This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series is scheduled to return to the Piedmont Triad in order to kick off the 2026 season. Coverage of the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray begins with NASCAR RaceDay at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Race coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET with the green flag around 8:15 p.m. ET. It can be heard on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Records and facts
Last year's Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray was dominated by Chase Elliott. By virtue of winning Heat No. 1, Elliott claimed the pole. From there, he led 171 of 200 laps to take the victory.
Track Facts
Track / Race Length: .253-mile oval, 200 laps (50.6 miles)
Banking: flat
Straightaways: ~330 feet, flat
Grandstand Seating: 17,000
Pit Road Speed:N/A
Pace Car Speed: 30 mph
Opened:
1938 (racing began in 1939, then restarted in 1947)
Website: http://www.bowmangrayracing.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BowmanGrayStadium
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TALLADEGA
Pre-Race Schedule:
Practice: Sunday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2
Qualifying: Sunday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2
Last Chance Qualifier: Sunday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m. ET on FOX
Say What?!
"Bowman Gray is cool because it’s so short. It’s so small and the fans are right there on top of everything. It reminds me a little bit of the Summer Shootout and racing the legends cars. It’s a really tight bull ring
and hard to get around there, hard to pass with these big heavy stock cars. But we made the most of it last year and I felt like the fans came out and supported it very, very well, so I hope they do so again this year." - Kyle Busch
"I’m curious to see what’s going to happen this weekend. It’s definitely going to be cold; it was cold last year but not that cold. For me, it’s
not that different. As a driver, we fight the heat all the time so it’s a nice change to drive when it’s cold. From the race team perspective, there are a lot of factors on the technical side that the team will have to fight with to try to keep things going through some really cold temperatures. I hope we can get it in; it’ll be interesting what shakes out, but whenever they let us back in the race car, I am excited to get going." - Alex Bowman
"This might be the coldest race weekend I’ve ever experienced but that’s just another part of the Clash experience that will make it unique for the fans watching. It was an electric atmosphere last year, and I’m confident this year we can make the main event and get some momentum on our side heading into Daytona." - Zane Smith
Phil Allaway is the Frontstretch newsletter manager. He can be reached at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Photo is courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography.