Chase Elliott Takes Historic Victory in Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

While carrying one of NASCAR’s most historic family names, Chase Elliott, a seven-time winner of the Most Popular Driver Award, made his own piece of history Sunday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In the first NASCAR Cup Series event at Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971, Elliott, a champion of NASCAR’s top-level in his own right, triumphed, dominating the 200-lap contest from the pole to win the Cook Out Clash.

Since the moment the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet was unloaded in the staging area outside of the racetrack, Elliott had fantastic raw pace, posting the fastest qualifying time in Saturday’s final session.

Shortly after qualifying wrapped up, all it took was a quick-and-easy masterclass by the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion in his 25-lap heat race, to assert himself as the event’s polesitter, and an early favorite to capture the win.

With track position at a premium, as usual for the seventh-generation racecar on short tracks, Elliott’s main objective was to not lose copious amounts of track position throughout the night — whether that be through long-run fade, or getting involved in somebody else’s mess.

Elliott faced challenges throughout the event, in the form of Toyota GAZOO Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick, who surged to the front of the pack around the halfway point of the event.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver got back in control of the race in the second half, after Hamlin made a mistake on a restart and slid up the racetrack, opening the precious inside line for Elliott to dart through, and back to the race lead.

From there, the Dawsonville, Georgia-native was able to defend his lead, darting to the inside of several lapped vehicles in the closing laps and holding back the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, and his good buddy, Ryan Blaney.

“Had a tough race,” Elliott said post-race. “Ryan [Blaney] kept me honest there at the end. Denny [Hamlin] was really good at the second half of that break. I just felt like he was kind of riding, and I was afraid to lose control of the race and not be able to get back.”

Despite coming up just one spot short of this coveted victory, Ryan Blaney ended up having a solid evening, considering he finished last in his heat race, finished last in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), and had to take a provisional just to make the field.

“Yeah, that was fun,” Blaney said. “That was a blast. The car was really good, especially the first half and the second half. Being able to get to 2nd, then race hard with Chase there, who’s going to save more tire. I just didn’t quite have enough right rear at the end to make a move on him.”

Denny Hamlin faded back to third in the closing laps of the event, finishing nearly five seconds behind the eventual race-winner. Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano was fourth, with Bubba Wallace rounding out the top-five.

Ross Chastain had a quiet evening to bring his No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet home in sixth-place, while Austin Cindric tucked in right behind in seventh. Tyler Reddick was fighting for the win at one point in the event, but faded to eighth late.

In his first Cook Out Clash, and his first NASCAR Cup Series event at a quarter-mile short track, Shane Van Gisbergen brought home his No.88 an impressive ninth, while Chris Buescher rounded out the top-10.

Of the 23 drivers that started the main event in the Cook Out Clash, 22 of them managed to finish. Only Chase Briscoe retired from the event early, with a steering issue on his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19.

While Sunday’s event was indeed historic, it didn’t necessarily take on the full “Madhouse” spirit that many expected. Granted, there was a lot of contact on track, but there weren’t many instances of tempers flaring throughout the evening, making for a (relatively) calm first trip to Bowman Gray Stadium.

At this point in time, it’s unknown whether NASCAR plans to bring the NASCAR Cup Series back to Bowman Gray Stadium, or if the sanctioning body will explore other venues for the pre-season exhibition event.

Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series is the “official” start to the season — Speedweek at Daytona. Coverage begins with single-vehicle qualifying on Wednesday, February 12 at Daytona International Speedway.

INSPECTION NOTE: At 11:07 PM ET on Sunday, February 2, NASCAR confirmed that the post-race inspection was completed with no issues. Chase Elliott is officially the winner of the Cook Out Clash.