Preece Claims First Career Cup Victory, Buescher 8th
CONCORD, NC (February 5, 2026) – It was worth the wait for Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing. After a snow storm blanketed the Winston Salem, NC area January 30, forcing the postponement of the Cook Out Clash from Sunday to Wednesday, the three car RFK team came to Bowman Gray Stadium with a blizzard of its own. Ryan Preece scored his first career Cup Series victory while Chris Buescher and Corey LaJoie held nothing back.
Ryan Preece #60 Kroger/Coca-Cola Ford Mustang
Ryan Preece delivered a career defining performance at Bowman Gray Stadium, charging from 18th to score his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in the Cook Out Clash. A win that validated years of perseverance.
“Two Years ago, I didn’t think I was gonna have a job,” said the Berlin, CT driver, his voice cracking as he spoke to live television in victory lane. “I thought I was going back to Connecticut, and I’m just super emotional”
Those emotions were justified after overcoming much adversity to score a hard fought win. From the drop of the green flag, Preece steadily moved forward, climbing to 16th by the first caution and confidently telling his team, “I’m coming boys.” He backed those words up, charging to 13th after passing Ross Chastain, and reaching ninth by the halfway point in the No. 60 Kroger/Coca Cola Ford continued to improve.
“I’m a quarter-mile killer. When it comes to this style of racing it’s what I grew up doing,” Preece added, following the race.
After pitting for four tires and adjustments, conditions turned ugly. Winter weather that had already delayed this race by three days, had returned. Following a mid-race break on a bitterly cold night, sleet began to fall, forcing teams onto rain tires. Calling it “pure survival,” Preece battled through minimal visibility and a slick surface. He was spun by Chastain shortly after the restart and dropped to 19th, but quickly rebounded, to surge back to eighth with 70 laps remaining.
From there, Preece put on a masterclass in changing conditions. He sliced through traffic on both grooves, high and low. His confident vow to his team that he was coming to the front came to full fruition when he took the lead at lap 143 of the 200 lap event. Although he relinquished it briefly, it was clear that he and his hard-nosed short track upbringing prepared him for this moment. After remaining the lead on lap 156, and dominating several restarts between then and the finish, Preece was sizzling hot on an icy cold night in Winston Salem.
“Man, (the emotions) all hit me. I feel bad for Roush Yates Engines right now because that thing is bouncing off the chip pretty hard,” said Preece. “I’ve got to thank Ford, Ford Racing and everybody there with all the support they give us. As far as emotions go, when you work as hard as I have, I hate talking about it because I hate getting emotional about it, but it’s not just the Clash – winning means everything to me. I’ve put a lot into it.”
Chris Buescher #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang
Chris Buescher fought through changing track conditions and constant cautions Wednesday to earn an eighth place finish in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Starting eighth, Buescher moved to seventh by lap 20 and that the car was capable of running both the high and low lanes. He took advantage of the maneuverability, passing Christopher Bell to move into sixth by lap 40
As the race progressed though, handling shifted and the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford became too loose, and Buescher to slip back to 16th by the halfway point. During the planed mid-race break, Crew chief Scott Graves brought him to the garage area for four tires and air pressure adjustments to tighten the car, reminding Buescher to stay patient with still 100 laps remaining.
The event turned chaotic when sleet and snow began falling, forcing teams onto rain tires. In the mixed conditions, Buescher clawed back into the top 10 late, running as high as seventh before late restarts shuffled the field. He avoided damage in several incidents and ultimately finished eighth in one of the most unpredictable races ever contested at Bowman Gray.
“Long night,” said Buescher. “Overall, we had decent speed. It fell off really hard with all the rain and ice. It was chaos out there. So, everything‘s a little worse off for the wear. I’m happy for Preece and the 60 bunch. That’s pretty cool. It was neat for them to pull it out with all those conditions.”
Corey Lajoie #6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang
It was a valiant effort by Corey LaJoie. Substituting for Brad Keselowski, who is recovering from a broken leg suffered in December, Lajoie took the wheel the No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang at the Cook Out Clash. After qualifying outside the top 20, LaJoie was forced to race into the main event through the 75 lap Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where only the top two finishers advanced.
