Race Weekend Central

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart To Test Next Gen Car at Bowman Gray Stadium

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart will drive the Next Gen car in a test at Bowman Gray Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 26, NASCAR announced Monday (Oct. 25).

The test comes in an effort to prepare the car for The Clash at the Coliseum, a stadium race taking place at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6. Bowman Gray is a similar style to the track, which will aid in yielding results for comparison to the LA Coliseum.

According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Stewart will be in the car to start the day and perform the Goodyear tire test while Earnhardt Jr. and Bowyer, both of whom are now broadcasters, will drive the vehicle to learn its capabilities.

Bowman Gray Stadium is a flat, asphalt oval located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The quarter-mile track/stadium has hosted several events, including auto racing, football and horse racing and has held NASCAR-sanctioned tracks since 1949. The test on Oct. 26 will be the first time since 1971 that Cup cars have been on track.

See also
L.A. Memorial Coliseum to Host Cup Series' 2022 Clash

The Clash at the Coliseum was revealed with the 2022 Cup schedule on Sept. 15, marking the first time NASCAR will run at the venue.

NASCAR’s most recent test took place on Oct. 11-12 at the Charlotte ROVAL, hosting the largest field of cars participating in the test.

About the author

Luken Glover joined the Frontstretch team in 2020 as a contributor, furthering a love for racing that traces back to his earliest memories. Glover inherited his passion for racing from his grandfather, who used to help former NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey in his Richmond, Va. garage. A 2023 graduate from the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is the author of "The Underdog House," contributes to commentary pieces, and does occasional at-track reporting. Additionally, Glover enjoys working in ministry, coaching basketball, playing sports, and karting.

Sign up for the Frontstretch Newsletter

A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.

5 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tom B

Why not bring back Richard Petty, Cale and DW for the test?

Bill B

Exactly!!! What’s the point?

DoninAjax

It’s not like they’ll give their honest impression in an interview. I’m pretty sure their feeling would be, “Well, back to the drawing board!”

RH

I don’t understand why Stewart is driving the car. If they need a tire test surely there are drivers that need a pay check that aren’t associated with a team.

I understand why NASCAR & their networks would want Earnhardt & Bowyer to drive the car but doing it at Bowman Gray makes no sense. Have either ever driven at Bowman Gray? I know that they wouldn’t have driven a cup car there. Bowman Gray is so different from any track where they drove cup cars will they be able to understand the differences? Why not take Earnhardt & Bowyer to track where they have experience so they can better understand the differences in the car?

DoninAjax

If they are doing this to prepare the car for the opening 1/4 mile “event” next year, I can understand they do not want to give any current team an advantage.

Share via