NASCAR is heading to Bowman Gray Stadium this weekend for the 2025 season-opening Cook Out Clash exhibition race. The event will feature intense action on the 0.25-mile oval track, with 39 drivers vying for just 23 spots in the 200-lap race.
In addition, the Modified Division will join the festivities on Saturday afternoon with the Cook Out Madhouse Classic. This exclusive race will showcase NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte, who will drive the No. 18 Cook Out Modified.
Here’s the schedule (all times Eastern):
Saturday, Feb. 1
11:15 a.m.: Modified Practice
12:00 p.m.: Modified Single Car Qualifying
1:45 p.m.: Cook Out Madhouse Classic – FloRacing (125 laps or 90 min)
6:10 p.m.: Cup Series Practice/Qualifying (3 groups, 3 eight-minute sessions – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM)
8:30 p.m.: Cup Series Heat Races (4 heat races, 25 laps each) – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
Sunday, Feb. 2
6:00 p.m.: Last Chance Qualifying Race (75 laps) – FOX/MRN/SiriusXM
8:00 p.m.: Cook Out Clash (200 green-flag laps) – FOX/MRN/SiriusXM
Race Format:
Heat Race Lineup: The 39 drivers will split into 3 practice groups, with the fastest lap from each group’s final session determining the starting order for the heat races. The top driver in qualifying will start on the pole for Heat 1, the second-fastest for Heat 2, and so on.
Heat Races: Four heat races, each 25 laps, will only count green flag laps, with no overtime. The top five finishers in each heat race will advance to The Clash.
Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ): Drivers who didn’t qualify through the heat races will compete in the LCQ. The race, 75 laps with only green flag laps, has no overtime, and the top two finishers will earn spots in The Clash.
The Cook Out Clash: The 23 drivers will race for 200 laps, counting only green flag laps. There will be a timed break halfway through the race, which must end under green flag conditions.
Lineup: The first 22 starting positions are determined by the heat races and LCQ results. The final spot will go to the highest-finishing driver from the 2024 season points standings who hasn’t yet qualified.
