2026 Cook Out Clash

Last updated
2026 Cook Out Clash
Race details [1] [2] [3] [4]
Race 1 of 2 exhibition races in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series
Bowman Gray Stadium 2024.svg
Date February 4, 2026 (2026-02-04)
Location Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Distance 200 laps, 50 mi (80 km)
Average speed 21.390 miles per hour (34.424 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
 Hendrick Motorsports
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 67
Winner
No. 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox/FS2
Announcers Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick
Nielsen ratings Wintery mix with a temperature around 33 °F (1 °C).
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth announcers Alex Hayden and Todd Gordon
Turn announcers Dave Moody (Backstretch)

The 2026 Cook Out Clash was an non-championship exhibition NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on February 4, 2026, postponed three days from February 1, at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Contested over 200 laps, it was the first exhibition race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. [5]

Contents

Ryan Preece won the race, joining Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin as a driver to win the Clash before winning their first points race. William Byron finished 2nd, and Ryan Blaney finished 3rd. Daniel Suárez and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five, and Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, and Alex Bowman rounded out the top ten.

Due to snowfall around the area, the race was postponed multiple times to Wednesday, February 4. This was the first Cup Series race on a Wednesday since the 2020 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500.

Report

Background

Bowman Gray Stadium, the track where the race will be held. BowmanGray2.jpg
Bowman Gray Stadium, the track where the race will be held.

Bowman Gray Stadium is a NASCAR sanctioned 1⁄4-mile (0.40 km) asphalt flat oval short track and longstanding football stadium located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most legendary venues, and is referred to as "NASCAR's longest-running weekly race track". Bowman Gray Stadium is part of the Winston-Salem Sports and Entertainment Complex and is home of the Winston-Salem State University Rams football team. [6] It was also the home of the Wake Forest University football team from 1956 until Groves Stadium (later BB&T Field) opened in 1968.

On August 17, 2024, NASCAR announced that the Clash would be moved to Bowman Gray Stadium, becoming the first NASCAR-sanctioned race at the track since 1971. [7]

Scrutineering will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Post-race inspection will take place in both Winston-Salem and also at NASCAR facilities in Charlotte. [8]

On January 29, 2026, NASCAR announced that practice and qualifying, and the Last Chance Qualifier, would be held on February 1 due to weather and extreme coldness. The four heat races would be canceled. [9] On January 31, it was announced the race would be postponed to February 2. [10] On February 1, 2026, it was announced that the Clash would be postponed to Wednesday, February 4. [11]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No.DriverTeamManufacturer
1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Corey LaJoie [12] RFK Racing Ford
7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota
38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet
42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota
43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota
45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
50 Burt Myers Team AmeriVet Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford
66 Chad Finchum Garage 66 Ford
71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Christopher Bell was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 14.193 with an average speed of 63.411 mph (102.050 km/h).

Practice results

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTimeSpeed
120 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14.19363.411
212 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14.21963.295
31 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 14.25563.135
Official practice results

Qualifying

Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 14.137 and a speed of 63.662 mph (102.454 km/h). [13] Josh Berry will start on the pole for the Last Chance Qualifier.

Qualifying results

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTime
15 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet14.137
224 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet14.141
354 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota14.146
419 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota14.147
520 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota14.150
611 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota14.151
723 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota14.153
817 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford14.167
91 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet14.184
1045 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota14.195
119 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet14.198
1277 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet14.204
138 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet14.209
1422 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford14.211
153 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet14.213
1612 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford14.215
1797 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet14.231
1860 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford14.234
1988 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet14.237
207 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet14.242
2121 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford14.243
2271 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet14.245
232 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford14.263
246 Corey LaJoie RFK Racing Ford14.272
2548 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet14.290
2635 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota14.299
2751 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet14.314
2816 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet14.323
2941 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet14.334
3042 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota14.351
3134 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford14.372
3210 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet14.392
334 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford14.413
3447 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet14.448
3538 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford14.455
3643 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota14.493
3766 Chad Finchum Garage 66 Ford14.515
3850 Burt Myers Team AmeriVet Chevrolet15.024
Official qualifying results