Starting fourth, LaJoie settled into a rhythm and went to work on the bottom line and began charging forward. Lajoie moved within eye shot of the final Clash qualifying spot when he passed John Hunter Nemechek for third. Still one more spot was needed and Lajoie approached it with bold aggression, chasing down AJ Allmendinger for the final transfer spot, taking second on Lap 62.
The coveted transfer spot though would not come easy. A side by side battle with Austin Cindric, where the two would exchange crossover moves, from the ourside lane to the inside, ensued during the closing laps. The second position swapped hands multiple times but LaJoie ultimately finished third, just short of advancing, after a determined and physical run.
“It was like a game of chess at 50 miles an hour. You wanted to be the guy on the inside obviously, but you don’t want to pass the guy because then he had the opportunity to get back to you,” Lajoie explained. “I came up a little bit short. It was exciting. It was fun to be in the fight. I hadn’t been in a fight like that in a long time.
About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 39th season in 2026, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit https://www.rfkracing.com/ and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.
RICK WARE RACING Cook Out Clash Date: Feb. 4, 2026 Event: Cook Out Clash (non-points race) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Bowman Gray Stadium (quarter-mile, asphalt oval) Format: 200-lap Feature with a 23-car field Event Winner: Ryan Preece of RFK Racing (Ford)
Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Evel Knievel Museum Chevrolet
● Qualified 27th to start seventh in LCQ. (Only the top-20 cars in practice/qualifying advanced to the Clash.)
● Finished 15th in LCQ. (Only the top-two finishers, and highest driver in 2025 final points standings, advanced to the Clash.)
● Note: Ware was spun early in the 75-lap race.
“I feel like compared to 2025, it’s a night-and-day difference with the program, the speed in the car. Really didn’t get a chance to get far into the race before we got spun. I wish we could’ve had a shot to try to race our way in. We were a few spots shy of making it in and qualifying but, either way, I’m really proud of the 51 Chevrolet bunch and looking forward to putting a fast car on the racetrack in Daytona next week.”
Race Notes:
● Ryan Preece won the Cook Out Clash by 1.752 seconds over runner-up William Byron.
● All but one of the 23 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Bowman Gray is the country’s longest-running weekly racetrack.
Next Up:
The official start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season begins with Daytona Speedweek Feb. 11-15 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Daytona 500 qualifying takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 11 with live coverage on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Only the top-two positions will be locked into the 68th Daytona 500. The rest of the field will earn their respective starting positions in the Duel – twin 150-mile heat races that set the remainder of the Daytona 500 field. The Duel gets underway at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 with live coverage on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Daytona Speedweek then culminates with the Daytona 500 at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 with live coverage provided by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series wrapped up only weeks ago, but the focus has already shifted to what comes next. The 2026 season brings real change, with NASCAR confirming the return of The Chase and a revised points structure. That announcement altered how the upcoming championship is being viewed almost immediately.
Kyle Larson’s late move at Phoenix once again left Denny Hamlin short of a long-awaited title. It was a familiar ending, and one that still lingers. Yet while the finish remains fresh, early expectations for 2026 are already taking shape. Futures odds for the new season are available well ahead of the opening race, reflecting how quickly long-term projections are now formed.
As the season moves closer and races begin, expectations continue to evolve. Most major sports betting platforms now reflect this by offering live betting alongside futures markets. Live betting refers to markets that update during competition, with odds adjusting in real time and in-play options such as point totals or play-by-play outcomes (source: gamechampions.com/en/reviews/betting/ ). Together, futures and live markets show how analysis now develops from preseason outlooks to race-by-race assessment.
Why the 2026 Format Changed the Conversation
NASCAR’s announcement on January 12 confirmed the end of the elimination-style playoffs. The Chase returns in a revised form. The season still includes 26 regular-season races. After that, the top 16 drivers in points advance. There is no automatic qualification based on wins.
The postseason consists of 10 races. The driver who scores the most points during that stretch becomes champion. There are no cut lines. There are no single-race eliminations.
This matters. The format rewards consistency more than timing. It reduces the impact of late cautions and single mistakes. It also places a premium on teams that can maintain performance across months.
