NASCAR announced that its signature exhibition event, The Clash, will make its long‑awaited return to Daytona International Speedway in February 2027, ending a five‑year hiatus that saw the race roam to Los Angeles and Charlotte.
The race, which will be contested on the speedway’s high‑banked oval for the first time since 2020, marks the culmination of a multi‑year partnership with Wheatley Vodka, the brand that has now been named the event’s official sponsor and renamed the competition the Wheatley Vodka Clash.
Reviving a piece of NASCAR history
First staged in 1979 as the Busch Clash, the exhibition has evolved through several guises — Bud Shootout, Budweiser Shootout, Sprint Unlimited, and most recently the Advance Auto Parts Clash — before settling on The Clash as its popular moniker. Legendary driver Buddy Baker claimed the inaugural victory, and the event has since become a beloved kickoff to the season’s Speedweeks festivities.
Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher praised the collaboration, stating that the new partnership aligns perfectly with the sport’s tradition of fan‑centric storytelling while injecting fresh energy into the early‑season calendar. “We’re thrilled to bring The Clash back to its spiritual home and to do so with a partner who shares our commitment to excitement and community,” Kelleher said.
Scheduled for February 13, 2027, the race will sit at the heart of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, offering drivers and fans alike a high‑stakes, 20‑lap dash that promises both spectacle and strategic intrigue. The event will also serve as a platform for Wheatley Vodka to engage directly with NASCAR’s growing audience through activations and fan experiences.
The return of The Clash not only restores a cherished tradition but also underscores NASCAR’s strategy of anchoring its most iconic early‑season showcase to the historic Daytona oval, a move expected to boost attendance, television ratings, and sponsor visibility across the sport’s expanding global footprint.