A strong 40% turnout from local fans set the stage for an electrifying season opener at Bowman Gray. The Cook Out Clash quickly became a thrilling showdown between Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, with Elliott securing a meaningful victory in honor of his father, Bill Elliott, who dominated a pre-season race at Daytona in 1987.
Blaney, who faced early setbacks after a hole prelim issue left him last in qualifying, delivered an impressive performance. Starting from the 23rd position, he methodically worked his way through the field and put up a strong challenge in the closing laps. Fans watched in suspense as Blaney closed in on Elliott, but the No. 9 driver maintained control to take the checkered flag.
Elliott started on the pole and led 171 of the 200 laps—more than any other driver—ultimately securing victory by a 1.3-second margin over Blaney. Despite a tough starting position, Blaney showed resilience, charging through the field and pushing hard in the final laps. However, as Elliott navigated lapped traffic efficiently, Blaney found himself struggling with tire wear, making it difficult to make a clean pass.
Reflecting on his race, Blaney admitted he lacked enough grip to overtake Elliott. In a post-race interview, he remarked, “I think we were pretty evenly matched. When I started to go, I just didn’t have enough right rear. And I’m like, Oh shit… I am not gonna make this pass right? And I am not gonna just bulldog into him and get chased out of here with pitchforks.”
Blaney’s weekend was far from easy. On Saturday, he failed to secure a top-five finish in the 25-lap sprint, forcing him into Sunday’s Last Chance Qualifier. Relying on a provisional entry, he advanced to the main event. He noted the similarities to the 2024 Clash, where he also fought from the back. “Last year we came from last to third, this year last to second. I just got to not start last so we might have a shot to win one of these things,” he said.
Elliott controlled the early stages of the race, but on lap 100, Denny Hamlin made a move from third to take the lead. Elliott, however, fought back, regaining control by lap 120. Aware of Hamlin’s pace, he admitted, “I was afraid to lose control of the race and not be able to get it back.”
Elliott’s determination paid off, securing his first Clash victory with the fastest lap time of 14.161 seconds. Meanwhile, Hamlin, despite his mid-race charge, settled for third.
