Chase Elliott kicked off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with a commanding victory at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray.
The preseason exhibition race held on February 2 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was a thrilling spectacle that saw Elliott fend off fierce competition from Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin to claim his first victory in the Clash.
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray marked the first time since 1971 that a NASCAR Cup Series race was hosted at the venue, with a sellout crowd eager to witness NASCAR’s return to this iconic quarter-mile track affectionately dubbed “The Madhouse.”
Chase Elliott’s dominance began on Saturday during the qualifying heats where the 2020 Cup Series champion secured pole position by posting the fastest lap time in group qualifying and later winning his heat race.
The strong start set the tone for his weekend as he led the field into Sunday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray. The main event commenced under the lights, with 23 cars lined up for a 200-lap battle on the tight and physical short track.
Elliott quickly established himself as the driver to beat leading the first 96 laps before being overtaken by Denny Hamlin – a four-time Clash winner – who capitalized on a restart just before the halfway break to take the lead.
However, Chase Elliott regained control after another restart with 79 laps remaining muscling past Hamlin in a dramatic duel that highlighted his determination and precision.
Ryan Blaney later emerged as Elliott’s primary challenger in the second half of the race. Starting last among the 23 competitors due to a driver points provisional, Blaney methodically worked his way through the field with remarkable speed and consistency.
Blaney’s late-race charge added drama to the Clash at Bowman Gray as he closed in on Elliott during the final laps but a crucial error when he misjudged his entry into Turn 1 allowed Elliott to extend his lead and ultimately cross the finish line 1.333 seconds ahead.
Chase Elliott led an impressive 171 of the 200 laps to win the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray, showcasing his mastery of lapped traffic and his ability to maintain composure under pressure.
His victory was not only a personal milestone but also a historic one, as he joined his father, Bill Elliott, as a Clash winner. Bill won the event in 1987 when it was held at Daytona International Speedway.
This made them only the second father-son duo to win the Clash following Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin finished third after leading briefly during the first half of the race. However, he couldn’t match Elliott’s pace in the closing stages despite his strong showing.
Joey Logano secured fourth place with consistent performance throughout the night, while Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five after steering clear of several on-track incidents. Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric finished sixth and seventh respectively.
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray also featured two local legends from Bowman Gray’s weekly racing circuit: Tim Brown and Burt Myers.
Brown managed a respectable tenth-place finish in the Last Chance Qualifier but did not advance to the main event while Myers’ night ended in disappointment when he crashed into the Turn 1 wall following contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
The return of NASCAR’s premier series to Bowman Gray Stadium after a 54-year absence was widely celebrated as a nod to its grassroots origins. The tight quarters and physical racing style characteristic of the oval provided fans with non-stop action.
While the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray is an exhibition race with no championship points at stake, its success this year has sparked discussions about potentially bringing more high-profile events back to historic short tracks.
Elliott expressed his appreciation for Bowman Gray’s unique atmosphere and its significance in NASCAR history during post-race interviews.
“This environment is special,” he said. “This is a place that has a deep history in NASCAR. I think they deserve this event, truthfully. I hope we didn’t disappoint.”
As teams pack up from the memorable weekend attention now shifts to Daytona International Speedway for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 on February 16.
