The return to Bowman Gray after 54 years comes with a massive improvement in safety standards. 17,000 tickets sold for the Bowman Gray Stadium, Cookout Clash is no surprise. After all, it is the birthplace of NASCAR. However, the last NASCAR race on those tracks occurred over five decades ago, because NASCAR parted its way to tracks that are better aligned with the growing competitive landscape. But as they reunite with ‘The Madhouse’, Tyler Reddick shows concern. 

This year NASCAR is different; it’s not just about the rules and transformation, but it’s getting today’s generation drivers a taste of driving on a flat quarter-mile track. Reddick pointed out the risks of driving on the track before it was revamped in a conversation with Peter Stratta.

Tyler Reddick was scared for the fans

The way Tyler Reddick performed in the last season was phenomenal. From winning the regular season championship to taking 23XI Racing to their first Championship 4, he did it all. His experience on major NASCAR tracks, combined with Denny Hamlin’s mentorship, is extensive. Despite this, he shows concern about the NASCAR fan’s safety, if not for Bowman Gray’s safety upgrades.

“I remember going there and watching racing and thinking, holy cow, how has the car not gone through these guardrails at any point? So, yeah, we needed you know, for us to go there, it was necessary, to race at Bowman Gray… I‌ couldn’t believe no one had gone through guardrail up until this point, to be honest,” said Tyler Reddick in an interview with Peter Stratta. The guardrails were notoriously short for a long time and many current-day NASCAR drivers, such as Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Bubba Wallace, took part with those short guardrails at the Hall of Fame 15o hosted at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2012. Cars and top speeds have evolved and increased massively since then, so adding a SAFER barrier was more than necessary.

Tyler Reddick continued, “It’s not even really about the drivers. Right? It’s about fans.” He further added, “I don’t wanna go flying over guardrail, but that’s not what I was thinking about when I go there and see it. You know, I’m just thinking, man, what happens if a car goes over the guardrail and gets into the stands.” With the fans right in the thick of the action, the Bowman Gray Stadium makes for an intoxicating atmosphere. A packed house at ‘The Madhouse’ will surely send vibrations throughout North Carolina. However, Reddick is just glad that nobody’s car will be visiting the grandstands.

It is quite evident for Tyler Reddick to alert about ‘The Clash’, as his previous experience with the Busch Clash at LA Coliseum wasn’t that great. Where in the final lap, Bubba Wallace spun at the corner leading Reddick’s car to collide with Ross Chastain. However, Bowman Gray has seen its fair share of exhilarating racing.

The nickname ‘The Madhouse’ itself signifies the incidents that take place in the races. The nature of the track leads to heated moments between drivers following the close-quarters racing. It was also because of its compact space, that there are many probabilities of accidents taking place while running a next-gen car at full speed.

Last year in August, Tim Brown, a 12-time NASCAR modified championship, got involved in a bad accident. It all started when Brandon Butner’s car got immobilized on the inside of a turn, resulting in around 10 cars piling up, and the crash made Brown suffer a left hand broken scaphoid bone. And there have been many such scenes there. For instance, in the 2016 race, where John Holloman IV, No.4 car got hit by Brewer driving No. 68, because of which he lost his chance of winning. 

However, going beyond such events, the track has many good old memories of NASCAR to cherish. The 1949, first inaugural race began this legendary stock car racing series at Bowman Gray. The NASCAR King, Richard Petty, also marked his 100th victory here, in 1969. This racetrack has a special spot in the hearts of core NASCAR fans.

How is Bowman Gray Stadium preparing to host the clash?

Trending

1

Kyle Busch Handed “Final Warning” by NASCAR as Internal Friction Erupts at Chevrolet

2

Justice for NASCAR Legend as FBI Takes Down Elite Car Thieves in Shocking Undercover Operation

3

Chase Elliott Branded NASCAR’s “Last Big Hope” as ‘Loudmouth’ Denny Hamlin Earns Controversial Veteran’s Respect

4

Richard Childress & Co Blamed for Kyle Busch’s Failures as NASCAR Veteran Exposes Rowdy’s Career Blunder

5

Veteran Crew Chief Fires Shots at Kyle Busch’s Unending NASCAR Misery With 3-Word Declaration

Bowman Gray Stadium stands today after $9 million of investment to make it compatible with modern standards. Where Gray Garrison shared in an interview in 2020, “It’s a 75-year-old facility, so it needed the upgrades. Water and sewer are among the main things they’re doing, which will be a really big plus for us.” This new drainage system will help essentially in racing, after disposing of unwanted water. 

He further explained, “Bowman Gray was probably above average among weekly race tracks with what we had, but we’re taking steps now to make those amenities even nicer, like clean restrooms with more facilities and bigger serving windows in the concession stands. It’s all about making things much more fan-friendly.” Embracing modernity also comes with upgrades in standards. Bowman Gray has done just that to serve a larger population of passionate fans who want to witness their favorite drivers on the most historic track.

To enhance the drivers and fans’ experience, they have also got a Musco Lighting system that will improve the track lightning and visibility along with the installation of a SAFER barrier, with a life-saving steel and foam reduction system. There is a new catch fence as well, that is used on every NASCAR’s national series racetrack. They also advanced the track with the use of asphalt for a better surface. 

Overall, drivers might have this preseason nervousness about experiencing their very first time driving on it, but NASCAR seems ready and confident for the big event to unfold and repeat the history of 1949. How excited are you for the Cookout Clash?