For Richard Childress, the Bowman Gray Stadium is where it all began. The NASCAR team owner started his journey into the world of motorsports at ‘The Madhouse’, selling peanuts at the iconic venue when he was aged nine or ten. The track brings back special memories for the 79-year-old, despite the quarter-mile asphalt flat oval being a shadow of its former shelf after undergoing renovations for the first time in over half a century.

Even though the venue is steeped in NASCAR tradition, it has never had the opportunity to host the Cook Out Clash. Until now. With the pre-season opener on the horizon, all eyes will be on Richard Childress Racing, who will hope to hit the ground running ahead of a high-stakes 2025 Cup Series campaign.

Richard Childress has his eyes on the prize

“I think the track looks outstanding”, said Richard Childress, observing Bowman Gray Stadium’s renovations in anticipation of the pre-season race. The walls, pit exit, and pit lane have been completely overhauled, and a few of many changes have been made to the venue that had remained largely the same since it was built in the late 1930s. Despite the modifications, the essence of the short track remains, carrying an old-school NASCAR vibe from an era many believe has already passed.

Sharing his thoughts ahead of the race, Richard Childress candidly said, “I think there will be some improvements but you’re still going to have that flat quarter-mile racetrack that you’re going to have to beat, bang, and push and somebody is going to leave there mad for sure. I think just going in there with a mindset that, ‘Hey! We want to bring your trophy home, back to Welcome, North Carolina.’ It’s just down the street. I think that’s the mindset we’re going in there with.”

After a particularly disappointing 2024 campaign, the team owner is eager to prove the critics wrong. Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon failed to make the playoffs last year, with ‘Rowdy’ not managing to secure a single race win for the first time in 19 seasons. Despite the many setbacks, Richard Childress is eager to put the past behind him, and what better way to do that than by securing a victory at the Bowman Gray Stadium? Expressing optimism about his team’s chances, the racer said, “We’re hoping we go over there and really run well and do good. I feel sure we will.”

His optimism is backed by results. Richard Childress Racing has won ‘The Clash’ nine times before, six of which have come from Dale Earnhardt and three by Kevin Harvick. With only 14 miles separating the Bowman Gray Stadium from the team’s headquarters, the pre-season opener is a personal affair for the 79-year-old, who will be leaving no stone unturned to make sure his teams are prepared for the race. If there is one team that desperately needs a win, it’s RCR, especially with just weeks remaining for the Cup Series opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Childress weighs in on NASCAR’s expansion plans

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It’s no secret that NASCAR is looking to expand its fanbase. While other motorsports disciplines such as Formula 1 have managed to penetrate international markets, the stock car racing series continues to be an ‘American sport’, limited to the boundaries of the continental United States. However, that will change in 2025, as a points-paying race will be held outside the country for the first time since the 1950s. The sanctioning body recognizes the need to bridge the gap between its historic roots and modern appeal and is taking the steps needed to ensure the sport remains relevant in the years to come.

Sharing his thoughts on the matter, Richard Childress said, “We’re going to Mexico this coming year, along with Bowman Gray Stadium, and coming back to North Wilkesboro. I think they’re trying to reach different audiences, but picking up, going back to the roots of Bowman Gray Stadium, so much NASCAR history there. And being able to go to North Wilkesboro, so much history there.”

It seems like NASCAR is playing a delicate balancing act. By hosting a race at the Bowman Gray Stadium, the sanctioning body is looking to appease long-term fans of the sport by returning to the roots. However, the race that will be held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track has been organized to attract newer audiences, in a bid to tap into new markets the way Formula 1 has managed to do. Ultimately, time will tell if motorsports fans from around the world will enjoy the sport the same way, but it’s a step in the right direction that was long overdue.