NASCAR moved away from hosting the Busch Light Clash at Daytona after 2021, serving as the big event for the Daytona Speedweeks. After six years, the event is rumored to make a comeback to its roots in the 2027 season.

Since 2021, the Clash has been hosted at a couple of different tracks. In 2022, the event was hosted by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and after that, it was moved to the Bowman Gray Stadium, which has since hosted all reiterations.

While discussing the event's future during a pre-race show at Watkins Glen, FOX’s Chris Meyer pointed out the possible move to Daytona for the event to be an exhibition race or a standalone one. He said (via Speedwaydigest):

"They're going to be aggressive with forward change, progressive moves without affecting the core base of the sport, and indications are still looking positive."

"It's not a done deal, but there’s a possibility that the Clash will return to Daytona and kick off the week of the Daytona 500. Maybe even a Monday night primetime event, which would come after the Super Bowl. I just think that’s a great idea if it happens." Myers added.

Last year, NASCAR announced it would push the 2027 Daytona 500 by a week to avoid clashing with the Super Bowl. This creates a week-long gap between the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500, giving the organization a perfect opportunity to position the Clash between the two events. 

If NASCAR schedules the clash right after the Super Bowl, the lead-in could draw a significant amount of viewership. However, the organization has not finalized anything yet.

Kevin Harvick backs Clash at Daytona as rumors gain momentum  

After the rumors about NASCAR’s Clash making a comeback at Daytona took off, several fans and drivers made their feelings known about the news. One of them was former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. 

While speaking about the possibility, he pointed out the historical significance of the 2.5-mile oval. "I think that when you look back at Speedweeks and everything that happens there, having the Clash there the week before or even if we move it to the week of would be great," Harvick said.

Hosting the Clash at Daytona could help teams and the organization improve superspeedway racing, and the exhibition race could serve as a great preparation ground for the Daytona 500.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yask Kotak