Bowman Gray Stadium public address announcer Randy Pulliam famously says to the crowd each week "That's why they call it The Madhouse." Fans have the opportunity to learn why the famed quarter-mile oval around a football field earned that moniker on Saturday night, as the 76th season of NASCAR racing comes to a close in spectacular fashion with a double-points Championship finale. Yes, you heard that right. The season-ending race at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina track is a finale like no other in auto racing with drivers awarded two-times the points normally earned for a feature event finish. Four division-titles are on the line on Saturday night at the Stadium. The races are close in some divisions and, in others, the on-and-off-track drama is reaching a boiling point.
MODIFIED DIVISION
Since the track opened under the direction of NASCAR founder Bill France and Alvin Hawkins in 1949, the Modifieds have been the featured division. In 2026, a true classic is set as two "Masters of the Madhouse" are locked in a major Championship battle. Burt Myers, an 11-time Stadium Champion, leads 12-time track champ Tim Brown headed into the final race.
Last week, Myers won his division-leading fifth race of the 2026 season, moving him 14-markers ahead of Brown. The win tied him with his rival, Brown, with 107 Modified wins at the famed quarter-mile. It also moved Myers into sole possession of first place on the All-Time Wins List with 108 career victories.
The rivalry between the two drivers has been documented for years. Their performance on-track has mirrored each other for decades. Brown and Myers have won 23 of the last 29 Modified Championships while re-writing the record books at the historic speedway.
Three drivers, Myers, Brown and Junior Snow are mathematically eligible to compete for the title during Saturday night's 150-lap AGSouth Farm Credit 150. Snow has the worst odds heading into the night, but with strong car counts at 25-plus each week at the Stadium, it's not out of the realm of possibility. Snow, a 30-year old racer from King, NC, has had a breakout season at the Stadium despite not having a win this year.
MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIO
Burt Myers needs to finish 4th Place or better to clinch his record tying 12th championship. Myers holds the tiebreaker over Tim Brown (five season wins to two wins.)
Tim Brown needs to finish 4 positions ahead of Burt Myers to win his record extending 13th Track Championship.
Junior Snow has the longest odds, but Snow needs to finish 18 positions ahead of Tim Brown & 22 positions ahead of Burt Myers to clinch his First Career Championship at Bowman Gray.
SPORTSMAN DIVISION
The division creating the most noise in 2026 has been the Sportsman division. A week ago it looked like it would come down to a duel between rivals Billy Gregg and Justin Taylor. On track incidents this season paired with an on-going war of words on social media led up to a tangle on the penultimate night of racing and a post-race protest. The tech shed findings have turned the points-race upside down. Billy's son, Nate Gregg, protested the valves on Taylor's no. 12. Bowman Gray Stadium Officials deemed the valves to be illegal and disqualified Taylor from both of his finishes in the twin-20-lappers. The result moved Taylor from second to fourth in points, turning him into a longshot for the crown. A new rule at the Stadium calls for the same protest-check to be performed, reciprocally, on the team that filed the protest. Nate Gregg's car was found legal and he was awarded a second place finish, moving him to second in the standings. Zach Ore won both races last week. Despite having nine wins on the season, Ore is only seventh in points because of a double-feature disqualification earlier in the season and not competing in the season opener while serving out a suspension carried over from last year's finale.
The war of worlds has continued all week between the Gregg and Taylor camp leaving the Stadium scene wondering if the drama will boil over during the division's 40-lap double-point finale on Saturday. Four drivers will be mathematically eligible to leave with the season-ending hardware.
SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIO
Billy Gregg needs to finish 9th or better to clinch his first career Sportsman Championship and 5th Overall Championship.
Nate Gregg needs to finish 9 positions ahead of his father Billy Gregg to win his first career Championship at Bowman Gray and join his dad on the Champions List.
Bryan Sykes Jr. needs to finish 4 positions ahead of Nate Gregg and 13 positions ahead of Billy Gregg to win his First Sportsman Championship and become the first-ever Rookie to win a Sportsman. Sykes was the 2025 Street Stock Champion.
Justin Taylor needs to finish 2 positions ahead of Bryan Sykes Jr and 6 positions ahead of Nate Gregg & 15 positions ahead of Billy Gregg to win his second career Sportsman title.
STREET STOCK DIVISION
Three Street Stock drivers are mathematically eligible for the Championship going into their 20-lap race Saturday night. With five wins in 2026, Brad Lewis has run away with the points lead at Bowman Gray. The 49-year old veteran of Stadium racing is seeking his first ever title at The Madhouse.
STREET STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIO
Brad Lewis just needs to finish 20th or better to win his first career Championship.
Rookie Connor Keaton needs to finish 20 positions ahead of Brad Lewis to win his first career Championship at Bowman Gray.
Christian Joyce needs to finish 2 positions ahead of Connor Keaton and 22 positions ahead of Brad Lewis to secure his third Street Stock Championship.
STADIUM STOCK DIVISION
Seven drivers are mathematically eligible and will race for a title during the season-ending 15-lapper.
STADIUM STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIO
Stephen Sanders needs to finish 4th or better to capture his first career Championship at Bowman Gray,
Chuck Wall needs to finish 4 positions ahead of Stephen Sanders to win his record-tying 5th Championship (a record currently held by AJ Sanders).
Brad Mickalowski needs to finish 1 position ahead of Brandon Brendle and 9 positions ahead of Chuck Wall and 13 positions ahead of Stephen Sanders to win his First Career Championship at Bowman Gray.
Brandon Lee Brendle needs to finish 1 position ahead of Brad Mickalowski and 8 positions ahead of Chuck Wall and 12 positions ahead of Stephen Sanders to grab his 3rd Stadium Stock Championship.
Zak Taylor needs to finish 4 positions ahead of Brandon Brendle & Brad Mickalowski and 12 positions ahead of father in law Chuck Wall and 16 positions ahead of Stephen Sanders to win his First Career Championship.
Last week's race winnner Levi Holt needs to finish 4 positions ahead of Zak Taylor and 7 positions ahead of Brad Mickalowski and 8 positions ahead of Brandon Brendle and 16 positions ahead of Chuck Wall & 20 positions ahead of Stephen Sanders to win his First Career Championship.
2025 Rookie of the Year P-Nut Baker needs to finish 3 positions ahead of Levi Holt and 6 positions ahead of Zak Taylor and 10 positions ahead of Brandon Brendle & Brad Mickalowski and 18 positions ahead of Chuck Wall & 22 positions ahead of Stephen Sanders to win his first career Championship.
Championship Night at Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday August 22 will be streamed live on FloRacing starting at 7:45pm ET. Gates to the Stadium will open for fans at 6pm, with qualifying slated to roll at 7pm. Racing action begins at 8pm.
Tickets for the 2026 Bowman Gray Stadium are available on their website www.bowmangrayracing.com and on the TicketHoss app.
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