Ryan Preece delivered a dramatic win in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Wednesday night, overcoming hazardous winter weather and fierce competition to claim victory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Ryan Preece Cook Out Clash victory came after heavy snow twice delayed the NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race, setting the stage for a challenging and memorable battle on the historic short track.
Preece Conquers Adversity and the Elements
Persistent wintry weather failed to deter 35-year-old Ryan Preece, who adapted skillfully to wet-weather tires as sleet and snow made the Bowman Gray Stadium surface treacherous during the event’s 100-lap break. With grit and determination, Preece navigated the slick asphalt, earning his milestone victory at the quarter-mile venue after a season riddled with uncertainty.
Preece, who hails from Berlin, Connecticut, captured the spotlight after waiting through multiple postponements due to unprecedented snowfall. Overwhelmed by emotion following his win, Preece told the crowd:
“I don’t even know what to say,”
Ryan Preece, Driver
The path to victory was anything but straightforward for Preece, whose recent career uncertainty added further depth to his win. He reflected candidly in the aftermath:
“It’s the Clash, but, man, it’s been years and years of grinding … Two years ago, I didn’t think I was going to have a job. I thought I was going back to Connecticut.”
Ryan Preece, Driver
Preece joined Roush Fenway Racing in the No. 60 Ford entry after Stewart-Haas Racing ceased operations at the close of the 2024 season, underscoring the resilience he needed to reach Victory Lane.
Intense On-Track Battles Mark the Clash
The showdown saw Preece seize the lead from Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 156 after a pivotal restart, ultimately pacing the final 45 circuits of the 200-lap contest. The race was marked by 17 caution periods—a record for the Cook Out Clash—making for a physical, high-stakes contest to the finish. Preece managed to pull away cleanly following the last restart on Lap 182, beating runner-up William Byron by 1.752 seconds at the checkered flag.
This triumph places Preece among just three drivers, including NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin, who have won the Clash before earning a points-paying NASCAR Cup Series victory. Further, he extended an ongoing streak as the ninth consecutive different winner of the Clash and became the first to secure victory from outside the front two starting rows since the event adopted a quarter-mile layout at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022.
Finishing behind Byron was Ryan Blaney in third, Daniel Suarez fourth, and Denny Hamlin in fifth, with notable runs also turned in by Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, and Alex Bowman rounding out the top ten.
Key Players Face Ups and Downs
Pole-sitter and defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson dominated early while leading 67 laps but struggled after track conditions deteriorated, ultimately finishing 16th. The transition from slick tires to wet-weather rubber proved difficult for several contenders, with the stormy conditions impacting racing strategies throughout the night.
Last Chance Qualifier Drama Shapes the Field
The final starting lineup for the Clash was not settled until the completion of the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). Josh Berry secured his spot by passing AJ Allmendinger on Lap 18 of 75 in the LCQ and never relinquished the lead, earning the race into the main event for the second straight year in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford. Berry crossed the stripe 7.419 seconds ahead of runner-up Austin Cindric, capping off a dominant LCQ performance.
The last available spot came down to a dramatic final corner as AJ Allmendinger gave Cindric a push past Corey LaJoie, ensuring Cindric’s advancement. From Lap 62 onward, Cindric and LaJoie fiercely contested the runner-up position, with Cindric ultimately prevailing on the race’s final four laps. LaJoie, driving the No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford as a substitute for the injured Brad Keselowski, later commented:
“You, wanted to be on the inside, obviously, but you don’t want to pass the guy, ‘cause then he has the opportunity to get back to you,”
Corey LaJoie, Substitute Driver
“It was exciting. It was fun to be in the fight. I hadn’t been in a fight like that in a long time.”
Corey LaJoie, Substitute Driver
Allmendinger, remaining in the mix until the end, had his own strategy for the final lap:
“I had the plan set up perfect,”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
“I just didn’t execute. I went down in there to kind of shove ‘em both out of the way, and we didn’t have enough grip to throttle back up and beat ‘em to the line.”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Strong Efforts Throughout the Field
Berry and Cindric, after securing their spots through the LCQ, finished 12th and 21st respectively once the main event concluded, while Alex Bowman started last on a provisional but fought his way to a top-ten finish. The field included drivers like Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, and others, many of whom endured eventful nights as weather and competition took their toll.
A Race Defined by Perseverance and Upset
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will be remembered for its wild weather, relentless yellow flags, and underdog victory. On a night when seasoned drivers and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon were invoked for comparison, Preece’s resilience and determination stood out amid the chaos. The victory offers a meaningful new chapter for Preece and Roush Fenway Racing, showing what is possible even in the toughest conditions. Attention now turns to the NASCAR Cup Series season opener, where the competition and unpredictability promise more compelling stories ahead.
