“It’s like going home,” Richard Petty said ahead of the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray. That should hint at the NASCAR Hall of Famer’s sentiments toward ‘The Madhouse’. After Cup Series drivers arrived at the 0.25-mile short track, the expectations turned into reality. Multiple on-track incidents coupled with flaring tempers ensued at the short track as the fans roared their cheers and boos from the grandstands.

This throbbing excitement enthralled most of the drivers. Ranging from race winner Chase Elliott to third-place finisher Denny Hamlin, everybody applauded NASCAR’s efforts to go back to its grassroots. For Richard Petty, it was more than just a race – it allowed him a trip down memory lane.

Richard Petty focuses on the nostalgia

The Bowman Gray Stadium track was open to the NASCAR Cup Series for only 14 years – between 1958 and 1971. In that time, however, Richard Petty accumulated a few core memories. Hailing from the Triad area of North Carolina, Petty regarded the Winston-Salem track as his home track -he made just his fourth NASCAR start there. His father Lee Petty won the race, while Richard could piece together a 20th-place finish. However, the ‘King’ came back to the Madhouse to claim four victories, including his 100th career victory in 1961.

So for Richard Petty, NASCAR’s return to Bowman Gray feels like home indeed. In a recently posted Instagram reel, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion emphasized the nostalgic features of the Madhouse. After 54 years, NASCAR revamped the track a little – installing Musco lights and SAFER barriers – but the sentiments remain. “I think the excitement of coming back to somewhere where we ran in 1949. To come back and see the improvements that they’ve done on the track. Also, just seeing the deal of how much the old fans really got excited about.”

Despite welcoming the return to Bowman Gray, Richard Petty was a little dubious about the race itself. The Clash featured several memorable aspects, like Ryan Blaney roaring from 23rd place to runner-up or Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin racing each other cleanly. Yet those were not enough to impress the ‘King’, as he claimed: “It was strictly showtime. I don’t think the race was that good.” For him, Kyle Larson charging from 10th and surviving nine cautions in the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier was more impressive. “I guess the best race was the 75-lap race,” Petty said.

According to Richard Petty, there was a reason why people kept coming back to the track. That was despite the fender-banging and the soaring emotions.

Returning for the thrill

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Although NASCAR wound up its operations in 1971, the Bowman Gray track has flourished for decades as a weekly short track. It has hosted over 1100 races in 76 total seasons, being a top attraction for North Carolina gearheads. That is because the Madhouse never disappoints – the tricky turns and narrow track length ensure that drivers are up for some new chaos every time. That is what drew Richard Petty to win at the track so many times. It is also what instilled a passion for racing in a young Richard Childress, who used to sell peanuts and popcorn at his home track. Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, and multiple others carved out a name on this track – and never got bored.

That is what Richard Petty stressed shortly before the Cook Out Clash was flagged off. “You never know what’s going to happen [at Bowman Gray] because everything’s so tight,” he said. “The racecars back then would get beat up pretty bad. You’d go to Bowman Gray and a lot of the cars would already have bent fenders.” But despite the wrecked cars, fans knew why they had to come back. “Nobody really dominated. When you went, these four or five were going to win the race, but which of them you don’t know. That’s what kept people coming back.”

Petty also added that his first time on the track was rather difficult, saying, “I had no idea what was going on or anything. I think I spent more time in the infield than I did on the racetrack.” Bowman Gray continues to enthrall the likes of Richard Petty, who went from struggling there to becoming a multiple winner at the track. Although the racing did not impress him, the ‘King’ feels good to be back home.