Wheatley American Vodka to help kick off Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth on Saturday, Feb. 13, as entitlement partner of the Wheatley Vodka Clash
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 4, 2026) – Back by popular demand, NASCAR’s season-opening exhibition race is returning to its original home. Daytona International Speedway announced today that the Wheatley Vodka Clash will kick off the 2027 edition of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth on Saturday, Feb. 13, bringing the fan-favorite event back to the World Center of Racing as part of the track’s 2027 NASCAR schedule.
The Clash was last contested in Daytona in 2021 on the road course configuration at the famed motorsports facility, won by the late Kyle Busch. Prior to that, the 2.5-mile high-banked superspeedway hosted The Clash from 1979-2020, with Erik Jones winning the last time it was raced on the oval. In recent years, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2022-2024) and Bowman Gray Stadium (2025, 2026) hosted the exhibition event.
Simultaneously, NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway announced today a new multi-year partnership with Wheatley American Vodka, naming the premium American-made spirit the Official Vodka of NASCAR®.
As part of the partnership, Wheatley American Vodka will also become the entitlement partner of The Clash, one of NASCAR’s signature annual events that kicks off the season as the first Cup Series exhibition race.
“The pairing of a fan-favorite event like The Clash with a premier vodka brand in Wheatley American Vodka is the perfect way to welcome home one of NASCAR’s most beloved traditions to open Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth for 2027,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “The Wheatley Vodka Clash adds another can’t-miss event to an already unforgettable week, creating even more opportunities for our fans to experience the energy and excitement that make Speedweeks so special. It all builds toward the DAYTONA 500—The Great American Race—and the start of another unforgettable NASCAR season at the World Center of Racing.”
The announcement comes as part of the release of the 2027 slate of NASCAR activity scheduled for Daytona International Speedway, with Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth taking place from Saturday, Feb. 13, through the 69th running of The Great American Race on Sunday, Feb. 21. The August weekend, capped off by the Coke Zero Sugar 400, will take place August 27-28.
In addition to the traditional slate of on-track action over the nine-day stretch, Daytona Beach will see the return of Bert Kreischer’s “Full Throttle Festival” to the Ocean Center Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 20. The pre-race bash on the eve of the DAYTONA 500 will feature a full night of music and comedy with a star-studded lineup curated by Bert. Fans can sign up now at FullThrottleFestival.com to be the first to learn the lineup and when tickets go on sale.
The ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will also return to the World Center of Racing for their 2027 season openers in February. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will also accompany the Cup Series during the August race weekend.
Below are the dates for the 2027 NASCAR season at Daytona International Speedway:
DAYTONA 500 race weekend (Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth):
- Saturday, Feb. 13 – Wheatley Vodka Clash
- Wednesday, Feb. 17 – NASCAR Cup Series DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light
- Thursday, Feb. 18 – NASCAR Cup Series Duel at Daytona
- Friday, Feb. 19 – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race
- Saturday, Feb. 20 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series races
- Sunday, Feb. 21 – NASCAR Cup Series DAYTONA 500
Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend:
- Friday, Aug. 27 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race
- Saturday, Aug. 28 – NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400
There is still plenty of thrilling NASCAR racing to come in 2026 at the World Center of Racing as the Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will contest their regular season finales in late August. The 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend kicks off on Friday night, Aug. 28th, with the Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola taking the track. Then, on Saturday, Aug. 29th, the stars of the Cup Series battle in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at 7:30 p.m. ET for the final opportunity to earn their spot in The Chase.
Earlier this year, Tyler Reddick captured his first DAYTONA 500 championship, setting off an incredible start to the season that saw him go on to win five of the first nine races. The win was also the first DAYTONA 500 victory for 23XI Racing. While Reddick has already clinched his spot in The Chase for this season, he’s aiming to become only the sixth driver overall and the first since Jimmie Johnson in 2013 to win both the DAYTONA 500 and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in the same season.
Fans can enjoy a variety of exclusive hospitality experiences for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the 2027 DAYTONA 500, including the recently added NASCAR 1948. Blending the heritage of stock car racing with premium amenities, 1948 features behind-the-scenes access, dedicated parking and transportation, elevated dining, and personalized concierge service. Visit nascarexperiences.com/1948 to learn more.
Tickets for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend, as well as ticket and additional information for 2027 Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth events, can be found at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can also purchase an exclusive pre-race ticket package for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with a reserved seat, admission to the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone, and pre-race access for LOCASH’s pre-race concert.
