fairgrounds] and make an investment in there and improve their facilities and bring a really big event there.

“I think that the biggest thing to continue to do is just support these tracks, and I think that it would be really cool to see this race travel to a few different short tracks every couple years.”