What’s Happening?
The first official checkered flag of the 2025 season was flown tonight! Starting the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season was the Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, aka The Mad House. And we learned why the venue deserves a name such as that tonight. We saw a lot of action, a lot of beating and banging, and a lot of short tempers flaring! So, how did the NASCAR Cup Series return to Bowman Gray fare after a 44-year sabbatical? Let’s talk about it. Here’s everything that went down in the 2025 Cookout Clash.
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Prefatory Matters
- 20 drivers punched their tickets into the main event last night via the four heat races. Scoring the pole was NASCAR’s most popular driver, Chase Elliott. He won the pole by dominating the first heat race on Saturday night. The other heat race winners include Chris Buescher (the outside pole winner), Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick. They fill out starting positions 2-4.
- The 21st and 22nd starting spots for the main event were determined in tonight’s last-chance qualifier. Kyle Larson won the race with short track ace Josh Berry nabbing the next to last transfer spot.
- The 23rd and final transfer spot was awarded to Ryan Blaney. The 2023 Cup champion earned this provisional by being the highest finisher in last year’s points standings who didn’t already have clinched a berth into the Clash. Blaney DNF’d in the last-chance qualifier, opting to take advantage of the provisional.
The Clash at Bowman Gray is GREEN on FOX! pic.twitter.com/iVq4nXk1SX
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 3, 2025
Chase Elliott Takes the First Checkered Flag of 2025
Once the field restarted on Lap-121, Chase Elliott reassumed the lead after given Denny Hamlin a shot from behind, knocking him up the track. As they raced, the field started to calm down a little bit as they separated. On the move was Ryan Blaney, who struggled in last night’s heats and DNF’d in tonight’s earlier LCQ. He was forced to take a provisional and started the race dead last. By Lap-148, he was passing Denny Hamlin for second.
From there, the race to the finish was on. Blaney got to Elliott’s bumper a couple of times as the laps wound down but he ultimately couldn’t really do much with him. As the number 9 NAPA Chevy started lapping cars, the two leaders became separated by slower traffic. Chase Elliott went on to convincingly win the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium after a weekend of dominance. He ended up leading a race-high 177 laps and had the record for the fastest lap of the race. Congratulations to him and that entire number 9 Hendrick Motorsports team!
Chase Elliott wins the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium! pic.twitter.com/YiuobQMCsB
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 3, 2025
The Layout and Format
Bowman Gray is a quarter-mile oval located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dubbed “The Mad House”, it’s known for its aggressive, hard-nosed racing and for pushing drivers to the edge. Setting the stage were four heat races which were ran on Saturday night. 20 drivers transferred to tonight’s main event via those races. Two drivers also transferred by finishing first and second in tonight’s preamble to the Clash, the last-chance qualifier. The final transfer spot was rewarded to the highest points finisher from 2024 who didn’t already race their way in.
As reported by Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, the trace format was as follows:
- 200-Laps (No Stages)
- Halftime break at Lap-100
- No fueling during halftime
- Caution laps did not count
There will be a break at the 100-lap mark for drivers to have tires changed and adjustments. No fuel. Have plenty of fuel for this race.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 3, 2025
Kyle Busch Goes Around
The first caution of the night came out on Lap-21 after Kyle Busch took a vicious shot to the rear off the nose of Noah Gragson. Busch spun around but managed to keep it off the wall. No other cars were involved. The driver of the 8 Camero pitted and the race restarted shortly thereafter.
Kyle Busch goes around. pic.twitter.com/2awOfLOGJ3
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 3, 2025
William Byron and Todd Gilliland Collide
The second caution of the night flew on Lap-79. The incident that sparked the yellow flag was the 34 of Todd Gilliland squeezing William Byron into the outside SAFER barrier. Byron’s 24 Liberty University Chevy ricocheted off the wall and went around, making light contact with the nose of his car. After the accident, he came over the radio and complained about trouble steering his Hendrick Chevy. He was scored 1-lap down when we went back green.
William Byron into the wall. pic.twitter.com/viePj2ll0u
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 3, 2025
Denny Hamlin Leads at the Half
The first half of the race was dominated by Chase Elliott in his number 9 Hendrick Chevrolet. Elliott led the opening 96-laps of the event before being ran down and passed by defending winner of the event, Denny Hamlin. Following Hamlin through as he passed the 9 NAPA car was Hamlin’s own 23XI driver, Tyler Reddick. After the pass, the caution flew and the field was brought down pit road for the halftime break.
Every detail matters at @23XIRacing.@dennyhamlin takes @The_ChrisMyers on a tour of the team’s headquarters, Airspeed.
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 3, 2025
Don’t miss their sit-down conversation before the Daytona 500, only on FOX. pic.twitter.com/Oiy5MCO4aq
Larson & Briscoe Go for Spins
The second half of the Cookout Clash was much more aggressive from the jump. The greatest drivers in the world only got to turn a couple of laps before a chain reaction sent both Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe around. The incident fired off with Austin Cindric tagging Larson from behind. This sent Larson spinning and, as he spun, he got into Shane van Gisbergen. SVG then got loose and tagged Briscoe which sent him around. None of the drivers involved received any significant damage and we did restart a couple of laps later.
We're back in action after the halfway break … and we have synchronized spinners! 👀 pic.twitter.com/fJRfSPffQj
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 3, 2025
Stack-up Sends Hocevar into the Wall
The caution flew again just six laps later on Lap-109. This time, the incident involved defending Cup Series Champion Joey Logano getting into the back of Christopher Bell. This sent the 20 Mobil 1 Toyota into Hocevar hard, which spun him out. Hocevar performed a 180 that resulted in him getting into the outside wall. Check it out.
We've got trouble! Hocevar gets into the tire barrier! pic.twitter.com/uEE8oiUccm
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 3, 2025
Hendrick Teammates Get Together
The incident that brought out the caution flag was when Kyle Larson got into his teammate William Byron, and the two went around. The accident was a result of Briscoe bumping Carson Hocevar from behind, who then got into Larson. Larson’s number 5 Chevy got loose, and he slid up the track, collecting his teammate William Byron. Neither driver received significant damage in the incident.
Kyle Larson and William Byron both take a spin. pic.twitter.com/UEuAVyp2RJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 3, 2025
Conclusion
The first race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is officially in the books! Congratulations to NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott, for capturing the first checkered flag of the season! What did you make of this race, NASCAR fans? What did you think of the racing product itself? Let us know your thoughts on the aesthetic and vibe of Bowman Gray. Would you like to see the race return to the venue? Where do you want to see the race go next? Let us know all of that and more!
The Daytona 500 is just 2 weeks away! In the meantime, be sure to keep checking back in here at DailyDownforce.com for all the latest news as we gear up for the 2025 season!