Bowman Gray Stadium

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Bowman Gray Stadium
NASCAR's longest running weekly race track
Location Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Capacity 17,000
Owner City of Winston-Salem
Major Events NASCAR Grand National (1958-1971)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
1/4 mile flat oval
Surface asphalt
Circuit Length 0.25 mi (0.40 km)
Banking flat
Lap Record 55.283 mph (Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises, 1971, NASCAR Grand National)

Bowman Gray Stadium is a NASCAR sanctioned 1/4-mile asphalt flat oval short track and football stadium located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most legendary venues, and is referred to as "NASCAR's longest running weekly race track". Bowman Gray Stadium is part of the Winston-Salem Sports and Entertainment Complex and is home of the Winston-Salem State University Rams football team. It was also the home of the Wake Forest University football team until Groves Stadium opened in 1968.

The first NASCAR sanctioned event took place on May 18, 1949 and was won by Fonty Flock. The NASCAR Grand National Series (now the NEXTEL Cup) first raced at the track in 1958 and hosted a total of 29 Grand National races through 1971.

Bowman Gray’s weekly racing tradition continues to this day as part of the Whelen All-American Series. Weekly races include the Modified, Sportsman, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock divisions. Bowman Gray is also a part of the Whelen Southern Modified Tour and hosts other special events including classic modified coupes, monster trucks, demolition derbies, chain races, and mini-cup races.

Press Box Side
Press Box Side
Endzone Fieldhouse.
Endzone Fieldhouse.


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Preceded by
original Groves Stadium[1]
Home of the
Wake Forest Demon Deacons

1956 – 1965
Succeeded by
BB&T Field