On Monday, January 26, Track Enterprises announced the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck Series test schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday at Rockingham Speedway has been postponed. A cold front with below freezing temperatures has settled over North Carolina with a forecasted high temperature of 42 for both days.
That same reason has led to the possibility of The Clash, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium, may suffer the same fate postponement.
Rockingham Test Moved
The official release said the two-day test will now be held the following week.
“Due to the continued forecast for inclement weather across the southeast and expected winter storm, the previously scheduled Jan. 27-28 organizational test for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Rockingham Speedway has been rescheduled for Feb. 3-4.” the release from Track Enterprises stated.
Fans are invited to watch the test sessions for free from the Turn 4 Grandstands. Tickets for the races, which also includes the ARCA Menards Series, will be available at the track box office during the sessions.
Scheduled for April 3 and 4, this will be the second-consecutive year they have raced at The Rock on Easter Weekend. Last year, the NOAPS race was a sellout at the o.94-mile track. The last NASCAR Cup Series race was held there in 2004. Last month, the International Hot Rod Association purchased the facility.
Could The Clash also be Postponed?
As previously reported, the cold front and severe weather conditions will continue through weekend of January 31 and February 1. Those are the two dates currently scheduled for the NASCAR Cup Series and Whelan Modified Series at BGS, located in Winston-Salem, NC.
With temps forecast below freezing for the events, held during the day and evening, there is a possibility those events could suffer the same fate. Daytona Speedweeks opens on Wed, February 11 with NCS practice at 10 a.m., followed by Media Day at Noon and Daytona 500 qualifying slated for 8:15 p.m. at the 2.5-mile trioval.
Yes, there are 10 days between The Clash and the start of Speedweek. However, Sunday, February 8 is the Super Bowl scheduled on NBC-TV. Right now, FOX-TV is carrying The Clash’s Last Chance Qualifier and 200-lap race.
Possible Scenarios
IF a decision is made to postpone The Clash to the follow weekend, it might run the NCS heats, Modifieds and Sportsman features on Friday, February 6. That would put The Clash events to the evening of Saturday, February 7. Running them during the day prior to the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8 is not reasonable for TV viewership and fan attendance.
Also a factor is NBC-TV being a broadcast partner with NASCAR for that latter portion of the NCS season to decide a champion. Not sure how that would sit with NASCAR drawing viewers away from NBC’s pre-Super Bowl coverage.
The Clash Back at Daytona?
For years, The Clash opened Daytona Speedweeks in the usually warm state of Florida. The last time the exhibition race was run there was 2020.
Moving the race back to the World Center of Speedway this year is not an option. In addition to the investment for all the physical improvements done to Bowman Gray for by NASCAR, it would also be a logistical nightmare for all involved.
Haulers are set to leave for Daytona on Monday, February 9 to park in the DIS garage on Tuesday and unload to set up their respective stalls. The garage officially opens Wednesday at 6 a.m. for the 10 a.m. practice session and to then prepare for D500 qualifying later that night.
Despite how some longtime fans may like The Clash back where it started, it’s a big “no go” on paper and the sphere of sensibility.
Either way, Mother Nature seems to have set up residence in North Carolina for a few weeks and is wreaking havoc on racing.
Rockingham Test Sessions Postponed, Could Clash be Next