Chase Elliott wins Cook Out Clash at historic Bowman Gray Stadium: Pole winner Chase Elliott held off a dramatic charge from Ryan Blaney to win Sunday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in front of a teeming, vociferous sellout crowd at the historic quarter-mile. Adroitly working lapped traffic in the closing stages of the 200-lap season-opening exhibition race, Elliott crossed the finish line 1.333 seconds ahead of Blaney, who started last among the 23 competitors on a driver points provisional. [Read More]

Post-race inspection in the NASCAR Cup Series garage is complete. All clear. No issues.

#9-Chase Elliott won the 2025 NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday night. #12-Ryan Blaney finished 2nd followed by #11-Denny Hamlin, #22-Joey Logano, #23-Bubba Wallace, #1-Ross Chastain, #2-Austin Cindric, #45-Tyler Reddick, #88-Shane Van Gisbergen, and #17-Chris Buescher.
There were 4 lead changes among 3 drivers and 7 cautions.
The average speed of the race was: 40.956mph.
See Race Results, Cumulative Report, and Penalty Report.

Race Fast Facts – NASCAR Clash:
Chase Elliott won the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray, his first victory in the annual NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event.
Elliott is the 26th different driver to win the Clash all-time, and the eighth different driver to win the event since 2018.
This is crew chief Alan Gustafson’s first Clash victory. Gustafson is the 37th different crew chief to win the event.
Hendrick Motorsports ties Richard Childress Racing for the second-most Clash wins all-time with eight each. Joe Gibbs Racing leads the series in Clash wins with 12.
Hendrick Motorsports is one of 15 different organizations to win the Clash all-time.
This is the sixth time the Clash has been won from the pole or first starting position (1981, 1987, 1989, 2014, 2024, 2025).
(NASCAR)

Clash updates:
Checkered flag – #9-Chase Elliott wins the Cook Out Clash. #12-Blaney, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, and #23-Wallace round out the top 5.
Lap 196 – Five laps to go. #9-Elliott still in control.
Lap 191 – Ten laps remaining. #9-Elliott leads #12-Blaney by .65 second.
Lap 184 – #9-Elliott laps 17th place #5-Larson.
Lap 175 – #12-Blaney has fallen a half second behind #9-Elliott for the lead.
Lap 163 – #9-Elliott and #12-Blaney are staring to work through lap traffic. #11-Hamlin has fallen more than 2 seconds back.
Lap 150 – #12-Blaney moves around #11-Hamlin to take second.
Lap 128 – #9-Elliott retakes the lead from #11-Hamlin. #12-Blaney is now up to third, followed by #17-Buscher and #23-Wallace.
Lap 121 – Caution in turn 3 for a #6-Keselowski spin. #48-Bowman and #77-Hocevar spin behind him.
Lap 120 – #11-Hamlin still leads over #45-Reddick, #9-Elliott, #17-Buescher and #6-Keselowski.
Lap 116 – Caution for #5-Larson and #24-Byron spin.
Lap 109 – Caution in turn 3 for #77-Hocevar. #8-Busch is the free pass and back on the lead lap.
Lap 103 – Caution for spins by #5-Larson and #19-Briscoe in turn 1. #8-Busch is the free pass.
Lap 101 – Caution for the halftime/competition caution. Teams will be allowed to change tires and make adjustments. #11-Hamlin, #45-Reddick, #9-Elliott, #17-Buescher, and #6-Keselowski the top 5.
Lap 98 – #11-Hamlin takes the lead at the line and keeps it.
Lap 91 – #9-Elliott continues to hold off #11-Hamlin. Just 10 laps from the halftime break.
Lap 83 – #11-Hamlin battling #9-Elliott for the lead.
Lap 79 – Caution for #24-Byron into the wall. #4-Gragson had just been lapped and is the free pass.
Lap 76 – #9-Elliott has led every lap so far. He’s currently more than 2 seconds ahead of #17-Buescher. #8-Busch loses a second lap.
Lap 55 – #9-Elliott has caught the back of the field and is about to start passing cars….or try to. #8-Busch is just ahead of him, one lap down.
Lap 40 – #-Elliott continues to lead #17-Buescher, #45-Reddick, #11-Hamlin, and #20-Bell.
Lap 20 – Caution for a spin in turn 4 by #8-Busch. Top 5 are: #9-Elliott, #17-Buescher, #45-Reddick, #11-Hamlin and #6-Keselowski.
8:41pm/et – Green flag for the Clash. Only green flag laps count. The race must end under green.
8:34pm/et – Engines are fired.
8:25pm/et – Pre-race ceremonies are underway.
Due to the length of the last chance race, the Clash will start about 18 minutes later than scheduled.