Points allocation has also changed. A race win now earns 55 points instead of 40. Regular-season excellence still matters. The points leader entering The Chase receives a 25-point advantage.
Markets reacted quickly because the incentives are different. The drivers best suited to this format are not mystery picks. They are already known.
Hamlin and Larson Lead the Board for a Reason
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson open the 2026 season as co-favorites. Both sit at +500. That pairing reflects logic rather than hype.
Hamlin’s career resume is defined by sustained excellence. He rarely finishes outside the top ten in points. His teams avoid extended slumps. Under the previous playoff system, timing often worked against him. The Chase changes that equation.
Hamlin excels in cumulative formats. He manages races rather than chasing moments. Over a 10-race stretch, that discipline matters. Joe Gibbs Racing also enters 2026 without internal disruption. Stability adds value under this system.
Larson’s case is different but equally strong. He combines raw speed with adaptability. His success spans short tracks, intermediates, and high-wear surfaces. He accumulates points even on off days.
The Chase rewards drivers who can rebound quickly. Larson’s ability to do that is well established. Markets view him as resistant to format changes. That perception keeps him at the top.
Together, Hamlin and Larson represent the safest projections. They are not flawless. They are simply reliable.
The Second Tier Shows Confidence, Not Separation
William Byron and Ryan Blaney both sit at +625. Christopher Bell follows closely at +650. These numbers suggest proximity rather than parity.
Byron continues to grow into a complete championship contender. His regular-season results are strong. Hendrick Motorsports provides depth and technical strength. The concern has always been late-season execution. The Chase reduces pressure moments. That helps Byron.
Blaney’s profile fits the format well. He is calm over long stretches. His 2023 title still carries weight. The new Chase structure mirrors the environment where he has already succeeded.
Bell remains slightly behind in pricing. That reflects perception, not performance gaps. He is efficient. He finishes races cleanly. However, Bell rarely dominates stretches of the schedule. The Chase favors steady returns, but ceiling still matters.
This group represents the most credible alternatives to the favorites. Markets suggest that if the top two falter, the champion likely emerges from here.
Why Some Big Names Drifted Backward
Joey Logano’s odds moved significantly after the format announcement. He now sits at +2000. That shift was immediate.
Logano thrived under elimination rounds. He timed aggression well. He often peaked at the right moment. The Chase removes that advantage. There is no final-round reset. There is no winner-take-all race.
That does not diminish his talent. It changes his edge. Markets adjusted accordingly.
Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski face longer odds. Busch sits at +5000. Keselowski is listed at +6500. These numbers reflect recent trends rather than legacy.
Both drivers remain capable of winning races. However, extended consistency has been harder to sustain. Team transitions and competitive depth also factor in. Futures markets tend to be unforgiving. Past championships do not shield current form.
The message is clear. Reputation alone does not carry weight under this structure.
Trackhouse Racing believes in his development curve. His junior results support that belief. However, the Chase format does not favor learning on the job. It rewards familiarity and recovery.
Markets acknowledge Zilisch’s upside. They also price in the difficulty of sustaining top-level performance across 36 races. The number suggests relevance, not expectation.
This placement reflects balance. It respects talent without projecting a breakthrough year prematurely.
The Middle of the Board Tells a Subtle Story
Several drivers fall into a crowded middle tier. Tyler Reddick sits at +1800. Ross Chastain follows at +2500. Chase Elliott is listed at +1100.
These drivers win races. They generate headlines. However, the Chase demands something different. It requires consistent top finishes even when pace is lacking.
Reddick’s strength lies in peak performance. Chastain’s comes from aggression. Elliott’s results have been uneven across recent seasons. None of those traits guarantee success under the new system.
Markets are not dismissing them. They are simply assigning realistic ceilings. The numbers suggest that each remains part of the conversation without leading it.
What the Odds Cannot Fully Capture
Early futures markets operate with limits. They cannot model every variable.
The schedule includes fatigue factors. The Bowman Gray Clash opens the season on February 1. Daytona follows two weeks later. Momentum shifts quickly in modern NASCAR.
Manufacturer development cycles also matter. Small gains compound across 10 Chase races. That effect may not surface until late summer.
