The 2025 Cook Out Clash was a non-championship exhibition NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on February 2, 2025, at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Contested over 200 laps, it was the first exhibition race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Report
Background
Bowman Gray Stadium is a NASCAR sanctioned 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. 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.
Scrutineering took place at Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 30. Post-race inspection would take place in both Winston-Salem and also at NASCAR facilities in Charlotte.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 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 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Justin Haley 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 15 Tim Brown Rick Ware Racing 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 (R) 23XI Racing Toyota 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 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 Ford 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 66 Garrett Smithley (i) Garage 66 Ford 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice Ty Gibbs was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 14.019 with an average speed of .
Practice results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14.019 64.199 2 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 14.133 63.681 3 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 14.172 63.506Official practice results
Qualifying Chase Elliott scored the pole for the first heat race with a time of 14.115 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14.115 2 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 14.146 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14.151 4 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 14.163 5 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 14.170 6 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14.173 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 14.194 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14.194 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14.215 10 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 14.217 11 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14.226 12 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 14.232 13 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 14.236 14 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 14.245 15 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14.246 16 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 14.247 17 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 14.248 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 14.261 19 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 14.274 20 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 14.281 21 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 14.283 22 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14.285 23 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14.287 24 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 14.287 25 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 14.292 26 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 14.294 27 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 14.318 28 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 14.318 29 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 14.319 30 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 14.335 31 35 Riley Herbst (R) 23XI Racing Toyota 14.338 32 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 14.362 33 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 14.382 34 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 14.401 35 15 Tim Brown Rick Ware Racing Ford 14.446 36 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 14.468 37 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 14.593 38 66 Garrett Smithley (i) MBM Motorsports Ford 14.602 39 50 Burt Myers Team AmeriVet Chevrolet 14.604Official qualifying results
Qualifying heat races Chase Elliott scored the pole for the race after winning the first qualifying heat race.
Race 1 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 252 2 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 253 7 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 254 8 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 255 5 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 256 10 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 257 9 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 258 6 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 259 4 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 2510 3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 25Official heat race 1 results
Race 2 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 252 2 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 253 3 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 254 5 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 255 7 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 256 8 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 257 4 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 258 6 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 259 9 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 2510 10 66 Garrett Smithley (i) Garage 66 Ford 25Official heat race 2 results
Race 3 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 252 2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 253 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 254 5 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 255 4 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 256 6 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 257 8 35 Riley Herbst (R) 23XI Racing Toyota 258 7 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 259 10 50 Burt Myers Team AmeriVet Chevrolet 2510 9 15 Tim Brown Rick Ware Racing Ford 24Official heat race 3 results
Race 4 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 252 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 253 6 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 254 3 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 255 5 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 256 9 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 257 7 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 258 8 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 259 4 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 25Official heat race 4 results
B Main (Top two advance) Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 752 9 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 753 5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 754 12 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 755 4 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 756 6 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 757 11 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 758 1 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 759 19 15 Tim Brown Rick Ware Racing Ford 7510 14 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 7511 16 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 7512 18 66 Garrett Smithley (i) Garage 66 Ford 7513 13 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 7514 3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7315 8 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 6816 2 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 6517 7 35 Riley Herbst (R) 23XI Racing Toyota 6518 15 50 Burt Myers Team AmeriVet Chevrolet 6119 17 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 23Official last chance race results
NOTE: Blaney advances to feature on account of highest in 2024 championship points of all unqualified drivers.
Starting lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 5 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 6 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 10 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 11 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 12 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 13 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 14 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 15 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 16 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 17 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 18 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 19 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 21 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske FordOfficial starting lineup
Race
Race results Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2002 23 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 2003 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2004 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 2005 14 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 2006 17 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2007 16 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 2008 4 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 2009 10 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 20010 2 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 20011 12 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 20012 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19913 22 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 19914 20 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 19915 13 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19916 15 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 19917 21 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19918 11 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19919 19 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19920 9 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 19921 5 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 19922 18 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 19823 6 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 120Official race results
Media
Television Fox covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and three-time Clash winner Kevin Harvick handled the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled the pit road duties, and Larry McReynolds provided insight on-site during the race.
FoxBooth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst Lap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Clint BowyerColor-commentator: Kevin Harvick Jamie LittleRegan Smith Larry McReynolds
Radio