"Last Chance" qualifying race

PosGridNoDriverTeamManufacturerLaps
1121Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord75
232Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord75
346Corey LaJoieRFK RacingFord75
4816A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet75
51042John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota75
61538Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFord75
7134Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFord75
81210Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevrolet75
91447Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Hyak MotorsportsChevrolet75
101643Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota74
11271Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevrolet74
12941Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevrolet73
131766Chad FinchumGarage 66Ford73
141850Burt MyersTeam AmeriVetChevrolet73
15751Cody WareRick Ware RacingChevrolet73
16635Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyota72
17548Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet56
181134Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord47
Official last chance race results

Josh Berry and Austin Cindric, the top two finishers, qualified for the main event. Alex Bowman also qualified as the highest driver in previous season's standings that have not yet qualified.

Starting lineup

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturer
15Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
224William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
354Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
419Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
520Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
817Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
91Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
1045Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
119Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
1277Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
138Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
1422Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
153Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
1612Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
1797Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
1860Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord
1988Connor Zilisch (R)Trackhouse RacingChevrolet
207Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
2121Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord
222Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
2348Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

Race results

PosGridNoDriverTeamManufacturerLaps
11860Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord200
2224William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet200
31612Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord200
4207Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet200
5611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota200
6419Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota200
7153Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet200
8817Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord200
991Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet200
102348Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet200
111422Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord200
122121Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord200
13520Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota200
14354Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota200
151277Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet200
1615Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet200
17119Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet200
181988Connor Zilisch (R)Trackhouse RacingChevrolet200
19138Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet200
201797Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet200
21222Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord200
221045Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota200
23723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota199
Official race results

Media

Television

Fox covered the race on the television side. Due to time constraints, the race went over the 3-hour window provided by Fox, the race moved to FS2 after 9:00 PM EST. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and three-time Clash winner Kevin Harvick handled the call in the booth for the race. Josh Sims and Regan Smith handled the pit road duties, and Larry McReynolds provided insight on-site during the race.

FOX/FS2
Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Kevin Harvick 		Josh Sims
Regan Smith 		Larry McReynolds

Radio

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Todd Gordon called the action from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the action for MRN when the field raced down the backstretch. MRN Lead Pit Reporter Steve Post, Chris Wilner & Jacklyn Drake covered the action for MRN on pit lane.

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Todd Gordon 		Backstretch: Dave MoodySteve Post
Chris Wilner
Jacklyn Drake

References

  1. ↑ "2025 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site . Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  2. ↑ "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR . August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Results". Racing-Reference. February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Cook Out Clash postponed to Monday". Jayski's Silly Season Site . January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ Zona, Chris; Trevin Goodwin (2007). 2007 Rams Football (PDF). Winston-Salem State Athletics. p. 30.
  7. ↑ Albert, Zack (17 August 2024). "Season-opening Clash exhibition heads to Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  8. ↑ "Cup cars to be inspected at Charlotte Motor Speedway before transported to Bowman Gray". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site . Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Cook Out Clash Saturday events postponed at Bowman Gray Stadium". NASCAR . January 29, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Cook Out Clash postponed to Monday". Jayski's Silly Season Site . January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Cook Out Clash postponed to Wednesday". Jayski's Silly Season Site . February 1, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  12. ↑ Bob Pockrass (January 8, 2026). "EXCLUSIVE: Brad Keselowski Will Miss Clash Amid Recovery From Broken Femur" . Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ DeGroot, Nick (February 4, 2025). "Kyle Larson earns Clash pole as 20 cars lock into Bowman Gray feature". Motorsport.com . Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Motorsport Network . Retrieved February 4, 2025.
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