Track sequencing within The Chase could reshape expectations. Drivers strong at specific venues may gain unseen advantages. Markets adjust over time. January numbers are foundations, not conclusions.
What the Early Markets Are Really Saying
The message from the futures board is consistent. The 2026 championship is expected to reward patience. It favors structure. It minimizes chaos.
Veteran teams with deep data models gain ground. Drivers who avoid mistakes gain leverage. Single-race brilliance matters less than sustained execution.
The Chase reduces volatility. The markets responded by narrowing the field. There is no wide-open narrative here. There is hierarchy. That does not eliminate surprises. It simply makes them harder to achieve.
Final Outlook for the 2026 Cup Series
The return of The Chase reshaped the Cup Series before a single lap was turned. Early futures markets reacted with clarity. They elevated drivers built for accumulation. They tempered expectations for those who relied on timing.
Hamlin and Larson stand where structure places them. Byron, Blaney, and Bell remain close. Others face a steeper climb.
The early outlook suggests a championship decided through discipline rather than drama. In 2026, the title will likely be earned steadily. It will not be stolen late. That is what the markets are telling us.
If you are injured in a car accident, even in a minor one, you should always consult with a Personal injury lawyer in South Carolina. Legal support is essential to safeguard your rights, secure proper compensation, and let you focus on recovery while a skilled professional manages your case.
This article aims to cover the most common car accident injuries and give an overview of what to expect for each.
Spinal Cord & Back Injuries
Back injuries are among the most common injuries from car accidents. Back injuries range from simple muscle strains to herniated discs or spinal cord damage, often resulting in chronic pain, limited mobility, or disability.
Cases involving back injuries require extensive documentation, expert testimony, medical care, and physical therapy, which can be laborious. Compensation must account for both immediate assistance and long-term care.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious injuries resulting from a car accident. Even minor accidents can shake the head enough to cause it to violently shift inside the skull during impact. TBIs can cause lingering symptoms such as memory loss, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and learning.
Legally, TBIs can be hard to account for. This is due to most symptoms developing over a long period and to insurance companies attempting to minimize their severity. Having legal representation ensures that even long-term damage that takes time to manifest is appropriately compensated.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, or face are very common in high-impact crashes. Depending on the place of the broken bone, it can be relatively minor or require extensive surgery and physical therapy. Oftentimes, broken bones affect the victim’s ability to work and care for themselves.
Legal assistance is integral because it will accurately detail compensation for both immediate and long-term care.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries are also quite common in car accidents. This type of injury can be overlooked immediately after an accident, but all of them require emergency care. Failure to care for an internal injury can lead to fatal consequences if untreated.
Almost all internal injuries involve high medical costs and care. Legal representation will ensure that all costs are fully documented and adequately valued.
Injuries That Most Likely Will Need Legal Action
It should go without saying that nearly all injuries sustained in a car accident should be assessed by a legal team. Only the most minor, such as small abrasions, should be overlooked. The following injuries are the most likely to require legal assistance:
Traumatic Brain Injuries with lasting symptoms
Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries that require surgery
Injuries that result in disfigurement, disability, or permanent loss of quality of life.
Why Legal Help Matters in South Carolina
South Carolina utilizes a modified comparative negligence rule. This rule means that compensation following a car accident can be reduced if you are found at fault, even partially. If you are found at fault for over 50% of the accident, insurance companies can limit payouts and shift the blame to put you entirely on the hook.
Getting legal help from a lawyer benefits you because:
They can conduct the investigation and gather evidence in your favor.
Can work with your medical doctors and document the costs properly
They can negotiate with insurers and pursue litigation on your behalf.
Conclusion
Nearly every car accident can benefit from having an attorney, but it’s almost as important to remember that not all do. Simple fender benders may not require a car accident attorney, but if a car accident causes life-altering injuries, legal guidance is essential. If you or your family has suffered significant effects from a car accident, consulting a personal injury lawyer can help ensure your claim properly reflects the impact on your life and provide the necessary compensation.
Ryan Preece outlasted slick conditions and numerous on-track chaos to win the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday, February 4.
