CONCORD, N.C. — There are plenty of unknowns as drivers and teams prepare for Sunday’s CookOut Clash at Bowman Gray Speedway, an exhibition race for the NASCAR Cup Series.
But what is known is the historic quarter-mile race track is flat and tight and require close, aggressive racing.
Many of the drivers have never raced at the track nicknamed The Madhouse, and others haven’t even set foot on the grounds at the Winston-Salem State football stadium that doubles as a race track.
Here’s what some of the drivers are saying:
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
“I’ve been in the stands before as a fan but haven’t race there before. It should be wild. It’s sold-out, it’s a unique place, has a lot of history in this sport and it’s cool we’re getting the opportunity to race there. It’s a such a small track with a bunch of us trying to make the main event, so I’m sure there will be a lot of excitement on the track.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“I’m sure it’ll be tough to pass this weekend. I hope we can give the fans the kind of exciting racing they’re used to seeing on a Saturday night in the summer. I’m sure the energy will be high in the stands – and be crazy on the track, too.”
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“I think that it’s probably going to be very similar to what the Clash was from a viewing standpoint or a fan standpoint. It logistically makes way more sense. I think having it out there in Los Angeles was a great thought. I commend them for the effort in doing it. But I think the shine wore off of it after the first year. I think that the (Bowman Gray) Stadium is a place that has some historical value from a NASCAR presence perspective. And they have weekly shows, and they have these modified races up there and other classes too. And I just think that people are going to be really excited for it. I think that that’s going to last more than a year, in my opinion. I could be totally wrong, and (I’m) not knocking the folks that came out to the Clash (in LA) every year either, because there were still a good number, but certainly not quite like it was that first year. So, hopefully it just carries the energy a little further before they have to switch it up again.”
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
“I’m so excited to be able to race in my hometown. I grew up in Winston-Salem, so as a kid and teenager, I spent a lot of races sitting in the grandstands at Bowman Gray Stadium, watching some of the local heroes like Burt Myers and Tim Brown, Junior Miller, all those guys, who a few of them are going to be competing against us. It’s so cool to race a stock car, not only, but a NASCAR Cup car around small Bowman Gray Stadium. It’s going to be an exciting event. It’s our first race with Sea Best, so looking forward to putting on a show, having fun for the Clash and holding nothing back at the Madhouse.”
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“The track is even smaller than the Coliseum, so I’ll be interested to see if that expands at all for us, if they move some things around. But I think that it’s just a really tight quarters race track and it’s going to create some bumping and banging naturally because that’s the only way to pass.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
“Bowman Gray should be fun. Those fans will definitely tell you who their favorite drivers are and the ones that aren’t their favorite drivers. The atmosphere is definitely going to be intense. When it comes to a track that I’ve never been to, the only thing that we can really do to prepare is going to Sim. Then, we just watch film of past races there to see what line people use, how to pass, and other small details. No one really knows what to expect until we get the cars out on track during practice on Saturday.”
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“Obviously, it’s a really small place about like the Coliseum, probably similar size, maybe a little bit narrower – excited how close that is. I’ve raced there, but I’ve also sat in the stands there and the atmosphere there is unlike anywhere else we go. I’ve never seen the pace car driver get flipped off anywhere except for there. So, pretty excited to go there and get to run a Cup car. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
“This going to be pretty wild. It’s been a long time since I raced at Bowman Gray. If you haven’t seen a race there you don’t know what you are missing. There is as much action in the stands as there is on the track with the fans really getting into it. I think the fans fight as much as the drivers. I think this is going to be a fun way to start the season. I hope we can put the Freeway Chevrolet at the front of the field. Winning there would be really special.”
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
“You’re not gonna be able to open her up too much, but the pressure feels a lot different when you go there, only because there’s nothing to lose, really per se and everything to win. There’s a trophy to win and a lot of really cool factors to be the first to win at a racetrack, and it’s nice to get a little momentum built and all those type of things. There are a lot of reasons to want to go race, but if something was to happen, it’s not the end of the world. Would I be upset if you turn on TV and I get dumped are you gonna see Joey Logano pissed off? Absolutely, because I want to win, but it doesn’t affect the rest of our season, and I think all of the drivers probably feel similar, I would assume. If you win, awesome. If you don’t win, yeah, you might be mad for a few hours, but you’re gonna get over it and start thinking about Daytona.”
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
“ I remember going there one time and watching the modified race. They were like the twin 125s or something like that. This has probably been 10-12 years ago and it was entertaining. It definitely lived up to its name as The Madhouse, but I’m excited to get there. I think it’s cool. I think it’s obviously close to home. There are a lot of race fans in that area and Bowman Gray is really popular in the state of North Carolina. They’ve put on a lot of great racing for a long time, so for us hopefully, the Cup Series can live up to that hype.”
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
“ Bowman Gray and the history that’s behind it, you look back at some of the names and adding your name to that list of the Cup Series going and winning at Bowman Gray, that’s where NASCAR was pretty much born, so it would be pretty special to go and do that, and what better way than to kick it off here in Winston-Salem, N.C. That’s number one is to try and get through this weekend and it’s a great way to really start the season. One of my strengths is certainly short track racing and we’ve made the Clash three out of three years and it would be a great way to get this team up and going. It’s a good opportunity to build momentum.”
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
“I think [The Clash] is going to be wild for sure. I believe that the qualifying and the heat races, are going to be intense and it’s going to be really tough to qualify for Sunday’s main race. At the same time, it will be exciting from a fan perspective. With that many cars on a quarter-mile race track, around a football and so much history there, it’s neat to be able to go back there. We’ll see what the Cup cars can do and if we’re able to live up to the hype and hopefully we can put on a great show for them.”
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
“I think Bowman Gray is special for everyone because of the history. The Cup Series went there for a long time years ago, and to be able to go back is always fun as a driver and as a fan to go to historic tracks. We’re looking forward to going back and hopefully put on a great show for everybody.”
