What’s Happening?
Before the 2026 NASCAR season kicks off at Daytona, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series head to historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for the annual Cook Out Clash exhibition race.
- Bowman Gray Stadium hosted the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time since 1971 last season. The track, which surrounds the Winston-Salem State Rams football field, is one of the most historic in the state, having hosted local racing and NASCAR since the 1930s.
- NASCAR’s annual Clash has seen many iterations throughout its life. Since 1971, the event has served as a non-points race to kick off the season (and was at times, invite-only). For most of its history, the race was held at Daytona International Speedway before moving to the LA Coliseum in 2022 and then to BGS in 2025.
- Last year’s race proved to be the intense, anger-inducing, short track racing NASCAR was seeking with the races at the LA Coliseum. This year, several storylines will factor into the track’s sophomore effort, hosting the clash.
Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET) (Updated Following 2/1 Schedule Changes)
NASCAR Forced to Reschedule Clash AGAIN
What’s Happening? With the lingering effects of winter storms in the Winston-Salem area, NASCAR has again pushed the start of its…
Wednesday, February 4th: PRACTICE/QUALIFYING – LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER RACE – CUP SERIES RACE
- 1:30 PM | Practice/Qualifying on the FOX Sports App
- 4:30 PM | Last Chance Qualifier Race on FOX
- 6:00 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
Last Chance Qualifier:
- Race Length: 75 Laps (18.75 Miles)
Main Event:
- Race Length: 200 Laps (50 Miles)
2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Results:
- First: No. 9 – Chase Elliott
- Second: No. 12 – Ryan Blaney
- Third: No. 11 – Denny Hamlin
- Fourth: No. 22 – Joey Logano
- Fifth: No. 23 – Bubba Wallace
How Does the Clash Work in 2026? (Updated Following 1/29 Schedule Changes)
UPDATE 2:00 PM ET February 1: NASCAR is again changing plans, with events now scheduled to start with Practice on Wednesday, February 4th, at 1:30 PM. The event’s new format (no heats and three practice sessions), established on January 29, remains the same.
UPDATE 11:00 AM ET January 31: All events are shifting to Monday; format plans established on January 29 remain the same.
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.
UPDATES: NASCAR’s 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Race Weekend Weather Forecast
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Action for the Clash kicks off at 1:30 PM EST on February 4 with the event’s three practice sessions. From these sessions, the top 20 fastest drivers will be sorted into the feature race, the Clash, and the other 18 entries will be sorted into the Last Chance Qualifying race.
The Last Chance Qualifier, which airs on FOX at 4:30 PM EST, will see these 18 drivers race for the final three open spots in the Clash field. The top two finishers in the Last Chance Qualifier will make the Clash, with the final 23rd spot going to the highest finisher in Cup Series points from 2025 who did not make the field via the Practice/Qualifying or the Last Chance Qualifier race.
Last Chance Qualifying Race Format
- 20 Drivers (dependent on number of entries)
- 75 Laps
- Green flag laps count towards the total; cautions do not.
- There is no overtime finish for the LCQ.
The Cook Out Clash is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM EST on FOX, and will feature a 200-lap race, with a “break” after 100 laps. Much like the Heat Races and LCQ, the clash will not count caution laps towards total laps run, and the race must finish under green flag conditions.
2026 Cook Out Clash Format
- 23 Drivers (Dependent on Number of Entries)
- 75 Laps
- Green flag laps count towards the total; cautions do not.
- There is no overtime finish for the LCQ.
Top Storylines of the Weekend
Bowman Gray Stadium Close to Five-Year Deal With NASCAR
What’s Happening? Bowman Gray Stadium, the host of the 2025 NASCAR Clash, is close to finalizing a lucrative Five-Year deal with…
- Brad Keselowski, the 2018 winner of the Clash, then at Daytona International Speedway, will not be behind the wheel of the No. 6 for the 2026 Clash. Instead, Corey LaJoie will drive the car after Keselowski broke his femur on a ski trip in late 2025; he is expected to race in the Daytona 500 with LaJoie on standby.
- The 2026 Clash serves as the first test for NASCAR’s new short track package, which, among other changes, includes a slight increase in horsepower to 750 HP at ovals less than 1.5 miles in length and all road courses. This package is not expected to be much of a change, though BGS is the perfect proving ground.
- By far the biggest question entering this weekend’s race is whether or not Bowman Gray Stadium will host the 2027 clash. Last year, the sport fought rumors that the event could move to other major markets, or even to another country. Regardless, NASCAR isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, as in June, NASCAR and BGS agreed to a five-year extension that ensures the track will host at least one NASCAR National Series race a year.
Entry List and Practice Groups
Entry List

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