The 35-year-old Preece from Berlin, Connecticut, led twice for 46 of 200 laps in an exhibition event starting in 18th place. He then battled through numerous on-track chaos while steadily working his way to the front. Preece cracked the top-10 mark following the event’s first half. But he and his fellow competitors were challenged as they navigated through the Clash’s second half on wet-weather tires amid slick conditions on the track.
Despite spinning at the start of the second half, Preece continued his march to the front, and he managed to lead for the first time with 57 laps remaining. After losing the lead to Shane van Gisbergen over the next 12 laps, Preece assumed the lead for a second and final time with 44 laps remaining. Preece’s progress was stalled four times due to cautions amid on-track chaos. But he maintained the top spot during each restart, and he checked out from William Byron and the field to record his first victory in a NASCAR Cup Series entry.
Earlier on Wednesday and prior to the Clash, two eight-minute practice sessions followed by a qualifying session with split groups (three total) amongst the 38-car field occurred. During this format, each of the 38 competitors had four minutes to record a qualifying time. The top-20 fastest competitors were then locked into the Clash.
At the conclusion of the practice and qualifying sessions, the following names that include Kyle Larson, William Byron, Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Shane van Gisbergen, Ryan Preece, rookie Connor Zilisch and Daniel Suarez secured top-20 spots, respectively, with Larson qualifying on pole position.
Afterwards, a Last Chance Qualifying Race spanning 75 laps occurred and featured the remaining 18 competitors who did not transfer from practice and qualifying. From the Last Chance Qualifying Race, the top two finishers would transfer to the Clash. In addition, the Clash’s 23rd and final starting position was reserved for the highest-ranked competitor in the 2025 Cup Series points standings who has yet to qualify.
Following the Last Chance Qualifying Race, Josh Berry and Austin Cindric transferred after finishing first and second, respectively. Alex Bowman, who was in 17th place during the Last Chance Qualifying Race, was awarded the 23rd and final starting spot to the Clash by being the highest-finishing competitor in the 2025 standings.
The remaining competitors that included Corey LaJoie, AJ Allmendinger, John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, Noah Gragson, Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Erik Jones, Michael McDowell, Cole Custer, Chad Finchum, Burt Myers, Cody Ware, Riley Herbst and Todd Gilliland did not qualify for the Clash.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, Kyle Larson, who started on the outside lane, quickly bolted ahead and in front of teammate William Byron through the first turn. Larson proceeded to cycle his way around the 0.25-mile short track venue and lead the first lap ahead of Byron and Chase Briscoe while Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin battled dead even for fourth place. As Larson led through the fifth lap mark, Gibbs muscled ahead to fourth place while Hamlin was being pressured by Chris Buescher and teammate Christopher Bell for fifth place.
Through the first 10-scheduled laps, Larson led by more than half a second over Byron. Briscoe, Gibbs, Hamlin, Bell, Buescher, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Ross Chastain were scored in the top 10, respectively. Behind, Carson Hocevar muscled into 11th place ahead of Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Shane van Gisbergen, and Alex Bowman, respectively, while Josh Berry, Connor Zilisch, and Austin Cindric rounded out the 23-car field.
Fifteen laps later, Larson stabilized his lead to seven-tenths of a second over Byron, and Briscoe trailed in third place by nearly two seconds while Briscoe’s teammates, Gibbs, Hamlin, and Bell, trailed by three seconds from fourth through sixth, respectively. By then, Chastain, Hocevar, and Elliott battled for the final top-10 spot in front of Logano and Blaney while Suarez drifted back to last place in 23rd place behind Cindric and Zilisch.
On Lap 40, the event’s first caution flew when debris was spotted on the track. Before the caution, Larson had caught the tail end of the field as he had last-place competitors Zilisch and van Gisbergen in front of him.
The event’s restart on Lap 40 featured teammates Larson and Byron dueling for the lead through the first two turns until Larson managed to muscle ahead exiting the backstretch and move in front of Byron entering Turn 3. Larson proceeded to lead the next lap and through the Lap 45 mark while Toyota competitors Briscoe, Gibbs, Bell, Hamlin, and Wallace followed suit, respectively. Buescher, who restarted seventh but dropped to eighth, would moved up to sixth place, and both Reddick and Hocevar trailed in the top 10. Meanwhile, Briscoe moved Byron for the runner-up spot as Larson led by half a second by Lap 50.