Cars to the rear for the Clash: None reported

Clash details:
FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200 laps / 50.6 miles
Stages: No stage breaks
Average time of race: 1:41:00
Caution car speed: 20 mph
Timing (all times local & subject to change)
LCQ
• No formal pre-race requirements.
CLASH Main Event
• Drivers report to their cars in the NCS garage by 7:45 p.m.
• Driver Introductions will begin promptly at 7:50 p.m.
• Drivers will walk with their cars as they are pushed along the frontstretch to their starting position on the grid.
• Drivers will be introduced FIRST TO LAST.

Invocation: 8:07:20 p.m.
National Anthem: 8:08:00 p.m.
Command: 8:15:00 p.m.
Green Flag: 8:20:00 p.m.

Paint Schemes

NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium starting lineup.

#5-Kyle Larson and #21-Josh Berry advanced to the Cook Out Clash by finishing first and second in the Last Chance race.
They were followed by #3-Austin Dillon, #42-John Hunter Nemechek, #71-Michael McDowell, #38-Zane Smith, #47-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #10-Ty Dillon, #7-Justin Haley, and #15-Tim Brown.
#12-Ryan Blaney got the final spot in the Clash by being the driver highest in 2024 points that had not made the race.
There were 7 cautions during the race and 7 lead changes among 6 drivers.
See the NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium last chance race results page.

Last Chance race updates:
Checkered flag: #5-Larson wins and #21-Berry finishes second. They advance to the Clash on their finish. #12-Blaney gets the provisional. #54-Gibbs spun on the final lap. The race ended under caution but there is no overtime in this race.
Lap 73 – #5-Larson takes the lead from #21-Berry.
Lap 67 – #21-Berry leads #5-Larson, #41-Custer, #16-Allmendinger, #3-Dillon.
Lap 66 – Caution for a spin by #43-Jones after contact from #21-Berry. Jones has a tire down and will be out of the race.
Lap 65 – #43-Jones, #5-Larson, #21-Berry, #16-Allmendinger, #41-Custer the top 5.
Lap 65 – Caution for a spin by #54-Gibbs.
Lap 64 – #43-Jones leads #5-Larson at the line.
Lap 62 – Caution for #50-Myers wrecking in turn 1. Heavy damage on the car. The race will be red flagged for track cleanup.
Lap 59 – Caution for spins by #7-Haley and #71-McDowell in turn 4.
Lap 57 – Caution for a spin by #54-Gibbs.
Lap 51 – Larson quickly out to a 1 second lead over #43-Jones.
Lap 44 – Caution for #66-Smithley spinning in turn 3.
Lap 41 – #5-Larson, #3-Dillon, #43-Jones, #54-Gibbs, #7-Haley the top 5.
Lap 32 – #3-Dillon moves to second after getting by #54-Gibbs.
Lap 31 – #5-Larson takes the lead.
Lap 24 – #12-Blaney goes behind the wall. He will get the 23rd starting spot in the Clash as the driver highest in points to not make the race.
Lap 24 – Caution for #38-Smith spinning after contact with #43-Jones.
Lap 21 – #54-Gibbs leads #5-Larson, #38-Smith, #3-ADillon, and #43-Jones.
Lap 17 – Caution for #43-Jones spinning #10-Dillon. Caution laps do not count.
Lap 12 – #54-Gibbs to the lead.
Lap 10 – #35-Herbst goes behind the wall. Possible tire issue.
Lap 9 – TDillon back to the lead.
Lap 4 – Smith to the lead.
6:40pm/et – Green flag for the race. #10-Dillon and #38-Smith on the front row.
6:35pm/et – Engines fired. There will be 5 pace laps.

Last Chance race details:
• 75 laps – only green flag laps count
• No overtime
• Top 2 finishers advance
• 23rd starting position is awarded to the highest in 2024 driver points who did not previously advance.

To the rear for the Last Chance race: #12-Blaney, #16-Allmendinger, #41-Custer, #42-Nemechek – all for unapproved adjustments.

Following Saturday night’s heat races, the lineup for the Last Chance race has been set.
#10-Ty Dillon will start on the pole followed by #38-Zane Smith, #54-Ty Gibbs, #71-Michael McDowell, #3-Austin Dillon, #43-Erik Jones, #35-Riley Herbst, #16-A.J. Allmendinger, #7-Justin Haley, #5-Kyle Larson, #47-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #42-John Hunter Nemechek, #21-Josh Berry, #51-Cody Ware, #50-Burt Myers, #41-Cole Custer, #12-Ryan Blaney, #66-Garrett Smithley, and #15-Tim Brown.
The top two finishers in the race will advance to the Clash.

