The Wheatley Vodka Clash returns to Daytona International Speedway for a Saturday-night kickoff to Speedweeks.
AT A GLANCE: Saturday, February 13, 2027 • Daytona International Speedway • NASCAR Cup Series non-points exhibition • Opening event of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth
A fan-favorite NASCAR tradition is returning to the place where it all began. Daytona International Speedway has announced that the Wheatley Vodka Clash will open Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth on Saturday night, February 13, 2027, bringing NASCAR’s season-opening exhibition race back to the World Center of Racing.
The return gives race fans another exciting reason to arrive in Daytona Beach early. The Clash will launch nine days of NASCAR action leading up to the 69th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 21, 2027.
A Daytona Tradition Returns
The Clash made its Daytona debut in 1979 as a fast, 20-lap, 50-mile sprint featuring a field of just nine cars. For more than four decades, the event became a familiar and exciting opening chapter of NASCAR’s annual visit to Daytona.
Daytona’s 2.5-mile high-banked oval hosted the race from 1979 through 2020. The event remained at Daytona in 2021 but moved to the Speedway’s road-course configuration. It then traveled to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from 2022 through 2024 and to historic Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025 and 2026.
Now, for the first time since 2021, the Clash is coming back to Daytona—and it is returning under the lights on a Saturday night.
What Kind of Race Is the Clash?
Unlike the DAYTONA 500 and other regular-season NASCAR Cup Series races, the Clash is a non-points exhibition event. Drivers compete for the win and the prestige, but the results do not count toward the Cup Series championship standings.
That exhibition format has traditionally given the Clash a different personality: a select field, a shorter distance and an all-out approach that allows drivers and teams to begin the new NASCAR season with intensity. The race has changed formats and eligibility requirements several times throughout its history.
NASCAR has not yet released the official format or driver eligibility standards for the 2027 Wheatley Vodka Clash. Those details will be announced at a later date, making the return even more anticipated as fans wait to learn who will compete and how the race will be structured.
A New Name and a New NASCAR Partnership
The race returns with a new title partner as part of a multi-year agreement naming Wheatley American Vodka the Official Vodka of NASCAR. Crafted at the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, Wheatley is an American-made vodka distilled ten times and triple filtered.
The partnership will extend beyond the race name. Fans can expect year-round promotion across NASCAR platforms, a custom promotional campaign and enhanced on-site experiences at the Wheatley Vodka Clash. NASCAR and Wheatley also plan to create a program supporting service members and military veterans, with additional details to be announced.
The Start of an Unforgettable Speedweeks
The Wheatley Vodka Clash adds another marquee night to an already packed 2027 Speedweeks schedule. After the Clash, race fans can look forward to DAYTONA 500 Qualifying, the Duel at DAYTONA, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the ARCA Menards Series and, finally, the DAYTONA 500.
For longtime fans, the Clash’s return is a homecoming. For visitors experiencing Speedweeks for the first time, it is a chance to enjoy an additional night of NASCAR Cup Series action at one of the most famous tracks in motorsports.
BE THERE FOR A HISTORICAL NIGHT
Make Daytona Beach Your Home Base
Turn race weekend into a complete Daytona Beach getaway at Max Beach Resort. Our spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom residences offer room for families and friends to stay together, with full kitchens, private terraces and the comforts of home. After an exciting night at the Speedway, relax by the ocean, enjoy our resort amenities and take in the views from your Daytona Beach home base.
The green flag on Speedweeks 2027 will wave earlier than ever with the return of the Wheatley Vodka Clash. Start planning now and get ready to welcome this legendary race back home to Daytona.
