Kyle Busch Invitational at Bowman Gray Stadium Set for August 2026

Maximum Field, Minimal Track

The Winston‑Salem quarter‑mile will host a unique night of short‑track racing when the inaugural Kyle Busch Invitational opens its gates on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. The event caps the Legend Car entry list at 51 cars and adds 18 Bandoleros, turning a 1,320‑foot oval into a densely packed spectacle. With roughly 26 feet of track per Legend Car—about 2½ car lengths—the field will almost fill an entire lap, demanding precise maneuvering from every driver. This format forces organizers to use heats and B‑Mains to whittle the 51 starters down to a feature that can physically fit on the surface.

Merit‑Based Invitations

Drivers will not be able to simply purchase a spot; the invitation is earned through performance in the 2026 Summer Shootout. Finishing in the top five of the Shootout’s final points in any of the Pro, Semi‑Pro, Masters or Young Lions classes guarantees a bid. Winning an A‑Main feature at the Shootout also earns entry, provided the driver is outside the top five. Because the Summer Shootout runs through late July, the full field won’t be known until those races conclude.

Legend Cars and Bandoleros Explained

A Legend Car is a 5/8‑scale fiberglass replica of 1930s‑40s NASCAR modifieds, currently powered by a sealed Yamaha FZ09 engine producing 135 horsepower. The 1,100‑pound chassis features a spooled rear end with no differential, making throttle‑and‑brake rotation control the primary skill on Bowman Gray’s flat quarter‑mile. Top speeds are claimed at 123 mph with a 4.1‑gallon fuel cell of non‑ethanol 93 octane. The Bandolero sits below it, a 750‑pound, 30‑horsepower Briggs & Stratton‑based kart‑style car capped at 80 mph, equipped with a centrifugal clutch that eliminates shifting.

Ownership and Cost Controls

Both cars are built in Harrisburg, North Carolina, and each receives a USLCI VIN, giving them a paper trail similar to road vehicles—an advantage for resale, financing and insurance. The sealed‑engine rule prevents a power‑chasing arms race, locking maintenance budgets to tires, brakes, shocks and periodic engine rebuilds. This cost structure has attracted a high‑profile alumni list that reads like a NASCAR Hall of Fame, including Logano, Blaney, Elliott, Byron, Reddick and both Busch brothers.

Charity Behind the Event

All donation tiers—$4, $8, $18 and $51—plus every dollar of event proceeds benefit the Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund. Since its 2015 launch, the fund has awarded more than 150 grants exceeding $2 million, supporting over 100 births through IVF treatments. Grants are capped at $20,000 per household and paid directly to partner clinics such as Reach Fertility, covering up to three cycles per year. The structure is crucial because a single IVF cycle often costs five figures, a barrier that insurance rarely eliminates.

Tickets, Broadcast and Legacy

Admission is affordable: $10 for adults, $2 for children 6‑11, and free for kids under five. A $25 two‑day pass also bundles Saturday’s Bowman Gray championship night. The race will stream on FloSports and the NASCAR Channel, while the venue itself—weekly racing since 1937—has hosted 29 Cup‑level events between 1958 and 1971 before the top series returned in 2025. Fans can also attend Kyle Busch’s celebration of life on Oct. 9 at Charlotte, following the Truck Series race, free and open to the public.