NASCAR Clash Returning to Daytona Oval for 2027 Season

NASCAR has confirmed that the pre-season Clash will return to the Daytona International Speedway oval in 2027.

The move returns the race to its traditional home after a period of experimentation with different venues and track configurations. The event was held on the Daytona oval from 1979 through 2020, establishing the venue as the primary site for the pre-season exhibition.

Venue Transitions of the NASCAR Clash

The return to the oval in 2027 follows several years of shifting locations. In 2021, the event was transitioned to the Daytona road course.

Following the road course iteration, NASCAR moved the event to a temporary short track constructed inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The 2027 decision marks a return to the high-banked oval environment that defined the race for over four decades.

The Wheatley Vodka Clash and 2027 Schedule

The race will compete under the name Wheatley Vodka Clash. This event is scheduled to precede the 69th Daytona 500, maintaining its role as the primary exhibition race before the start of the full NASCAR Cup Series season.

By returning to the oval, the race reverts to the superspeedway racing style that characterized the event from its inception in 1979 until 2020.