WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Heading into this weekend’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, many wondered how the NASCAR Cup Series’ first trip to the quarter-mile oval since 1971 would turn out.
Based on the series’ three trips to the makeshift track inside the famed Los Angeles Coliseum the last three years, tight racing was expected as drivers clawed for real estate.
However, Bowman Gray presented a different atmosphere.
Following their finishes of second and fourth, Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano felt the Clash on Sunday was a hit.
“It was really, really good,” Logano said. “I thought the pre-race ceremony was pretty cool. The fans being right there. It’s what Bowman Gray is, right? You’ve got the fans heckling you and saying whatever they want and saying your number one in two different ways, so that’s what Bowman Gray was built off of.
“I don’t know if you got the boos I got, but, overall, I would say it was successful. You look at when fans are cheering and screaming and those type of things, drivers brands are being exposed to everybody, which is great. Everyone has a favorite or not and they’re passionate about it and when you get everyone this close, I mean, you look at yesterday. People hung out for the modified race all the way until practice and the heat races.
“It was packed yesterday and tonight was standing room only, so, from that standpoint, the atmosphere was successful.”
Piggybacking off Logano’s thoughts, Blaney felt the masses of fans was a major selling point to the Clash’s charm.
“From the crowd yesterday that hung out for three hours from the modifieds to when we first got out on the track is a lot of commitment, and there was a lot of energy on the frontstretch before we got going there and that’s what it’s all about,” Blaney said.
“It was really, really cool to be here and I’m happy that it was a good show for everybody. I’m looking forward to, hopefully, coming back next year.
“I don’t see why you wouldn’t come back, so I hope everyone had a good time.”
While the track, known as “The Madhouse,” delivered its fair share of frustrated drivers and retaliation on-track, the race was balanced by long, green-flag stints that saw drivers searching for grip while navigating traffic.
Perhaps the right amount of passionate fans, chaos and pure racing provided the perfect ingredients for a successful event.
For race winner Chase Elliott, who led a race-high 171 of 200 laps, it was a win he’ll never forget.
“I’m a little biased in the situation just for myself,” Elliott began. “It was an extremely special moment. I think the people in the crowd here made it that. I’m thankful for that.
“Yeah, it was a moment I’ll never forget, for sure. It’s not every day you not only race in an environment like that, but to have the opportunity to win and kind of share that moment with the crowd, it was really cool.
“I hope we put on a good show. I hope they enjoyed it. Seemed like they were into it throughout the night. Yeah, seemed like a success,” Elliott continued.
“I know it’s always tough from a winner’s perspective when everything goes your way, but it seemed like the track was racy. Just thought the whole deal was much improved compared to the last few years.”