#9-Chase Elliott will start from the pole for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Sunday night.
#17-Chris Buescher starts second, followed by #11-Denny Hamlin, #45-Tyler Reddick, #6-Brad Keselowski, #19-Chase Briscoe, #22-Joey Logano, #20-Christopher Bell, #4-Noah Gragson, #88-Shane Van Gisbergen, #24-William Byron, #60-Ryan Preece, #8-Kyle Busch, #23-Bubba Wallace, #77-Carson Hocevar, #2-Austin Cindric, #1-Ross Chastain, #99-Daniel Suarez, #48-Alex Bowman, and #34-Todd Gilliland.
Starting positions were determined four heat races.
20 drivers qualified for the race by finishing in the top 5 of each heat race.
The top two finishers in the Last Chance Qualifier tomorrow night will make the race.
The final spot in the race goes to the driver highest in the 2024 points not already in the race. That will be #12-Ryan Blaney if he doesn’t race his way in.
NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Heat Race Results page.

The timed practice session that served as qualifying for the heat races at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is complete.
Drivers were split up into groups of 6 or 7 and completed a four minute session. The fastest driver overall got the pole for heat #1, the second fastest got the pole for heat 2, third is on pole for heat 3 and fourth in heat 4.
#9-Chase Elliott and #6-Brad Keselowski are on the front row for heat 1.
#17-Chris Buescher and #19-Chase Briscoe are on the front row for heat 2.
#11-Denny Hamlin and #22-Joey Logano are on the front row for heat 3.
#45-Tyler Reddick and #20-Christopher Bell are on the front row for heat 4.
NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Final Practice / Qualifying Results page.

Practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is over. The results:
#54-Ty Gibbs 64.198
#60-Ryan Preece 63.680
310-Ty Dillon 63.505
#5-Kyle Larson 63.501
#35-Riley Herbst 63.501
Slowest: #66-Garrett Smithley 60.992
Best 10 lap average (of 39 drivers): #54-Ty Gibbs 63.384
Most laps run: #22-Joey Logano, 77 laps.
Notes: Drivers went out for three sessions in three different groups. The fastest speeds were all reached during the first practice session of group 1.
The final session served as qualifying to set the heat race lineups.
See complete results on the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Practice Results page

Practice Groups

Pre-race inspection in the NASCAR Cup Series garage is complete. There were no multiple failures.

Crew Rosters  – Final version. All teams included.

The entry list for the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is posted. The 36 chartered teams are entered plus 3 additional teams: #15-Tim Brown, #50-Burt Myers, #66-Garrett Smithley.
23 drivers will compete in the feature event Sunday night.
See the complete list on the 2025 Clash Entry List page.

Goodyear Tire Notes – The tire set-up for Bowman Gray is the same as the fall 2024 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville. Teams will have 5 total sets for the event weekend. Includes 3 race sets plus 1 practice set and 1 qualifying set.  See more information  on the Tire Notes page.

NASCAR News & Notes:

• 2025 is the 47th running of the Clash, just the fourth held outside of Daytona since its inception in 1979.
• Bowman Gray Stadium is the fourth different venue to host the annual non-points NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event; joining Daytona International Speedway (1979 – 2020), the Daytona International Speedway Road Course (2021) and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2022-2024).
• A total of 25 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the annual Clash event from 1979-2024.
• See much more on the NASCAR News & Notes page.

Statistical Advance

Format announcement

Format:

• Three practice groups with each group having three sessions.
• Final practice determines the starting order for the four Heat races (fastest on pole for Heat 1, 2nd on pole for Heat 2, 3rd on pole for Heat 3, 4th on pole for Heat 4 etc.)
• Heat races are 25 laps each.
• The top-five finishers from Heat races fill the first 20 of 23 spots for the Main event with the winner of Heat 1 on the pole, winner of Heat 2 in 2nd, Heat 3 in 3rd, Heat 4 in 4th.
• The remaining cars compete in a 75 lap last chance race, the top 2 finishers advance to the main event.
• The 23rd spot goes to the highest driver from 2024 driver points standings that is not already in the main event.
• 200 lap Main event with 23 cars.
• Only green flag laps count during the Heats, LCQ and Main (no overtime in the Heats and LCQ but the Main must finish under green)
• Halfway break at Lap 100 in Main event.

Weekend Event Schedule