NASCAR Clash Returns Bowman Gray Stadium 2026

NASCAR has announced that the 2026 Cook Out Clash will return to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for a second consecutive year to open the Cup Series season on January 31 and February 1. The event follows the sold-out success of the 2025 Clash, which marked NASCAR's first Cup Series race at Bowman Gray since 1971 and was won by Chase Elliott. The quarter-mile track, known as "The Madhouse," is NASCAR's longest-running weekly racetrack and holds significant historical value as the sport's original grassroots venue. NASCAR assumed long-term management of the track in 2024, signaling a strategic commitment to maintaining its heritage and further developing the venue. Cook Out, a fast-growing restaurant chain based in Winston-Salem, will continue as the entitlement partner for the event, which will be broadcast by FOX Sports. The return to Bowman Gray has been praised by NASCAR officials, drivers, and local leaders for its energy, intensity, and connection to NASCAR's roots.