Kyle Larson‘s team at Hendrick Motorsports is preparing for a significant adjustment ahead of the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, marking a fresh approach as the NASCAR Cup Series 2026 season gets underway. This anticipated Kyle Larson team roster change is drawing attention from both NASCAR fans and analysts as the exhibition event approaches.
Notable Adjustment Within Larson’s Crew
Throughout previous NASCAR seasons, Larson’s #5 crew, led by esteemed crew chief Cliff Daniels, has established one of the most consistent and accomplished partnerships in modern stock car racing. Riding high after securing a second championship in the 2025 season, the #5 Hendrick Motorsports squad aims to uphold their title-winning standards into the new season.
Yet as preparations for the upcoming Cook Out Clash intensify, official entries indicate a conspicuous change—a new addition to the squad’s engineering lineup. Instead of the usual configuration, a different face will fill the engineering spot for this key exhibition race at Bowman Gray, a track well-known for its challenging short track characteristics.
Nathan Woodby Joins as War Room Engineer for the Clash
As detailed by motorsport analyst Bozi Tatarevic, the incoming change centers around Nathan Woodby, an experienced war room engineer already respected for his technical expertise and race setup insight. Woodby will serve on-site during the upcoming Bowman Gray event, adding his perspective directly from trackside during the hustle of race day.
“Some of the Bowman Gray rosters are up so we can start looking at changes for 2026. @DanielsCliff has kept the championship-winning squad of @KyleLarsonRacin mostly the same, but war room engineer Nathan Woodby is listed as going to the track at Bowman Gray.”
– Bozi Tatarevic, Motorsport Content Creator
The Lineup for Kyle Larson’s Team in the 2026 Cook Out Clash
The latest roster for Kyle Larson’s #5 Hendrick Motorsports team entering the exhibition event includes familiar faces, with the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion aiming to capture his first preseason exhibition race victory at Bowman Gray. The finalized crew features innovation in engineering, while preserving the majority of the core championship-winning unit that propelled Larson to last season’s success.
This new combination reflects both trust in the squad’s strengths and openness to targeted improvements for the unique demands of the tight Bowman Gray circuit. The strategic shift underlines the team’s anticipation for a strong showing as Larson seeks early momentum for his new campaign.
Rivalry and Recent Track History
While Larson has yet to secure a win in a preseason exhibition showdown, he arrives at Bowman Gray as the driver everyone expects to watch. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Chase Elliott, took the spotlight at last year’s event, leading the largest portion of the race and prevailing over competitors such as Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney to win NASCAR’s inaugural preseason race at this storied venue.
The pressure is now on Larson and his #5 crew—including rookie track engineer Nathan Woodby—to match or exceed last season’s achievements from within their own organization. As the event draws near, the focus remains on whether this Kyle Larson team roster change will result in a championship-level performance from the outset of 2026.
Fans and insiders will be watching closely, recognizing that even a subtle shift in a top-tier NASCAR roster can make a sizable difference in performance, especially in high-profile exhibition settings like the Cook Out Clash.
