Bowman Gray Stadium

Bowman Gray Stadium sits in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and serves as one of American motorsports' most historic venues. The facility opened in 1937-1938 as a public works project during the Great Depression. Racing fans know it as "The Madhouse" for its intense competition and frequent driver confrontations. The stadium holds the distinction of being NASCAR's longest-running weekly racetrack and was the organization's first paved racing facility.

Track Specifications and Design

The racing surface measures 0.250 miles (0.402 kilometers) and forms a paved oval that surrounds a football field. The track uses an asphalt surface and features a flat design with zero banking in the turns. This flat configuration creates challenging racing conditions and promotes close competition. The stadium structure forms a horseshoe shape, which provides spectators with excellent viewing angles from multiple positions.

Facility Capacity and Modern Updates

The stadium accommodates 17,000 seated spectators and can expand to over 20,000 with standing room areas. The close proximity of seats to the track creates an intimate viewing experience that few racing venues can match. Renovation work in the early 2020s modernized multiple facility areas, including restrooms and concession stands. In preparation for the 2025 Cook Out Clash, track operators installed a new lighting system and SAFER barriers. These additions improve both safety standards and nighttime racing visibility.

Racing Heritage and NASCAR Legacy

Racing at Bowman Gray Stadium began in 1939 with midget car events on a dirt surface. The track received its asphalt paving in 1947. NASCAR co-founders Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins brought sanctioned NASCAR events to the venue in 1949, establishing it as NASCAR's first weekly and first paved racetrack. Between 1958 and 1971, the stadium hosted 29 NASCAR Cup Series races, then called the Grand National Series. These events featured many racing legends who built their careers on this quarter-mile oval.

Notable Victories and Champions

Richard Petty achieved his 100th career victory at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1969, marking one of the track's most significant moments. Rex White earned the most Cup Series victories at the track with six wins. Other champions who claimed victories here include Junior Johnson, Lee Petty, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, and Glen Wood. The track also made history in 1952 by hosting its first women's race, called a "powderpuff" race at that time.

Current Racing Operations

Bowman Gray Stadium continues weekly racing through the NASCAR Weekly Series from May through August. The program features four divisions: Modified, Sportsman, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock. These weekly events maintain the track's reputation for exciting short-track racing. The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the stadium in 2025 for the exhibition Cook Out Clash event, bringing top-level stock car racing back after decades away.

Dual-Purpose Operations

The stadium maintains its original football function alongside racing operations. Winston-Salem State University has used the facility for its Rams football team since 1956. Wake Forest University's Demon Deacons played home games here from 1956 to 1967. The City of Winston-Salem owns the facility, while NASCAR and Winston-Salem State University jointly operate it. This combination of a football stadium and active racetrack remains rare in American sports venues. Television programs have documented the stadium's racing action, including the 2010 History Channel series "MadHouse" and the 2018 Discovery Channel series "Race Night at Bowman Gray."