Bowman Gray Stadium Racing

Bowman Gray Stadium is a Winston-Salem institution, a football stadium with a quarter-mile asphalt racetrack wrapped around the field. On Saturday nights in the racing season, it fills with the sound of engines, the smell of rubber and a crowd that has been coming here for generations. Locals call it The Madhouse, and anyone who has watched the tight, bumper-to-bumper racing understands why. The track is short, the cars are close together, and contact is part of the show, which makes for a fast, loud, emotional spectacle that is very different from a big speedway. The stadium has a deep place in the history of stock car racing, tied to the early days of NASCAR, when the sport grew out of Southern short tracks and local rivalries. A visit is a chance to see that heritage alive rather than behind glass. The racing is local and regional, with several divisions of cars, so a night includes heats, features and a long run of action. The stands put you near the track, the atmosphere is informal, and the concession stands serve classic track food. If you are a racing fan, the stadium is a pilgrimage. If you are not, it is still one of the most distinctive evening activities in the city, and even a single night gives you a sense of the community that supports it. Check the season schedule, as racing runs in the warmer months.

Practical planning will help you enjoy the night. Racing takes place on Saturday evenings during the season, with gates opening before the first heat and the program often running late. Buy tickets through the stadium's channels, arrive early to find parking and a good seat, and expect the stands to be busy on big nights.

Wear earplugs or ear protection, because the noise is loud, and bring them for children in particular. Sunscreen, a hat and a seat cushion are useful for the early part of the evening, and a light jacket helps if the night turns cool.

The stadium is part of the Winston-Salem State University campus area and also hosts football, so the same structure that holds racing fans in summer fills with a different crowd in autumn. The mix of uses is part of its character. Photographers will enjoy the combination of floodlights, tire smoke and fast action, and fans of the sport will appreciate the chance to see drivers up close.

Fans sometimes ask whether the track has a reputation for rough racing; the answer is that contact is expected and part of the entertainment, but safety standards apply and track officials control the pace.

To build an evening around it, have an early dinner downtown or in the Arts District, drive to the stadium, and finish with a late snack. Families with older children who enjoy loud, fast action often love the experience, while very young children may find the noise overwhelming. For visitors who prefer a quieter pace, the Dash baseball games offer a gentler evening of sport.

For anyone who wants to understand the working-class roots of American motorsport, Bowman Gray Stadium is the most authentic place in the Triad to do it. Verify the current season dates and ticket details before planning, since schedules vary from year to year.