Cook Out Clash Returning to Bowman Gray Stadium in 2026

NASCAR announced Wednesday the Cook Out Clash will return to Bowman Gray Stadium.

The exhibition event will once again open the 2026 season after a capacity crowd attended the event at “The Madhouse” one year ago. The 2026 edition of the Cook Out Clash is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, January 31-February 1.

“We wrote a new chapter in the storied history of motorsports at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Cook Out Clash this year,” said Joey Dennewitz, Managing Director, NASCAR Regional. “As NASCAR’s first weekly racetrack, we are proud to bring the 2026 Cook Out Clash back to the original home to grassroots racing. Thanks to the City of Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem State University for their continued partnership at ‘The Madhouse’.”

“The City of Winston Salem is deeply honored to have been chosen to host the 2026 Cook Out Clash,” said City of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. “The 2025 race was an immensely successful event for all parties involved. We will work hard to ensure that the 2026 Cook Out Clash is even more successful.”

Cook Out will once again serve as entitlement sponsor for the Cook Out Clash. The family-owned restaurant chain has 350 locations across 11 states.

“We are proud to support the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in our backyard in Winston-Salem,” said Jeremy and Morris Reaves, CEO and Founder of Cook Out. “We look forward to bringing our NASCAR racing family together in our community once again with the Cook Out Clash. Last year was so amazing and we can’t wait to do it again.”

Cook Out maintains a strong presence in NASCAR, from the grassroots level to the premier series. Along with the Cook Out Clash, Cook Out is the entitlement sponsor for the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway, as well as the crown jewel Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Cook Out also sponsors the NASCAR Youth Series, among other sponsorships throughout the grassroots level of racing.

“Cook Out is an amazing partner that continues to have a positive impact across NASCAR,” said Justin Swilling, Project Lead for the Cook Out Clash. “Their support continues to take our events to the next level, and we look forward to working together to make this year’s Cook Out Clash another memorable sold-out event.”

The 2025 Cook Out Clash marked the first NASCAR Cup Series event at Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971. Chase Elliott claimed the win in this year’s Cook Out Clash.

Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR’s longest-running weekly racetrack. Bill France, Sr. and Alvin Hawkins brought motorsports to the facility in 1949, and the track hosted 29 NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Cup Series) events from 1958 to 1971.

In 2024, NASCAR took over long-term management of racing operations at Bowman Gray Stadium in partnership with the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

For more information and to join the list to purchase tickets for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, visit NASCARClash.com.

-Photo credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images