Ryan Preece secured his first NASCAR Cup Series win on Wednesday by triumphing at the inaugural 2026 Cook Out Clash exhibition event held at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Battling snow and rain throughout the 200-lap race, Preece, representing RFK Racing in a Ford, overcame a 223-race winless streak in the Cup Series to emerge victorious.
Race Overview and Preece’s Path to the Lead
The 35-year-old driver took the lead after passing Shane van Gisbergen with 43 laps remaining and ultimately finished 1.752 seconds ahead of William Byron. This victory placed Preece among the select group of drivers, including Jeff Gordon (1994) and Denny Hamlin (2006), who have won the Clash before achieving their first Cup win. Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez, and Denny Hamlin completed the top five finishers.
Entry into the 23-car field was finalized following a last-chance race where Josh Berry and Austin Cindric secured spots, with Alex Bowman filling in as a provisional. The event, initially postponed from Sunday due to heavy snow in North Carolina, started with Kyle Larson on the pole at the historic quarter-mile flat Bowman Gray track.
Early Race Dynamics and Multiple Caution Periods
Kyle Larson led the first 40 laps until a debris caution in Turn 4 compressed the field, with William Byron and Chase Briscoe trailing closely. The race featured heavy contact, including Bubba Wallace spinning after Ryan Blaney caused a chain reaction entering Turn 3. Byron overtook Larson off Turn 2 on Lap 72, with Briscoe also advancing. The third caution came when van Gisbergen collided with Austin Cindric. Briscoe surged past Byron on Lap 85, with Ty Gibbs and Blaney joining the top five competitors.
Weather Challenges and Impact on Race Strategy
At the halfway mark, Gibbs led the race just as snow began falling, prompting a red flag and a switch to rain tires in response to the wet track conditions. The remainder of the event was riddled with 13 additional caution flags as drivers struggled with slippery surfaces. Early in the second half, Briscoe capitalized on Gibbs’s misstep, while Hamlin spun out Larson in a multi-car incident shortly after racing resumed.
Late-Race Decisions and Final Pivotal Moves
With 35 laps left, Preece was leading when NASCAR allowed teams to pit for fuel, prompting a wave of stops for both fuel and rain tires due to the ongoing damp track. From that point, Preece maintained control to secure a decisive victory in challenging conditions, breaking his long winless streak in the Cup Series.
Implications of Preece’s Victory and Outlook
Preece’s win at the Cook Out Clash represents a significant milestone in his career and sets a positive tone for the 2026 NASCAR season. His ability to navigate the unpredictable weather and maintain composure on the tricky Bowman Gray track signals potential for strong performances ahead. Following this dramatic opener, all eyes will be on how Preece and other top drivers leverage this momentum as the regular season progresses.
