The NASCAR Cup Series will hit the track for the first time in 2026 this weekend as the sport\u2019s top division makes its return to the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, short-track famously known as \u201cThe Madhouse\u201d for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.<\/p>\n
The 48th rendition of the series\u2019 annual preseason exhibition race marks the beginning of a 38-race schedule for the division that leads to the title-deciding race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.<\/p>\n
With roots that run deep in NASCAR history, Bowman Gray Stadium became just the fourth different venue to host the exhibition-style race last season. The event saw near domination by Team Chevy\u2019s Chase Elliott to lead the Bowtie brand to its series-leading 23rd Clash victory \u2013 a record that more than doubles the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 10 wins. The win \u2013 Elliott\u2019s first in the event \u2013 delivered Hendrick Motorsports its eighth Clash win to tie fellow Chevrolet organization, Richard Childress Racing, for second on the event\u2019s all-time wins list. The 2020 champion joined an elite list of active past Clash winners, which also includes series veteran and Team Chevy teammate, Kyle Busch, who is a two-time winner in the event.
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TEAM CHEVY SET FOR TITLE-DEFENDING SEASON<\/p>\n
Debuting an updated design of its Camaro ZL1 racecar in 2026, Chevrolet has its sights set on yet another championship title sweep in NASCAR\u2019s premier series this season. The NASCAR Cup Series winningest manufacturer is coming off its 29th sweep of the series\u2019 driver and manufacturer championship titles.<\/p>\n
Already boasting a series-leading 15-race win season, Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Kyle Larson put a bow on Chevrolet\u2019s strong 2025 campaign by earning the manufacturer its 34th driver championship in NASCAR\u2019s premier series. With two NASCAR Cup Series titles under his belt, the 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native will enter his 12th full-time season as just the third active multi-time champion in NASCAR\u2019s highest ranks. Alongside Larson\u2019s title also came Chevrolet\u2019s 44th manufacturer championship in the division, which includes a streak of now five-straight title-earning seasons to keep the Bowtie brand undefeated in the Next Gen era.
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ELLIOTT\u2019S MASTERY AT \u201cTHE MADHOUSE\u201d<\/p>\n
Entering a weekend filled with unknowns, NASCAR\u2019s return to Bowman Gray Stadium proved to be no challenge for Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team. Topping the leaderboard in both qualifying and his respective heat race, the 30-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, native cruised his Chevrolet-powered machine to 171 laps led in the 200-lap main event en route to his first career Clash victory. The triumph \u2013 Chevrolet\u2019s 23rd in the event\u2019s history \u2013 made the former champion the 26th driver to win in the series\u2019 annual exhibition race. A repeat performance in this weekend\u2019s event would make Elliott just the eighth driver to become a two-time Clash winner \u2013 joining the likes of career Chevrolet driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon (1994, 1997), and fellow Team Chevy driver, Kyle Busch (2012, 2021).
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2026 TEAM CHEVY LINEUP<\/p>\n
Team Chevy\u2019s already robust team and driver lineup got a little bigger this season with the addition of two notable organizations: Haas Factory Team and Rick Ware Racing.<\/p>\n
Previously campaigning under the Chevrolet banner through the 2016 season, it\u2019s a homecoming for Haas Factory Team as the organization\u2019s NASCAR Cup Series program and two full-time NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series entries will compete with Chevrolet-powered machines this season. With a technical alliance alongside Hendrick Motorsports, the organization\u2019s No. 41 Chevrolet will see Cole Custer back behind the reigns, with the 28-year-old Ladera Ranch, California, native set to embark on his fifth full-time season in NASCAR\u2019s top division. Custer\u2019s rookie season in the Cup Series came in 2020, which saw the driver earn his first career victory in the division at Kentucky Speedway. Arguably his most notable season in the NASCAR national ranks came in 2023 when he returned to the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time \u2013 ultimately ending the run with the championship title.<\/p>\n
Also joining the Chevrolet camp is Rick Ware Racing, who will be fielding one full-time entry \u2013 the No. 51 Chevrolet with driver Cody Ware \u2013 in the NASCAR Cup Series. The organization joins the Bowtie brigade with a technical alliance through Richard Childress Racing. While their tenure in the division dates back to 2012, Rick Ware Racing has also seen success across a variety of racing disciplines with wins in NHRA, American Flat Track, World Supercross and the CARS Tour.
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ZILISCH READY FOR ROOKIE CAMPGAIN<\/p>\n
At just 19 years old, Connor Zilisch has already established an impressive racing resume that includes LMP2 class wins at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 hours of Sebring, which was followed by a win in his first-ever NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Watkins Glen International. In 2025, the Mooresville, North Carolina, native signed his first full-season contract in the NASCAR national ranks to pilot the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series \u2013 ultimately leading Team Chevy\u2019s rising star to a record-setting rookie campaign that was highlighted by 10 wins and a streak of 18 consecutive top-five finishes.<\/p>\n
Fresh off yet another podium finish in the Rolex 24, Zilisch\u2019s rapid rise up the ranks continues as he gears up for his rookie season on NASCAR\u2019s biggest stage \u2013 driving the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet for the 2026 Cup Series season. Paired with veteran crew chief, Randall Burnett, Zilisch will be a part of a stout three-car stable for the Chevrolet organization, alongside teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen. Zilisch has just three starts in NASCAR\u2019s top division, with his most recent at Atlanta Motor Speedway (June 2025) ending with a career-best finish of 11th.
