DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Below is a statistical look at this weekend’s exhibition event, the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2, 2025, in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
This year marks the 47th running of the Clash and the first time in NASCAR Cup Series history that the traditional exhibition-style event will tackle the historic Bowman Gray Stadium.
Sunday’s event will be broadcast live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio starting at 6 p.m. ET.
In 2025, the field is open to 40 entrants to earn a spot in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, but only 23 drivers will compete in the feature event; currently, 39 drivers have entered.
This Season’s Format Rundown: How to make the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium:
- Heat Race Starting Lineup – The field will be split into (3) practice groups, with each group receiving (3) sessions. Each competitor’s fastest lap time from their final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the heat races. The fastest qualifier will be on the pole for Heat 1; second-fastest will be on the pole for Heat 2; third-fastest qualifier will be on the pole for Heat 3; fourth-fastest will be on the pole for Heat 4; etc.
- Heat Races – There will be four heat races of 25 laps each with only green flag laps counted – no overtime in play. The top five from each heat race will advance through to The Clash.
- Last Chance Qualifier - Cars that do not transfer to The Clash will compete in the Last Chance Qualifier Race (LCQ), and their starting position will be determined by where they finished in their respective heat races. The LCQ race is 75 laps with only green flag laps counted – no overtime in play. The top two finishers in the LCQ race will transfer to The Clash.
- The Cook Out Clash Feature – The main event will feature 23 drivers competing for 200 laps with only green flag laps counted – the race must end under green. A timed break will be observed at the halfway point of the race (Lap 100).
- Lineup: The first 22 starting spots for The Clash is set through finishing positions in the heat races and the Last Chance Qualifier race. The 23rd and final starting spot is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2024 season driver points standings and who had not already transferred into The Clash.
HISTORY OF THE CLASH
- The first Cook Out Clash was held on February 11, 1979, at Daytona International Speedway, and the event was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Buddy Baker (race average speed: 194.384 mph).
- This weekend’s event will be the 47th running of the Cook Out Clash, and this season’s event will be the first time it is held at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium (2025).
- 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).
- The number of participants in The Clash exhibition event has ranged from as low as seven drivers in 1981 to as high as 28 in 2009.
- This season, 40 drivers are eligible to enter the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, but only 23 drivers will start the Main Feature and compete for the win.
- Last season, 36 drivers entered the Clash at the Coliseum, but only 23 drivers competed in the Main Feature, with Denny Hamlin winning the event.
- In 2023, 36 drivers were entered in the Clash at the Coliseum event, but only 27 competitors competed in the Main Feature, with Martin Truex Jr. winning the event.
- The 2025 season marks the fourth time (2022-2025) the exhibition Clash event has used a format that includes Heat Races and Last Chance Qualifier Races.
