Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Course: Bowman Gray Stadium
Format: 0.25-mile oval
Laps: 200
Race Preview
NASCAR Cup Series racing returns this week to kick off the 2026 season with a return to Bowman Gray Stadium for the traditional Clash exhibition race. Last year the series moved from Los Angeles to the quarter-mile North Carolina track with deep racing roots, and the venue and format remain the same for 2026. Chase Elliott took the spoils last season, leading 171 of the 200 laps from pole while Ryan Blaney charged to an impressive runner-up finish despite starting last among the 23 entrants. However, this time the teams and drivers could be facing unprecedented conditions with current forecasts predicting high temperatures below freezing, and the main event taking place at night after the warming sun has already set will send temperatures even lower. The weekend's temperatures are shaping up to be the coldest the NASCAR Cup Series has ever faced. Regardless of the conditions, getting the new season started with a win and a nice payday is the goal and all competitors will be hungry to seize the first checkered flag on offer in the new season.
Key Stats at Bowman Gray Stadium
- Number of races: 30
- Winners from pole: 15
- Winners from top-5 starters: 28
- Winners from top-10 starters: 29
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 1
- Fastest race: 51.527 mph
Previous 10 Clash Winners
2025 - Chase Elliott
2024 - Denny Hamlin
2023 - Martin Truex Jr.
2022 - Joey Logano
2021 - Kyle Busch
2020 - Erik Jones
2019 - Jimmie Johnson
2018 - Brad Keselowski
2017 - Joey Logano
2016 - Denny Hamlin
Not only will Bowman Gray's short distance and flat profile make track position vital, but the expected cold temperatures could also amplify that characteristic. Getting tires up to temperature quickly will be important, and drivers that can do that the fastest could have an advantage. Passing is difficult at this circuit and 28 of its 30 series races have been won by drivers starting inside the top five. However, Ryan Blaney did come from last to finish second last year by keeping his car out of trouble and systematically picking off the cars ahead throughout the race.
Fantasy players would still be wise to load their lineups with drivers starting as far forward as possible, though. This year's format is the same as 2025 where drivers were split into three groups for practice, the results of which set the lineups for four 25-lap heat races. The top five finishers in each heat advance to the Clash with all remaining drivers getting one last chance to advance to the main event via a 75-lap last-chance qualifying race. Sunday night's 23rd and final contender will be the highest ranked driver from the 2025 season not already advanced.
RotoWire NASCAR DFS Tools
DraftKings Value Picks for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Larson - $10,500
Chase Elliott - $10,300
Ryan Blaney - $10,200
Denny Hamlin - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
William Byron - $9,800
Christopher Bell - $9,600
Chase Briscoe - $9,400
Joey Logano - $9,200
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Tyler Reddick - $8,800
Kyle Busch - $8,600
Ty Gibbs - $8,200
Josh Berry - $8,000
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Alex Bowman - $7,800
Carson Hocevar - $7,200
Austin Cindric - $7,000
Austin Dillon - $6,800
NASCAR DFS Picks for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray
Ryan Blaney - $10,200
Christopher Bell - $9,600
Chris Buescher - $8,400
Josh Berry - $8,000
Austin Cindric - $7,000
Austin Dillon - $6,800
Last year at Bowman Gray Stadium, success looked bleak for Ryan Blaney when a spin late in his qualifying heat left him scrambling to qualify for the main event. A subsequent radiator replacement made his work even more difficult as he had to start from the rear of the field in the last chance qualifying race. However, Blaney still advanced to the main event by virtue of being the highest-place driver in the previous season's standings still not in the headline race. Despite starting last again in that night's main event, he surged forward, just as he did in 2024 at Los Angeles, to finish the race second behind winner Chase Elliott. It sure looks as though Blaney has a handle on how to make moves on tiny circuits, and fantasy players should expect another top finish or victory absent any trouble.
Christopher Bell is another short-track ace. His experience on these types of circuits make him one to watch this week, especially given what are anticipated to be extremely tricky conditions. Bell's car control and ability to find a fast line to get to the front should shine in these circumstances. He started eighth but finished 12th in this event last year after a crash and is another top contender that should be at the front if he can avoid trouble.
Another driver that impressed in this race last season was Chris Buescher. The RFK Racing driver started the main event on the front row after winning his qualifying heat race from pole position over Chase Briscoe. Things didn't go exactly to plan in the main race as he slipped back to finish 10th, but that early speed last year showed promise for what Buescher might be capable of in his return this season.
Josh Berry got into the 2025 main event by virtue of a second-place finish in the last chance qualifying race. He finished behind Kyle Larson despite starting ninth on the grid. In the main race, he moved forward again to finish 13th after starting just 22nd. Berry said he is looking for consistency from his 2026 season, and consolidating another positive Clash outing like he did last season could set his on course to achieve that.
Maybe forgotten from last year's Clash is Austin Cindric. Sure, Cindric didn't grab the headlines, but like a handful of others, he delivered an impressive finish differential in the main race. Cindric started 16th on the grid that night but kept out of trouble and climbed his way to eighth by the finish. A similar performance this season would be a nice points haul for fantasy players that select him this time.
Austin Dillon should also warrant roster consideration this week. The Richard Childress Racing driver did not advance to last year's main event, but his third-place run in the final qualifying race had him on the cusp of making it. He started that prequel fifth and worked his way to third for the finish. One spot more would have put him in the main event. Despite missing out last season, Dillon can still be a threat on small tracks and he is another driver with demonstrated experience moving forward in races at this venue, which makes him a driver to rely on.
NASCAR Best Bets for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of 6:00 PM ET Thursday
Race Winner - Ryan Blaney +550
Longshot Race Winner - Bubba Wallace +3000
Top-Five Finish - Joey Logano +135
Top-10 Finish - Shane van Gisbergen +200
In addition to being a top fantasy pick for this week's Clash, Ryan Blaney could also be a good wager to win. He finished third and second in the last two Clash races despite starting at the tail end of the field in both events. Given the similarities of the two circuits and race formats, it seems like Blaney has the goods to get the win as long as he can avoid major trouble. He is rightly one of the joint favorites to win this week's race, and is my top pick of the bunch.
A longshot worth considering is Bubba Wallace. The 23XI Racing driver came on strong at the end of the 2025 season. The coming year is one where even more is expected from him, and he could get that momentum building early with a top run this weekend. In last year's Clash, Wallace started 14th, but worked his way forward to finish the race fifth. A similar performance this week would not be a surprise, and a better starting position might earn him a shot at the victory.
Among those always in contention at the Clash is Joey Logano. The veteran has a habit of showing up at new and big races, and the Clash is one where he has found success in the past, too. He finished fourth in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of this race, which both ran on flat quarter-mile circuits. Logano is a veteran who can rise to the occasion, and a top-five finish this week is well within his reach.
A bigger stretch for wagerers to consider this week is Shane van Gisbergen to finish in the top 10 Sunday night. Ovals are not his background, but his improvement on them through the 2025 season was impressive. Fans also should not forget that he finished ninth in last year's Clash after starting 10th. Holding his own in new surroundings in this race last season speaks volumes of his talent. Choosing him to score a top-10 finish this time isn't as big of a stretch as some might initially think.
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