Excruciating, that’s what the three months of the NASCAR off-season are for fans, especially after the way things ended in the 2024 title race. With just days left, the buzz for the 2025 season is even louder as the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium prepares to host the Clash. This marks NASCAR’s return to the historic short track after more than five decades. But Bowman Gray isn’t the only track making waves. Another legendary short track, with a controversial past, is stepping back into the NASCAR spotlight. The iconic Ace Speedway is set to make a comeback in the NASCAR world after a years-long legal battle.

Years after fighting the legal battle with the North Carolina Governor, Ace Speedway will return to the NASCAR fold in 2025.

Another historic comeback to NASCAR

Ace Speedway in Elon, North Carolina, is no stranger to drama. The 4/10-mile oval has seen its fair share of intense battles on the track. However, its biggest fight in recent years happened in a courtroom. Now, after years of uncertainty, the track is officially NASCAR-sanctioned again for the first time in 12 years.

In the upcoming 2025 season, Ace Speedway will be part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series. This means its drivers will compete for a national short-track championship alongside competitors from other historic venues like Bowman Gray Stadium. Ace’s general manager David Sell believes the move will bring credibility and growth to the track. “Having a NASCAR sanction brings a lot of legitimacy to what we’ve been doing. People hear NASCAR, and they know the name. Now, when they hear Ace Speedway and NASCAR-sanctioned, it brings people in,” he says in a statement.

Notably, Ace Speedway’s return to NASCAR is a major win, but the journey back has been anything but smooth. In 2020, the track made national headlines when it defied North Carolina’s COVID-19 restrictions. While other venues complied with state-mandated gathering limits, Ace Speedway opened its doors to thousands of fans. A sign at the track even labeled the packed grandstands a “peaceful protest.” In response, Governor Roy Cooper’s administration ordered Alamance County officials to shut the track down. However, the county sheriff refused to intervene, siding with the speedway. The state then took matters into its own hands, effectively closing the track until restrictions were lifted. This led to a prolonged legal fight.

Ace Speedway’s owners sued the state, claiming officials shut it down for political reasons and enforced the rules unfairly. After four years of court fights, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of the speedway. However, Ace Speedway’s history is more than the legal battles. First opened in 1956, it quickly became a hotspot for local racers. Over the years, it gained recognition as a competitive short-track proving ground, with legendary drivers like Barry Beggarly leaving their mark. The track hosted NASCAR-sanctioned events for decades before stepping away from the national spotlight. Now that NASCAR is back, the track will host four sanctioned divisions: Late Models, Limited Late Models, Modified, and Mini Stocks.

Additional divisions like Legends, Champ Karts, and Super Chargers will also take the stage throughout the 2025 season. The schedule will feature 14 weeks of racing, including the marquee 200-lap “Big Ace Race” for Late Models in November. Notably, track owners, Robert, and Jason Turner have also announced plans for facility upgrades in 2026. Speaking on their plans, General Manager David Sell explained, “With track improvements planned in 2026, we are looking to build the car count, fan count and partner count in 2025, and with NASCAR and INEX sanctioning, we feel this is the best step forward.” 

For NASCAR fans, seeing an old favorite track return to its prime is nothing short of a dream, and that’s what will happen when the Bowman Gray comes back to the Cup Series this weekend.

Trending

1

“I’d Have Smacked Him”: NASCAR Veteran Sends a Strong Message to Defend Dale Earnhardt Jr. Against Fans’ Hate

2

Roger Penske’s Final Hopes Slipping Away as NASCAR Fans Prepare for Honda

3

NASCAR Rumors: $41B Japanese Giant to Outrun Dodge to Become NASCAR’s 4th Manufacturer Days After New Reports

4

Rick Hendrick Accused of ‘Burying’ Ross Chastain’s Real Persona as Fans Insinuate Trackhouse’s Exit From Chevy

5

Pressured by Brad Keselowski, Roger Penske Spills Truth on Reviving Joey Logano’s NASCAR Career

Bowman Gray prepares to host The Clash!

While Ace Speedway’s return to NASCAR is a big deal, another short track in North Carolina is making an even bigger statement. After more than five decades, NASCAR’s top series is finally returning to Bowman Gray Stadium for the 2025 Clash exhibition race. Built in 1937, Bowman Gray is one of NASCAR’s most storied venues. The quarter-mile bullring hosted its first NASCAR race in 1949 but eventually faded from the Cup Series calendar as the sport expanded to larger venues.

However, after years of hiatus, NASCAR will host the Clash, an annual preseason exhibition race, at the legendary track. This will bring the sport’s biggest stars to the iconic track. The weekend will start with practice sessions, where drivers will set their fastest laps to determine their starting positions in heat races. Four 25-lap heats will determine the main event’s lineup, with the top five from each heat advancing.

However, a last-chance qualifier race will allow a few more drivers to secure a spot. On Sunday night, 23 drivers will take the green flag for a 200-lap battle. Only green-flag laps will count, ensuring an action-packed showdown. Fans eagerly anticipate a sellout as they gather to witness NASCAR’s return to one of its most iconic battlegrounds.