CONCORD, N.C. - With both tracks a miniscule quarter mile in length with little-to-zero banking in the corners, it would be easy to think that there won't be much difference between the Los Angeles Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium at least in terms of the racing.
But as crew chiefs and drivers prepare for the season-opening NASCAR Clash, set for the night of Sunday, Feb. 2, some variance is expected despite the identical length.
First, there are minor discrepancies in the shape of the tracks. The Coliseum's slightly more sweeping and open turns could produce a different style of racing than the tighter turns of Bowman Gray.
"Somebody down in the 24 room described it that the Clash in LA was built in a football stadium and this one is built around a football stadium," No. 24 crew chief Rudy Fugle pointed out. "So, in reality, they are shaped a little bit different so I'm sure it'll take some different stuff."
| Bowman Gray Stadium | Los Angeles Coliseum | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded: | 1937 | 1921 |
| First auto race: | 1939 | 1945 |
| Location: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Los Angeles, California |
| Track length: | 0.25 miles | 0.25 miles |
| Corner banking: | 0 degrees | 2.5 degrees |
| Racing surface: | Asphalt | Asphalt |
| Capacity: | 17,000 | 77,500 |
Fugle also pointed to the racing surface. While both tracks are asphalt, the surface in the Coliseum was laid down and then removed for each event while that at Bowman Gray is permanent. How that could affect grip and tire wear among other things, remains to be seen.
Both crew chiefs agree, however, that the racing should be similar but just different enough to demand tweaks in setups and adjustments.
"I think setups are going to be very similar just because we don't have any other knowledge of Bowman Gray," Gustafson said. "Obviously, it's a tight corner radius, the gear ratios, braking all stays fairly close, but I do think there's going to be some inherent differences. The surface is going to make a difference. The Coliseum was almost a little more peaked in the corners. The curbing and the paint and all of those little nuances too, but for us, we've just kind of got to go off of our experiences at similar tracks."
"The setups always evolve and end up being a little different," Fugle added. "A lot of it is probably going to have to do with the asphalt. But yeah, there's only so many things you can change for a quarter mile, flat race track. So, in reality, from some of the other places we go, it's very small differences."
While the disparities between the circuits remain minimal, the environment surrounding the event could prove to be polar opposite. As Gustafson points out, logistically speaking, staying much closer to home is certainly an advantage for nearly everyone invested financially. And while the capacity at Bowman Gray doesn't begin to touch that at the Coliseum, the fans that do show up, should quickly make their presence felt.
"I've been to a weekly show three times at Bowman Gray and every time I've gone to an event it's been an amazing show," Fugle said. "The atmosphere is more of the fun and the excitement of all the fans and just how passionate and rabid, if that's the right word, they are. The other thing I think of is whenever you hear about ratings and then you look at where the market share of those ratings are, it's Greensboro, North Carolina and Winston-Salem is part of that market, I'm pretty sure. We have a ton of race fans and it's really close to home for me. I've been able to go to Winston-Salem quite often. That's where the original sponsor of the sport was. Just a lot of history there and I'm looking forward to it."