The Myers legacy is closely intertwined with the Bowman Gray Stadium. The quarter-mile asphalt oval is where the family has spent a big chunk of their lives, amassing 232 victories since 1950. To say that their name is synonymous with the stadium itself won’t be an understatement, given all that they have achieved at ‘The Madhouse’ over the years. Burt Myers is all set to make his Cup Series debut at the venue, which would be NASCAR’s first visit to the iconic track in over half a century.
The sanctioning body has made some modifications to the Bowman Gray Stadium in anticipation of the high-profile event. Some of the changes that have been made have left Myers emotional, because of his attachment to the short track that he grew up on. Burt Myers is an eleven-time Bowman Gray Stadium Modified Champion, with his first win coming in 1999, at just 23 years old. He is the youngest track champion in the history of the stadium, so what does he think about all the changes that have been made for his Cup Series debut?
The iconic guardrails go back generations in the Myers household
If there’s one place that gives old-school stock car racing vibes, it’s the Bowman Gray Stadium. The short track has been hosting NASCAR races since 1949 and is widely considered to be the foundation that the racing series built on to become the sport we know and love today. The quarter-mile oval has not hosted a Cup Series event since 1971, and modifications were needed to bring it up to the standards required to host the pre-season opener.
Apart from lights, the existing guardrails were removed to install SAFER barriers, a necessary change to maintain the safety standards. However, the modification left Burt Myers emotional, and he went on to say, “When they pulled the guardrails out, I was a little bit heartbroken just because anybody whose anybody in NASCAR racing has bounced off that guardrail at some time or another. At least four generations of Myers family has bounced off of that guardrail so to see them pull that guardrail up, I was a little bit heartbroken.” Since the 1950s, his family has been racing at Bowman Gray Stadium. Between 1951 and 1955, his grandfather Billy Myers, also known as “Mr. Bowman Gray,” and his brother Bobby won four track titles in five seasons. The tradition was carried on by Billy’s son Gary and later passed on to Burt and his brother Jason Myers.
Myers is not alone in feeling sentimental about the guardrails being removed. Knowing how special the Bowman Gray Stadium is to the fans, NASCAR is selling the old guardrails as memorabilia for prices ranging from $60-$200. The short track is one of the most iconic venues in the NASCAR world, and to get the opportunity to buy a piece of the track, where legends such as Richard Petty, Rex White, David Pearson, and Junior Johnson have competed doesn’t come every day.
@BurtMyers was heartbroken when the signature guardrails were taken out of Bowman Gray Stadium. How does he feel now that he’s seen all of the renovations?
We asked him ahead of this week’s #NASCAR #CookOutClash at The Madhouse pic.twitter.com/WwQwe04yx6
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 31, 2025
For Burt Myers, the Bowman Gray Stadium is nothing less than his home. The veteran racer’s grandfather Billy Myers’ son Gary, recalling their exploits, said, “It’s been a part of my life my whole life and going over there and watching my daddy and my uncle run.” For the Myers family, the opportunity to compete in the upcoming Madhouse Classic and the Clash is their chance to shine in the spotlight and continue their long legacy at the iconic venue. Despite a teary-eyed farewell to the guardrails, Myers is impressed by what they have done with the track.
Myers hails NASCAR’s efforts to revitalize the Bowman Gray Stadium
The roar of V8 engines will be heard at the Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time at the Clash. The short track facility has retained its old-school vibes, even though modifications have been made to the iconic venue ahead of the pre-season opener. A red and white paint job will give a feeling of nostalgia to some of the older fans, while the narrow track and high banking turns will challenge drivers to the limit. Returning to ‘the Madhouse’ is NASCAR’s way of reconnecting to its roots, a refreshing change in an era of superspeedway racing.
Giving credit where it’s due, Burt Myers candidly said, “Once you fill this place up and get racecars out here, it’s gonna feel like the old Bowman Gray. The one cool part I guess behind the scenes kind of thing is, this only promotes the longevity of this place. They’re not gonna come in here and do this and this place shuts down in five years. I can see my great-grandkids racing here one day. It’s pretty cool what they’ve done to the lights and the walls.”
Myers’ appearance at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray came as somewhat of a surprise for the motorsports community. The veteran racer is well known for his exploits on the iconic short track, but few expected him to make his Cup Series debut at the pre-season opener. The North Carolina native will be driving the No. 50 Citrusafe Chevrolet for Team AmeriVet with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. atop the pit box. Given his knowledge of the track and his vast experience, could the 49-year-old pull off a shocking win? Time will tell.
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