New lighting will be installed on the track over the coming weeks as part of ongoing improvements to the facility.Getty Images

An “improved version” of historic Bowman Gray Stadium will be ready for the NASCAR Clash in February, according to John Dell of the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL. New lighting will be installed at the track in the coming weeks as part of ongoing improvements to the facility, which is owned by the City of Winston-Salem. NASCAR announced that funding for the Musco lighting system “will come from the pandemic recovery grant that was awarded to Winston-Salem as part of the state’s Motorsports Relief Fund.” These new lights will also “bring out Bowman Gray Stadium’s weekly racing season” when the season begins in April. Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe said the Winston-Salem City Council approved a resolution last month “paving the way” for the $505,970 balance of the grant to go to Winston-Salem Speedway Inc. to help pay for new lights. The “old-fashioned red and white guardrails” disappeared last month. Cement was also added to the exterior of the asphalt “to make way for a new, SAFER barrier.” The track will also feature new retaining barriers, which “prevent debris from entering the stands” (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 11/14).

GOING THROUGH CHANGES: Kelly Crandall of RACER.com reported that lighting installation at Bowman Gray will begin in December while preparation for the SAFER barriers began to be installed last month. A “first step” consisted of removing the guardrails, the previous system in place on the circuit. Installation of the SAFER barriers and fencing “is expected to be completed the first week of January.” A non-points event, the Clash will be the first time NASCAR Cup Series races have been held at Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971 (RACER.com, 11/14).