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BOWTIE BULLETS:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will serve as the official pace vehicle for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium race weekend.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Clash Win:<\/p>\n
Kyle Busch \u2013 two wins (2021, 2012)<\/p>\n
Chase Elliott \u2013 one win (2025)<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In 47 NASCAR Cup Series Clash races, Chevrolet has earned a series-leading 23 victories \u2013 a record more than double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 10 wins.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Chevrolet holds the series\u2019 record for the most consecutive Clash wins by a single manufacturer with six straight \u2013 recorded from 2005-2010.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In 144 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories \u2013 a winning percentage of 46.5%.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles \u2013 capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.<\/p>\n
\ufeff\u00b7 With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 881 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
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TUNE-IN:<\/p>\n
Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium<\/p>\n
Saturday, January 31<\/p>\n
Practice and Qualifying at 6:10 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)<\/p>\n
Heat Races at 8:30 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)\ufeff
\ufeff<\/p>\n
Sunday, February 1<\/p>\n
Last Chance Race at 6 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
(FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)<\/p>\n
Cook Out Clash Main Event at 8 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
(FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
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QUOTABLE QUOTES:<\/p>\n
Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
A special partnership returns to the No. 7 Chevrolet for the Clash. What does it mean to you to represent the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and its mission?<\/p>\n
\u201cCal Ripken, Sr. had an amazing career and the legacy he left behind, especially the work the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, is doing to support younger generations through their STEM programs and education, is truly remarkable. I am personally a very big believer in the younger generation and to see how they impact the youth is unbelievable. I\u2019m thrilled to be a part of this partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n
What makes the Clash such a valuable race for you as you begin the season with your team?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really eager to get started this year. The first Clash is especially important because it\u2019s our first race to focus on communication and how we talk through the car and whether it\u2019s handling tight or loose. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing where we stack up, how we can make progress throughout the weekend, and how this will set the tone for the 2026 season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What has the offseason been like getting to know your new Crew Chief Jim Pohlman? How has your relationship been developing over the last few months?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe offseason has been good getting to know Jim, our new Crew Chief coming on board for this year. It\u2019s not something I\u2019m not accustomed to. I\u2019ve had a few Crew Chiefs over the years. Fortunately for me, I have won with every single one of them, so I am looking forward to a new opportunity of working with another crew chief and having the opportunity to go out there and get some race wins; get ourselves up there in the points and contend for a championship.\u201d<\/p>\n
The relationship has been good. We\u2019ve had some communication; we\u2019ve had some sim sessions. Thankfully we actually had a really good opportunity to test in North Wilkesboro, so we were there getting some on track time and had a day to spend together at the racetrack kind of going through our dialogue, going through some changes and understanding what I would say and what the data would say, coming up with some good answers to make our racecar go faster. Jim\u2019s been a very strong proponent of making sure we\u2019ve got some good stuff this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Where do you think that Jim Pohlman can help you now that you\u2019ve spent a little bit of time with him?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Jim\u2019s biggest thing is keeping everyone accountable. Getting everyone in the race shop pulling the rope in the same direction. Pushing them in order to dig deeper and work harder. It\u2019s not always just a 9-5 job. Racing in this business, especially at this level, you can be there 24 hours and still feel like you\u2019re behind. It\u2019s just the nature of what it\u2019s all like and trying to get the most out of everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts going into Bowman Gray?<\/p>\n
\u201cBowman Gray was really great last year. I feel like the fans really supported that race. NASCAR\u2019s most popular driver won the race, so that was good for everyone, too. But we want to be a little bit more out front and be battling for the win. So hopefully we can be a force to be reckoned with and put our name in the hat to win this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
What does it mean to start the year with Bowman Gray?<\/p>\n
\u201cBowman Gray is cool because it\u2019s so short. It\u2019s so small and the fans are right there on top of everything. It reminds me a little bit of the Summer Shoot Out and racing the legends cars. It\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do you think after having a year of racing at this track, we\u2019ll see some of that beating-and-banging Bowman Gray style this year?<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I think we saw plenty of it last year. The heat races, the last chance qualifier race. There was guys crawling over guys and spinning each other out and all that stuff, so it got pretty hectic and chaotic, and even in the feature race there was some of that going on towards the back of the field. So hopefully we\u2019re far enough up front where we don\u2019t have to deal with much of that and we can have a nice smooth race.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do you expect more chaos at The Clash this season?<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like last year\u2019s Clash was a little chaotic. There were definitely some moments there where some guys were running over each other, and guys got mad at each other for no reason. You are going to hit each other. It\u2019s inevitable, it\u2019s going to happen. But the nature of just getting a little bump-bump and then getting mad about it and trying to retaliate, that\u2019s just the nature of the sport I guess we are in today. Hopefully the drivers have grown up over the off season\u2026 I doubt it, but we will see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Clash at Bowman Gray is just a cool event, and I had never been there in my life until last year. What they say is true\u2014the Bowman Gray crowd is unique and very passionate, and it was fun to be able to see what it was all about. The energy was high, and you couple that with crazy racing, meaning you\u2019re just going to beat and gouge on each other around that place. It\u2019s full contact, so you just have to be mentally prepared for that going into it. I think it\u2019s a fun kickoff event. Obviously, it\u2019s not for points, but it is going out there for prestige. You try to win it and do the best that you can. It\u2019s a great way to get back to racing, and it\u2019s not far from home, which is a bonus.<\/p>\n
