In only a few days, the 2025 NASCAR season is kicking off! And we are starting with the return of “The Madhouse” on February 2nd. This marks the first time since 1971 that Bowman Gray Stadium hosted a Cup race. However, the K&N Pro Series East (now called the ARCA Series) ran regularly from 2011 to 2015. During this time, several of our active Cup drivers were part of the races. It included some Hendrick Motorsports drivers too.

The list includes Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Daniel Suárez, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Corey LaJoie, and others. Even if we consider Byron, who ran there in 2015, finishing 15th, it was a decade ago. So, it’s unlikely that these drivers have an advantage over first-time BGS visitors. Recently, even Hendrick Motorsports drivers Elliott and Bowman spoke about this!

Hendrick Motorsports drivers open up about BGS advantage!

Chase Elliott was part of the 2012 K&N Pro Series East race (Hall of Fame 150). Kyle Larson bagged the pole and even led 35 of the 153 laps, but could not get the expected finish. He ended up in 5th. And Elliott finished behind Larson in P6. The race was dominated by Corey LaJoie, who led 118 laps and took the checkered flag. This race was the last time Elliott stepped foot on Bowman Gray.

And it was 13 years ago! So, naturally, Chase Elliott doesn’t feel he will have an advantage in the 2025 one. In an interview with Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, he said, “I don’t think so. It’s been so long since I have been there and yeah those K&N races were years ago. So I don’t really think that is going to help.” Rather, Elliott feels his experience at the Coliseum will help him more at BGS.

“Probably the last few years having been in Coliseum. I know it’s gonna be different for sure. But I do think there’ll be some similarities in just a track of that size and kind of how quickly things happen. How quickly the corners come up on you. I think just a cadence of lap having a little bit time here recently is gonna mean a little more than my race at Bowman Gray,” He added. But, other than his P11 finish in 2022, he has pretty much stayed outside the top 20 (P21 in 2023, DNF in 2024).

Also, Alex Bowman echoed Elliott’s thoughts about not having any advantage. Bowman finished 12th in the 2011 race there. So that’s even farther back than Elliott’s outing. The Hendrick Motorsport driver said in the interview, “I bumped my noggin a couple of times since then. But yeah. I think it’s been so long that it’s hard to say that will help me much. But maybe a little bit. I think it’s gonna be a great event. Really excited to see it.” And if we use Elliott’s logic here, Bowman would fare well at BGS. Since he had a P6 last year and a P4 in 2023 at the Coliseum.

But Bowman, like us, is really just craving the drama that unfolds there. “Honestly, my biggest memories from Bowman Gray are that I went to a modified race there and watched that pace car driver get flipped off. So that was pretty cool,” he added.

And speaking of cool, the BGS will probably be a special one for Trackhouse Racing.

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Trackhouse Racing drivers have special cars for BGS

Among the three drivers, Daniel Suarez has driven earlier at BGS. And not once, but thrice (22nd in 2012, 9th in 2013, 2nd in 2014) in the same K&N Pro Series East. However, even he believes, there won’t be much of an advantage. He said, “It’s been too long Bob, but who knows. Bowman Gray is a little tricky track. It’s not very different than LA. Just a little bit different when it comes to the banking of the corners. And the crow is going to be definitely different. So it’s gonna be fun.” 

Well, Suarez is piloting the same Freeway insurance car we are used to seeing him in. But Trackhouse has something special for Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, who is running his first full season in the Cup. In a recent car reveal for BGS, both the #1 and the #88 have Trackhouse branding, along with their primary sponsors. Chastain has a stunning green/black scheme, and the SVG is rocking a blue/black one. Trackhouse also did a grand reveal of these cars on X.

The caption to the post read, “Looking good, @RossChastain and @shanevg97 We’ve joined forces with our great partners at Bowman Gray to showcase our new brand identity.” Speaking of new beginnings, BGS is also the first race for Trackhouse as a 3-driver team in 2025. And the newest addition is all set for “The Clash.”

Expressing his excitement, SVG said, “I don’t know much about the track, but I’ve been watching some videos on YouTube and it looks like the racing is pretty intense – but that’s all short-track racing in this Cup car. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Bowman Gray excitement is all about and finally getting on track with my #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. It would be epic to advance to the main event with this new team, so hoping we can accomplish that.”

Who do you think is winning the BGS race? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.