UPDATES: NASCAR’s 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Race Weekend Weather Forecast

What’s Happening?

One thing stands between race fans and the start of a new NASCAR season, though, that’s no problem at all, because it’s time for the annual pre-season Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Whether you are at the track or home, what does the forecast look like for this weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?

• Bowman Gray Stadium is the most unique and perhaps historic venue on NASCAR’s calendar. Known for its Saturday night grassroots battles, the actual racing surface of BGS surrounds an in-use college football field, making the 0.250-mile track/stadium one of the smallest in NASCAR.
• Prior to NASCAR’s return in 2025, the track previously hosted Cup Series races from 1958 to 1971, before a long period of waiting for the series’ return. By 2024, the Clash was in a similar spot, looking for a new home after being uprooted from Florida, then California, making BGS, better known as the Mad House, a perfect fit for a no-consequences exhibition race.
• The clash was traditionally held in warm climates due to its early spot on the calendar, with most states still sitting in winter during its running. This showed last year, with race day being rather chilly for fans in attendance.

Weekend Weather Forecast via the National Weather Service (All Listed Times ET)

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. 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.

Weather times are updated below. For more, please read the article linked below:

Wednesday, February 4: Cup Series Practice/Qualifying | Last Chance Qualifier Race | Cup Series Race | 6:00 PM on FOX

Before Practice (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 41°F at 1:00 PM
• Precipitation: 31% Chance From 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Wind: 3 to 6 mph

During Practice (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 41°F at 1:00 PM
• Precipitation: 31% Chance From 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
• Wind: 6 to 5 mph

During the LCQ and the 2026 Cook Out Clash (4:30 PM – 8:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 41°F at 4:30 PM
• Precipitation: 31% Chance From 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Wind: 5 to 3 mph

After the Clash (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 35°F at 8:00 PM
• Precipitation: 18% Chance From 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM
• Wind: 3 to 5 mph

Recent Weather Events at the Clash: Rain in LA

The 2024 Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was going to be a weekend of celebration for the event’s short time at one of the country’s most historic sporting venues. But, nonetheless, Mother Nature had other plans.

The race was originally scheduled to be on February 4; however, with major storms heading towards Los Angeles, NASCAR made the bold decision to cancel all preliminary races, move the event to FS1, and go all out on February 3 to ensure the event happened.

Even though this resulted in one of the lowest-rated NACSAR Clash events, it was the smart move, as the rain would have cancelled the event outright, meaning teams and NASCAR would have lost much more than time.

Note: This article will be updated with a more accurate and detailed forecast as the race weekend nears.