Snow, Sleet and Racing: A Lesson in Road Safety

The winter storm that hit North Georgia also brought heavy snowfall to North Carolina, forcing NASCAR’s opening Clash race at Bowman Gray Stadium to shift from a Sunday event to Wednesday. The change came after state officials advised people to stay off the roads for several days following the storm. The Clash takes place on a short, flat quarter‑mile track that is half the size of NASCAR’s smallest regular circuits. Drivers reach lower speeds, but close quarters mean that even a small mistake can lead to a crash. In the first 100 laps of the dry race, only two accidents occurred. When rain and sleet hit during the halfway break, ten more crashes happened, slowing the race significantly.Wet conditions turned the track’s rubber‑lined groove into a slick surface that even grooved tires could not grip. The race time extended beyond the scheduled three hours, causing Fox to move the broadcast to FS2. Although the racing was still exciting, the constant caution flags made it hard for viewers to follow. Ryan Preece of Connecticut took the win, but the race highlighted that even professional drivers struggle on icy or wet roads. Their high‑speed cars are far more aggressive than everyday vehicles, yet they cannot handle the same hazards that ordinary drivers face. The storm’s impact on Georgia’s roads was less severe than in 2014 because most people avoided driving, giving crews time to clear the streets and preventing emergency services from being overwhelmed by crashes. This shows that when roads are slick, everyone—professional or not—should exercise extra caution.