NASCAR’s 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium: TV Schedule, Entry Lists, Race Info, and More

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)

Saturday, January 31st: Practice/Heat Qualifying – Heat Races

• 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, February 1st: Last Chance Qualifier Race – Cup Series Race

• 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

Race Facts

Bowman Gray Stadium – Track Facts

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

Heat Races:

• Four Total Heat Races: Length: 25 Laps (6.25 Miles)

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?

As of initial press time, there is no clear outline for a format in 2026, and NASCAR has a habit of changing the weekend. However, much like in 2025, there will be four heat races, an LCQ race, and the events will stay the same number of laps.

If NASCAR keeps the event like 2025, it would look something like this:

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 remaining 2025 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

• 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

Practice Groups

Entry lists are usually released on the Monday afternoon prior to raceday.

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