Craftsman Truck Series to make Bowman Gray Stadium debut in 2027

Here is some wild news for short-track lovers: Bowman Gray Stadium is heading back to the NASCAR national series schedule in 2027. That is right, the track famously known as "The Madhouse" is getting a Craftsman Truck Series debut.

The inaugural event at the quarter-mile oval in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is locked in for Friday, Aug. 20, 2027. This lines up perfectly with the venue's traditional finale weekend for weekly racing. The announcement dropped on a Saturday evening during the opening ceremonies for the season-ending meet at Bowman Gray, featuring driving a No. 7 Chevrolet truck right onto the track.

This will mark the first points-paying NASCAR national series race at the stadium in 56 years. Clay Campbell, president of and vice president of NASCAR Mid-Atlantic, shared his enthusiasm for the milestone. "Bringing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time is an incredibly exciting moment for this historic facility and for our fans," Campbell stated. He added, "Bowman Gray has always been about putting on unforgettable racing in front of some of the most passionate fans in the sport. We know the Trucks will put on an incredible show when they take on The Madhouse."

Stock cars are no strangers to the venue recently, having hosted the NASCAR Cup Series for its annual Clash exhibition over the last two years. That marked the premier circuit's return to the grounds for the first time since 1971. Looking ahead, the Clash will return to for a Feb. 13 date next season.

Logistical details for the 2027 Truck Series race at Bowman Gray remain under wraps, with format and procedures to be announced later. Space is an obvious talking point for the quarter-mile track, which will not be able to accommodate the maximum field of 36 trucks in the feature. By comparison, the main-event field for both recent Clash events at the stadium was 23 cars, while the largest field for the ARCA Menards Series East during its five-year run at the track from 2011-15 was 27 cars.