NASCAR acquired management ownership of the Bowman Gray Stadium located on South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive — but what does this exactly mean for the city going forward? Here’s what’s staying the same:
- The city of Winston-Salem still owns the racing track and will continue to operate the stadium in agreement with its two major tenants: Winston-Salem State University and NASCAR/Winston-Salem Speedway Inc.
- NASCAR will manage weekly racing series from March 1 through August 31 every year until December 2050.
- Winston-Salem State University home football games will stay at the stadium in the fall.
- NASCAR wants to maintain the uniqueness of the racing track by preserving the fan experience. This includes concession stands, ticket pricing, track racing, and entertainment off the track.
Here’s what might change:
- NASCAR senior vice president of racing development and strategy, Ben Kennedy said there’s a possibility of a national-series return to the stadium. Although these plans are not definitive, Kennedy said their goal is to preserve the future of the longest-running NASCAR-sanctioned venue.
City staff will be meeting with NASCAR officials in the coming weeks to work through the details of the transition in management of racing operations.