The Cup Series qualifying lineup for the Bowman Gray Stadium event has been finalized after weather-related changes pushed the Cook Out Clash to a single day on Wednesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With the focus keyword
“Cup Series qualifying lineup Bowman Gray”
central to the event, drivers now know their groups and the unique format that will set the grid for the main race.
Weather Forces Schedule Changes for Qualifying Format
The anticipated two-day Cook Out Clash weekend was condensed to just one day—Wednesday—after snowfall caused multiple postponements. This forced event officials to adjust the qualifying process, eliminating the usual heat races to determine the starting spots at the quarter-mile oval.
To adapt, event planners divided the drivers into three main groups, each composed of two subgroups. The combined results across these groups will decide which 20 competitors secure a place in the 200-lap feature, bypassing the need for the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier. This revised structure brings together Cup Series drivers from organizations including Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, and Team Penske, as well as independent and smaller teams.
Overview of Qualifying Groups and Notable Drivers
In Group 1, drivers such as Cole Custer representing the Haas Factory Team, Ty Dillon from Kaulig Racing, and Noah Gragson of Front Row Motorsports headline Group A. Other participants include Riley Herbst (23XI Racing), Ryan Preece (RFK Racing), Chad Finchum (Garage 66), and veteran Burt Myers (Team AmeriVet).
Group 1’s Group B brings together A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing), Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports), along with rookie Connor Zilisch (Trackhouse Racing), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports), and Daniel Suarez (Spire Motorsports).
Group 2 is also split into two subgroups. Group A features Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing), Corey LaJoie (RFK Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing), Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports), Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club). In Group B, notable names include Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports), Austin Cindric (Team Penske), Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing), Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing), Chris Buescher (RFK Racing), and Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing).
Group 3 offers another strong collection of drivers. Group A highlights Joey Logano (Team Penske), Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports), Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing), Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing), and Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing). Group B features Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe (Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing), Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing), and Ryan Blaney (Team Penske).
How the Field Will Be Finalized for the Clash
From the three main groups, the best 20 drivers—based on their group performances—will qualify for the main 200-lap race. Two additional drivers from the Last Chance Qualifier will join them, and one spot remains reserved for the leading driver from the 2025 point standings who hasn’t yet secured a starting position, rounding out the final field of 23 for the Cook Out Clash event.
Television Coverage and Upcoming Schedule
Fox Sports will televise the Last Chance Qualifier starting at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, leading into the Cook Out Clash main event at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, giving fans and teams alike a chance to see how the Cup Series qualifying lineup for Bowman Gray will impact the contest. With so many competitive drivers from major organizations—such as Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford—gridding up alongside local and up-and-coming faces, the showdown at Bowman Gray Stadium promises to be both unpredictable and entertaining. Watchers in Winston-Salem and beyond will be keenly anticipating who will emerge ahead on North Carolina’s storied short track.
