What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since 1971. However, this time around, it will not be for a points race, but for the all-out winner, take all Cook Out Clash. As drivers enter this 1/4 mile oval, it will be a test of will and want for the 23 drivers that make the main event.

• Bowman Gray hosted 29 NASCAR Cup Series races from 1958 to 1971. The track surrounds the Winston-Salem State Rams football field as this venue, typically used for modifieds, late models, and street stocks, is a double venue.
• The track has no pit road; rather, the parking lot at the northwest end of the stadium is used for car prep. While NASCAR was able to use the infield at the LA Coliseum occasionally, this will not be the case in 2025 as the infield remains a grass football field.
• The last NASCAR race in 1971 was full of controversy as Bobby Allison wheeled his much smaller “pony car” to victory. Due to his smaller car, Allison was not statistically awarded the victory until 2024, shortly before he passed away.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

How to Live Stream NASCAR Cup Races in 2025

How to Live Stream NASCAR Cup Races in 2025

What’s Happening? The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season will see major changes to the sport’s list of broadcast partners. This includes…

Read More

Saturday, February 1st: Practice/Heat Qualifying – Heat Races

• 6:10 PM – 8:00 PM – Practice/Heat Qualifying on FS1
• 8:30 PM – Heat Races (Four in Total) on FS1

Sunday, February 2nd: Last Chance Qualifier Race – 2025 Clash

• 6:00 PM – 7:40 PM Last Chance Qualifier Race on FOX
• 8:00 PM – Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on FOX

Race Facts

Bowman Gray Stadium – Track Facts

• Opened: 1947
• Length: .250-mile
• Shape: Oval; “Bullring”
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights: Yes
• Rain Tires: TBD

Heat Races:

• Races (4) Length: 25 Laps (6.25 Miles)
• NOTES: Only green flag laps count towards the lap count; there is no overtime finish.

Last Chance Qualifier:

• Race Length: 75 Laps (18.75 Miles)
• NOTES: Only green flag laps count towards the lap count; there is no overtime finish.

Main Event:

• Race Length: 200 Laps (50 Miles)
• Stages: None; Mid-Race Break
• Most-Recent Clash Winner: Denny Hamlin (Los Angeles 2024)
• NOTES: Only green flag laps count towards the lap count; there is no overtime finish.

2025 Clash Results:

At LA Coliseum, Main Event 151 Laps

• First: Denny Hamlin
• Second: Kyle Busch
• Third: Ryan Blaney
• Fourth: Joey Logano
• Fifth: Kyle Larson

How Does the Clash Work in 2025?

NASCAR Unveils 2025 Bowman Gray Clash Format

NASCAR Unveils 2025 Bowman Gray Clash Format

What’s Happening? The NASCAR Clash heads to Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025, and this is a refresher on the qualifying format…

Read More

Of the total six races that will take place this weekend, each race must finish under green flag conditions, and only green flag laps count towards the total lap count. In total, ten drivers will be in each heat race, 20 in the Last Chance Qualifier, and 23 in the main event.

Practice/Qualifying:

• NASCAR will divide entries into three Practice groups. Each Group will have three sessions, and the fastest lap from the final session will set the starting lineup for the four heat races.

Heat Races:

• The four fastest lap times are the pole sitters for each 25-lap heat race. Following the pole sitter, NASCAR sorts the next four fastest drivers into each heat race, resulting in four heat races with ten drivers.
• The top five drivers from each heat qualify for the main event.

Last Chance Qualifier:

• NASCAR then sorts the last five from each Heat race into the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier.
• The top two drivers qualify for the main event alongside the highest reaming 2024 points finisher.

Main Event:

• The Clash will be a 200-lap feature with a break at lap 100. There are no pit stops.

Top Storylines of the Weekend

• While it will be prim and polished, BGS, better known as the Madhouse, is still the Madhouse. Drivers will test each other’s tempers and equipment on the 1/4-mile oval, which has more laps than last year’s clash in the LA Coliseum.
• Several drivers will make their debut with new teams in the clash, including former Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, and Ryan Preece. Other notable drivers will include Shane van Gisbergen and Riley Herbst, the two drivers competing for Rookie of the Year, and Zane Smith and Michael McDowell, who are swapping teams for 2025.
• This weekend, two teams are entering Bowman Gray track champions. These are Rick Ware Racing, which is entering 12-time Bowman Gray Stadium Track Champion Tim Brown, and Team AmeriVet, which is entering Burt Myers, a champion of many different Modified tours. Both are long shots to win in unfamiliar racecraft. However, their experience at the track and combined 24 BGS track titles could serve them well.

Entry List and Practice Groups

Entry List

Practice Groups

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.