The team has been working hard during the off-season. We had a good test at North Wilkesboro, and even though we unloaded and were second quick on the first run, the season is all about figuring out expectations. For me, it\u2019s about getting in the right mindset. I put a lot of pressure on myself about how I perform because I don\u2019t want to let people down. I\u2019ve got to enjoy the process. The team has never put pressure on me, so I just need to focus and have fun. I\u2019m fortunate to still be part of all this and want to have a good year for the team and our partners. We\u2019ll go and have some fun at Bowman Gray before the regular season starts at Daytona.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, Bowman Gray is definitely an exciting race and crucial for our team with how much work has gone in over the offseason, with switching to Chevrolet and having a new alliance with HMS. So this race will be huge; evaluating where we are at, seeing what we can fix from there and try and make ourselves better for the remainder of the season. This race really sets the tone for the whole year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cBowman Gray is pure grassroots racing, and that\u2019s what makes it so cool. It\u2019s physical, it\u2019s intense, and the fans are right on top of you. We\u2019ve had a really productive offseason, and having Chef Boyardee on the car is a great way to kick things off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m curious to see what\u2019s going to happen this weekend. It\u2019s definitely going to be cold; it was cold last year but not that cold. For me, it\u2019s not that different. As a driver, we fight the heat all the time so it\u2019s a nice change to drive when it\u2019s 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\u2019ll be interesting what shakes out, but whenever they let us back in the race car, I am excited to get going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving to make the transition from Ford to Chevrolet was a big undertaking for the whole team. The integration with RCR, their engineers and, really, all of their employees, has been impressive, and the test was another good example. It gave us renewed confidence that the direction we\u2019re heading as a race team is the right one.<\/p>\n
Partnering with Chevrolet was the right choice. Everything from the engine package to the aerodynamics of the new body, there are just so many positives. It\u2019s early, but we feel like it\u2019s already paying dividends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What is your perspective heading into Bowman Gray this weekend?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice just get out to the track; go through the process, make sure everything is functioning and working well. The heat races and last chance qualifier are pretty tricky. It was exciting, but hard to pass last year. I\u2019m ready to get to Bowman Gray and have a shot at it. Hopefully the weather works with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
You qualified for the first Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Can you replicate that this weekend?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited for it. I don\u2019t get around Martinsville very well, but for some reason, I\u2019m not too bad at getting around Bowman Gray. We were running sixth last year before getting spun. I think we were something like the second-fastest car on lap times. I thought we realistically had a shot to run with Chase (Elliott), so hopefully we can unload with the same speed on Saturday. It\u2019d be interesting to win my first race in a non-points race, but it would be a great way to start the new year.\u201d<\/p>\n
What is it like competing in the wild environment \u2018The Madhouse\u2019 promotes?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun. The place is packed. It reminds me of going to local short tracks as a kid, but with the nice, fancy Cup cars beating and banging around that little place. It\u2019s cool because I just ran the Gateway Dirt Nationals in St. Louis and went to the Chili Bowl in Tulsa. Bowman Gray reminds me a lot of those places; you just don\u2019t have a roof over your head.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium going to be interesting for sure. I\u2019ve been to races there as fan but racing a Cup car is going to be crazy for sure. I\u2019ve had some laps in the SIM to prepare for this weekend. It\u2019s a tough little track and certainly a challenge to get off the corners without getting too loose. Bowman Gray is like no other track that we race at all year. Racing there is going to be intense, but I think it will be fun, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
A new and special number this season, what does the number 97 mean to you?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a number I\u2019ve raced with all my life \u2013 I started racing with it at a young age. It\u2019s really cool that Justin Marks and Trackhouse let me race a number that means so much to me and my family. It\u2019s a really good change. I\u2019m stoked to be able to carry the 97 this year!\u201d<\/p>\n
What is the key for you to keep improving on the ovals?<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely time and to still keep an open mind, keep learning. I think I\u2019m still making huge gains in certain areas. But certainly, keep learning something new every week, especially at the tracks I\u2019m not strong at, keep trying to improve. I\u2019m nowhere near my ceiling yet, I don\u2019t think.\u201d<\/p>\n
GM PR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NASCAR Cup Series will hit the track for the first time in 2026 this weekend as the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1168,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,716,925,374,77,720,634,1702,721,1704,722,82],"class_list":["post-439744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-channel","tag-daytona","tag-fox","tag-international","tag-motor","tag-nascar","tag-ricky-stenhouse-jr","tag-series","tag-speed","tag-speedway","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=439744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=439744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=439744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=439744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}