In a dramatic conclusion at Winston-Salem‘s Bowman Gray Stadium, Ryan Preece captured RFK Racing‘s first Cookout Clash win since 1999, navigating a race defined by testing conditions, numerous cautions, and fierce competition. Preece’s triumph in the 2026 Cookout Clash brings an end to RFK’s long drought and marks him alongside legends like Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin as drivers who have claimed The Clash victory before their first points win.
Preece Brings RFK Racing Back to Victory Lane
Ryan Preece emerged as the standout performer of the night, steering his RFK Racing entry through chaos to seize the checkered flag at Bowman Gray. Preece’s ascent was anything but straightforward; he faced relentless restarts and pressure from an aggressive field. After taking the lead with 46 laps remaining, Preece maintained his composure and resisted every contender. This historic RFK Racing Cookout Clash win not only ends a decades-long wait for the team but also propels Preece into an exclusive circle alongside past victors Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin who secured The Clash before their inaugural points victories.
The contest was turbulent, with no fewer than 17 cautions, 13 of which unfolded after the halfway mark. As the laps wound down, the intensity only escalated, culminating in a performance where strategy and adaptability proved decisive. The race was held under the looming threat of adverse weather, a factor that repeatedly reshuffled the running order and further tested the drivers’ skill and patience.
Weather and Restarts Transform the Race Night
The opening hundred laps were relatively calm, with just three cautions caused mainly by spins from Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric. Kyle Larson initially exerted control by leading 67 laps, showcasing the strength of the Hendrick Motorsports stable. Teammate William Byron gained the upper hand midway, only to cede to a fast-closing Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs as tire wear drastically altered each car’s performance.
Byron, along with front-row starter Larson, slid back due to rampant tire degradation, demonstrating just how treacherous the track had become. Ty Gibbs seized the advantage on long green-flag runs, taking the lead at halfway before the event’s complexion changed during intermission. As sleet began to fall, teams scrambled to adapt, and NASCAR mandated a tire change for all, amplifying the unpredictability heading into the race’s second act.
The sporadic weather led to a flurry of incidents, sending drivers like Shane Van Gisbergen, Ryan Preece, and Daniel Suarez into contention. Preece, sensing opportunity as the track began to dry, managed to steer clear of late mayhem and hold off William Byron and other late-race challengers.
Action Intensifies in the Second Half
The drama only deepened after the halfway break. Sleet-soaked conditions forced NASCAR’s hand, leading to an all-car tire change. Ty Gibbs and Chase Briscoe led the field to the crucial lap 102 restart, but a series of incidents immediately ensued, including multi-car spins caused by contact between Connor Zilisch and Denny Hamlin, as well as close calls among frontrunners.
Carson Hocevar, aggressive on restarts, attempted a slide job but caught a drain, while Ryan Blaney, who made significant progress early, dropped dramatically after a tire-related handling issue. The outside groove, unorthodox for Bowman Gray, surfaced and contributed to continued unpredictability as new leaders like Shane Van Gisbergen and Ryan Preece cycled to the front.
Fuel shortages began to interrupt the proceedings—with both Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott running dry at critical junctures. As the field grouped repeatedly behind the pace car, more incidents ensued, including Alex Bowman and Austin Cindric’s tangle, and a substantial crash sparked by Briscoe’s wheel hop entering turn one, collecting Van Gisbergen and several other cars. Amidst the chaos, NASCAR required teams to refuel to ensure all could finish, but violations—such as Hocevar’s illegal tire change—sent additional favorites to the rear of the field for the closing segment.
As laps dwindled, Ryan Preece defended his lead with William Byron in pursuit. Byron nearly over-committed into turn one in the final run, removing himself from contention and clearing the way for Preece to secure RFK’s landmark win. The final laps saw ironclad defensive driving from Preece, who avoided calamity as cars like Kyle Busch and Ty Gibbs tangled behind him after a late race stackup.
Early Green Flag Runs Set the Tone
The initial hundred laps began with William Byron giving teammate Kyle Larson the advantage, leading to an early stretch without major incidents. Larson and Byron dictated the pace at first, but dynamics quickly shifted as the track’s surface proved fickle and tire management emerged as the theme. Chase Briscoe found a way past Byron for second just before a string of cautions shifted the field’s arrangement, including an accordion-style pileup that spun Bubba Wallace.
Eventually, Byron’s compromised restart allowed Briscoe and Ty Gibbs to surge ahead, with Gibbs taking control and leading at the halfway intermission. Frayed tempers and aggressive racing carried into the break, as seen in Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez’s heated exchange after trading positions late in the segment.
Qualifying Drama: Berry Wins the Last Chance
The day’s events began before the main feature with Josh Berry navigating from the pole to triumph—for the second consecutive season—in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), ensuring his spot in The Clash field. Michael McDowell grabbed the initial lead after Berry’s wheelspin but was relegated to the back after NASCAR penalized his jump start, ending his bid. Berry maintained command following the reshuffle, while all eyes turned to the battle for the final LCQ transfer position.
Over the concluding 20 laps, Corey LaJoie, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Cindric contested fiercely, using bump-and-run maneuvers and aggressive moves to claim the coveted second spot. Ultimately, Cindric edged LaJoie at the line, sealing his entry. The final driver in, Alex Bowman, advanced via the points provisional due to Hendrick Motorsports’ performance the prior season.
A Milestone Victory and Ripple Effects
Ryan Preece’s Cookout Clash performance delivers a historical milestone for RFK Racing, reinvigorating the organization’s legacy after years of near-misses. Preece’s strategic acumen, especially on a drying and chaotic track, may inspire greater confidence in his season prospects. The race also showcased the adaptability of drivers like Shane Van Gisbergen, Ty Gibbs, and William Byron, who all contended amid dramatic conditions.
The conclusion of the 2026 Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium stands as a testament to endurance, strategy, and resilience, setting the tone for an unpredictable season. With familiar names like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin enduring setbacks, and emerging stars proving their mettle, the event signals a dynamic year ahead for NASCAR drivers, teams, and fans—marking the end of one long-standing streak and the beginning of new storylines centered around the RFK Racing Cookout Clash win.
