NASCAR has addressed the future of the Clash exhibition race and whether it will head to international markets, saying that it will likely remain in the United States for the 2026 iteration.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer, acknowledged that an international Clash remains an option for future seasons. After all, NASCAR executives have previously spoken about potential trips to Brazil.
This international trip just won't happen yet.
"I think as far as next year goes, more than likely, it will stay domestic here in the United States," Kennedy said during a media session on Tuesday. "I wouldn't rule out international in the future, though.
"We have talked a lot about it, being prior to the season, in the offseason, an exhibition race. It's a great opportunity for us to bring NASCAR racing to other parts of the world. And I think it's going to be something that we continue to consider. But at least for now, we'll more than likely keep it domestic."
The Clash has taken place at multiple locations across the United States since 1979. Daytona International Speedway was the host site for the majority of the race's history as teams used it to prepare for the Duels and the Daytona 500.
In 2021, however, NASCAR moved the Clash to the Daytona Road Course. Teams kicked off the year with an exhibition event at a road course, and then they continued with the traditional NASCAR schedule.
The 2022 season marked a major change for the sport; NASCAR took its exhibition event to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to kick off a three-year deal. The biggest series in stock car racing competed at the historic sports venue in the heart of Los Angeles.
NASCAR departed Southern California after the 2024 season and brought the Clash to another historic stadium. This time, the series competed at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
NASCAR has already punched its ticket to one international market. The Xfinity Series will return to Mexico City this season, while the Cup Series will head there for the first time. However, the expectation is that Brazil will appear on a future schedule.
No one has the exact date just yet.
"Brazil, it's a long trip, but the positive of a place like Brazil is you've got water access and the time zone is only one hour difference than the US," Chad Seigler, vice president and chief international officer at NASCAR, told a select group of media members last July.
"So there's some positives, but I think it's more of us looking at the North America stock first before you expand somewhere."