The Wood Brothers and the crew of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang kick of the team’s 75th Anniversary season with a return to a familiar old venue – Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Sunday’s Cook Out Clash will be the first outing in the iconic No. 21 Ford for driver Josh Berry and crew chief Miles Stanley, and the new duo will be attempting to capture some of the magic that the team’s founders enjoyed back in the day on the tight, flat quarter-mile oval track known then and now as “The Madhouse.”
The late team founder Glenn Wood had four Cup Series wins at Bowman Gray and a total of 29 victories across all divisions he competed in at the track. Wood’s success at Bowman Gray will be honored with a special paint scheme representing the Modified “Backseater” that was among his winning mounts back in the day. That heavily-modified 1937 Ford flatback coach got its nickname from the fact that Wood was sitting so far back that it looked like he was in the back seat.
Those wins often meant prevailing in spite of the on-track incidents that often occur in races at Bowman Gray. In Wood’s final Cup win there, he started from the pole and led the first lap only to be collected in a Lap 5 multi-car crash that sent him to the rear of the field. He roared back through the pack and led the final 94 laps of the 200-lap race, finishing five seconds ahead of Ned Jarrett, with Buck Baker, Lee Petty and Jack Smith completing the top five. (It was the final top-five finish of Petty’s career, which was cut short by a devastating crash at Daytona International Speedway two years earlier.)
Berry said he expects Sunday’s race to be a typical Bowman Gray affair.
“Bowman Gray is known as The Madhouse for a reason, so I’m sure we’ll see plenty of excitement there,” he said. “It’s such a historic track, and bringing the Cup Series back to it is going to be really cool. The Wood Brothers have a long history at Bowman Gray, and I’ve already heard some great stories and seen a lot of pictures from back in the day. It’s even more special that we get to run a paint scheme that reflects their early success at the track, which is a great way to kick off the team’s 75th anniversary.”
Stanley said he too is looking forward to starting the season in his new position.
“We’ve put in a lot of work during the offseason to build the team and establish a strong foundation as Josh and I have gotten to know each other,” he said. “I feel like we’re ready for the challenges ahead of us at Bowman Gray this weekend. There’s still some fine-tuning to do as we prepare for Daytona and the rest of the season, but we’re making great progress. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.”
Eddie Wood, who grew up watching his dad race at the Stadium, for years has regularly attended races there as his schedule allows.
“Bowman Gray is really special to me,” he said on a teleconference this week. “When I first heard they were even thinking about going to the stadium to race the Clash I thought, ‘Man, that’s the coolest thing ever.’ I’m really into the Stadium. I keep up with it weekly during the summer with the Myers boys and Brown and Butner, all those guys.
“I was listening to Josh, and he was talking about the fighting and the stuff that goes on there, you didn’t really see any of that out in L.A., but there’s something about Bowman Gray that brings out the worst in people, or the best. You can say it either way you want, but I think everybody is really amped up about doing well there. I know we are, and everyone I’ve talked to and been around is really looking forward to it. I have nothing but good memories about Bowman Gray Stadium.”
Practice for the Cook Out Clash is set for Saturday at 6:10 p.m. The field will be divided into three groups for three sessions, with each driver’s fastest lap time from the third session setting the line-up for the four 25-lap heat races that kick off at 8:30. The top five finishers in each heat earn a starting spot in the main event. A 75-lap Last Chance race gets the green flag on Sunday at 6 p.m. The top two finishers, plus the highest points finisher from 2024 not already in the starting field, will be added to the 23-car starting field for the 200-lap Clash, which is set to start at 8 p.m.
FOX Sports 1 will broadcast the preliminary events on Saturday, with FOX carrying Sunday’s races.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.
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Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 100 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.