NASCAR’s Clash returns to Daytona

• Anne Proffit


• 5 Aug 2026

Five years away was enough. NASCAR’s pre-season Clash is going back to Daytona International Speedway in 2027. After three years, 2022 through 2024 racing on a purpose-built track inside historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and a pair of visits, 2025 and 2026, to another historic oval, Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this iconic event returns home.

Re-christened as the Wheatley Vodka Clash for the start of 2027 Speedweeks presented by AdventHealth, The Clash is set for Saturday, February 13. It was last run on Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course in 2021 and won by the late Kyle Busch. From 1979 through 2020, The Clash took place on Daytona’s classic 2.5-mile banked oval, with Erik Jones winning the most recent bout.

In announcing this venue return, NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway also confirmed a new, multi-year agreement with Wheatley American Vodka, making their entitlement partnership with The Clash part of their partnership.

The Clash’s return is only part of NASCAR’s schedule release for Daytona International Speedway on-track activity, with Speedweeks culminating in the 69th running the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 21. In addition to NASCAR Cup Series activity during Speedweeks, the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series open their 2027 seasons in February. Daytona International Speedway did confirm NASCAR’s Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will be competing on the track the weekend of August 27-28, capped by the Coke Xero Sugar 400. 

DAYTONA 500 race weekend (Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth):

• Saturday, Feb. 13 – Wheatley Vodka Clash
• Wednesday, Feb. 17 – NASCAR Cup Series DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light
• Thursday, Feb. 18 – NASCAR Cup Series Duel at Daytona
• Friday, Feb. 19 – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race
• Saturday, Feb. 20 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series races
• Sunday, Feb. 21 – NASCAR Cup Series DAYTONA 500

Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend:

• Friday, Aug. 27 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race
• Saturday, Aug. 28 – NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400

The nuts and bolts of this announcement are just that, but the return of The Clash to Daytona is important. It’s a tradition for many who like to stretch their winter in northern Florida and gives NASCAR fans a better idea of who’s ready for the season starter and what they’ve done since the prior season ended. It also gives teams a chance to get the rust out after not being on the road since November. While the rules of this race, or its eligibility requirements haven’t yet been revealed, this is definitely a good move on the part of NASCAR.