Due to extensive snow-related postponements, the initial NASCAR Cook Out Clash qualifying at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was altered to depend solely on speed rather than heat races. These delays pushed scheduled activities from the weekend to Wednesday, prompting officials to divide drivers into qualifying groups and determine the 20 locked-in starters by their speed alone.
How Snow Delays Changed the NASCAR Qualifying Format
Drivers were organized into three qualifying groups, each split into two subgroups, with the fastest 20 advancing directly to the 200-lap main event on the quarter-mile, four-turn oval. This adjustment removed the four 25-lap heat races, which originally would have qualified five drivers each for the Clash.
The remaining 18 drivers were shifted to a 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier, where only the top two finishers will secure entry to the race. The final 23rd spot will be given to the highest-ranked driver in the 2025 points standings who fails to qualify either through speed or the Last Chance Qualifier.
Notable Drivers Left Out of the Cook Out Clash
Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports, despite not qualifying on speed, holds the highest position in the points standings and is therefore guaranteed a place in the main event. However, 15 other drivers have not qualified thus far and risk missing this preseason NASCAR exhibition.
The list of drivers currently outside the event includes Austin Cindric (Team Penske, No. 2 Ford), Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports, No. 4 Ford), Corey LaJoie (RFK Racing, No. 6 Ford), Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing, No. 10 Chevrolet), and A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing, No. 16 Chevrolet), among others.
Additional drivers yet to secure a spot are Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford), Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford), Riley Herbst (23XI Racing, No. 35 Toyota), Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports, No. 38 Ford), Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team, No. 41 Ford), John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club, No. 42 Toyota), Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club, No. 43 Toyota), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports, No. 47 Chevrolet), Burt Myers (Team AmeriVet, No. 50 Chevrolet), Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing, No. 51 Chevrolet), Chad Finchum (Garage 66, No. 66 Ford), and Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports, No. 71 Chevrolet).
Last Chance Qualifier and Potential Points Provisional
The Last Chance Qualifier is still underway, with two drivers from the 17 contenders poised to clinch their race entry. Should Bowman qualify by finishing in the top two of this qualifier, Austin Cindric would claim the 23rd spot via points provisional. If both Bowman and Cindric finish in the top two, then Josh Berry would be awarded the final entry position.
Race fans can watch live coverage of the Cook Out Clash on Fox starting at 6:00 p.m. ET, following the Last Chance Qualifier broadcast at 4:30 p.m. ET.
