UPDATE: Despite Looming Weather, NASCAR Moves Forward with Clash Inspection

What’s Happening?

With snow threatening this weekend’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR is still pushing forward as planned, hosting pre-race inspection Thursday morning at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds.

UPDATE 4:00 PM ET January 29: NASCAR has cancelled all on-track activities for Saturday, January 31, with plans to host the weekend’s preliminary sessions, including practice, heat races, LCQ, and the Clash, on Sunday afternoon/evening, starting at 2 PM ET. For more, please read the article linked below:

UPDATE 4:45 PM ET January 29: After cancelling Saturday’s on-track activities, NASCAR has scrapped the heat races, and instead, the top 20 fastest cars in practice will make the Clash field, with the rest of the field sent to the LCQ. From there, it is rules as normal, the top two LCQ finishers and the final driver with the highest final 2025 points standing make the field for the Clash.

NASCAR Inspection is underway for the CLASH at BOWMAN GRAYinside the Event Center at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, 5 miles away from the stadium. The race cars will be stay overnight for fans to see on Friday during FanFest and go to the track about 2:30. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/NpEY5Cs1c7

— Chris Weaver (@chris8video) January 29, 2026

Last weekend, NASCAR officials began work to prepare for a frigid Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, bringing the track in preparation for last weekend’s major winter storm in the southeast.

Despite these efforts to prep the track, per the National Weather Service, NASCAR is still facing major winter weather this weekend, with forecasts indicating likely snowfall from 1 AM to 6 AM Saturday, before that evening’s on-track activity.

Furthermore, later that evening, starting at 7 PM, there is a chance of snow lasting into the night till early Sunday morning. Unfortunately for NASCAR, Saturday’s on-track action is scheduled to start at 6:10, with practice/qualifying groups, and continue into that night’s heat races scheduled to start at 8:30 PM.

Saturday’s at Track Schedule

• 6:10 PM – 8:00 PM — Practice/Heat Qualifying on FS1
• 8:30 PM — Heat Race 1 (Four in Total) on FS1
• Approx. 8:45 PM — Heat Race 2 (Four in Total) on FS1
• Approx. 9:00 PM — Heat Race 3 (Four in Total) on FS1
• Approx. 9:15 PM — Heat Race 4 (Four in Total) on FS1

Sunday looks slightly better, as the precipitation is set to fall off at 10 AM, though freezing temperatures will prevail throughout the rest of the day, as festivities are scheduled to start with the Last Chance Qualifier Race at 6:00 PM.

Sunday’s at Track Schedule

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

NASCAR is still moving forward as planned, with teams arriving for inspection at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds’ Event Center this morning.

Per Chris Weaver, the plan is for the cars to stay at the event center for tomorrow’s FanFest, before being taken to BGS for the race weekend that afternoon.

While NASCAR moves forward with its plans, conditions remain challenging in the Winston-Salem area, with FOX Sports Broadcaster Mike Joy sharing on social media that roads and schools are still closed and that local officials are asking people to limit non-essential travel.

Winston-Salem Thurs noon: Interstates, main highways clear & dry, as are roads and lots that were plowed Monday.
Schools are still closed, many roads that weren't plowed Monday are now skating rinks.
Freezing temps, authorities still advising against non-essential driving.

— Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) January 29, 2026

While some reports suggest that NASCAR is willing to push into next week, if need be, the question remains that if there is weekend snowfall, how will that limit travel and safety for fans throughout next week?

For updates on this weekend’s schedule or weather, make sure to check out the article linked above. Also, make sure to keep up with the latest from the Daily Downforce via Discord, X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.