On Lap 53, the event’s second caution flew when Bubba Wallace, who was racing in 10th place, got bumped by Blaney, the latter of whom got bumped by Chastain, entering Turn 3. The bump caused Wallace to run into the rear of Elliott before the latter spun and was hit by Blaney through Turns 3 and 4. Amid the chaos, all competitors proceeded.
The next restart on Lap 53 featured Briscoe and Larson dueling for the lead for a full lap as Briscoe used the outside lane to draw even with Larson through the turns and short straightaways. Using the outside lane, Briscoe led the next three laps before Larson muscled ahead on Lap 57. Using the inside lane, he slightly moved Briscoe up the track in Turn 1. This caused Briscoe to engage in a battle with Byron and teammate Ty Gibbs for the runner-up spot. As Briscoe dropped to third behind Byron by Lap 60, Larson continued to lead.
On Lap 70, Byron, who had been reeling in teammate Larson, used the inside lane and some contact with Larson through the first two turns to emerge as the leader for the first time by the following lap. As Byron muscled ahead, Briscoe followed suit in second, along with Gibbs, while Larson dropped to fourth in front of Hamlin.
After the caution flew on Lap 76 due to Austin Cindric spinning in Turn 4, the next restart featured Byron out-dueling Briscoe to maintain the lead. While Byron continued to lead through the Lap 80 mark over Briscoe and Gibbs, a fierce four-car battle for fourth place ignited between Hocevar, Larson, Hamlin, and Blaney.
On Lap 85, Briscoe assumed the lead from Byron for the first time. Ten laps later, however, Gibbs, who navigated his way into the runner-up spot, assumed the top spot through the backstretch.
At the event’s halfway mark on Lap 100, a competition caution flew, and the event entered an intermission period. Gibbs was scored as the leader ahead of Briscoe, Byron, Blaney, Hocevar, Bell, Hamlin, Logano, Preece, and Larson. Elliott, Zilisch, Berry, Chastain, van Gisbergen, Buescher, Wallace, Suarez, Reddick, Kyle Busch, Bowman, Austin Dillon, and Cindric followed in the top-23 spots, respectively.
Near the conclusion of the intermission period and as the field prepared to start the second half of the Clash, the event was further delayed multiple times due to sleet falling on the track. During the first delay period, NASCAR declared the event a wet-weather event and gave the teams the green light to install wet-weather tires on the cars.
Following extensive weather delays, the Clash’s second half commenced with 99 laps remaining. At the start, the field fanned out through the first turn amid the slick conditions. The leader Gibbs also slid, which caused Hocevar to peek beneath Gibbs as Briscoe rocketed with the lead through the backstretch. Shortly after, the caution returned when Hamlin slid in Turn 3 amid contact from Connor Zilisch and collected Larson, which sent Larson backwards into the outside wall in Turn 4. Ryan Preece also spun as the rest of the field racing just outside of the top-10 mark scattered to avoid the incidents.
The next restart with 99 laps remaining lasted for 18 laps before the caution returned as Josh Berry, who had made contact with the wall earlier, parked his car on the backstretch and towards the infield grass. When the field attempted to restart with 81 laps remaining, the caution returned during the next lap amid a stack-up in Turn 4 that involved Cindric, Blaney, Larson, Hamlin and Wallace.
During the next restart with 79 laps remaining, Hocevar navigated his way into the lead over Briscoe for the first time. Amid multiple on-track chaos within the field, including a spin by Ty Gibbs through Turns 3 and 4 after contact from Elliott, the event remained under green flag conditions and Hocevar proceeded to lead Briscoe. The caution would return with 62 laps remaining due to Hamlin spinning in Turn 4 and Blaney hitting Hamlin’s stalled entry.
The next two restarts were short. The first one, with 61 laps remaining, only lasted a single lap before the caution quickly returned due to Austin Dillon spinning in Turn 4 amid contact from Hamlin. The next one lasted two laps before Elliott got bumped and sent for a spin in Turn 4. Amid the chaos, van Gisbergen assumed the lead from Hocevar after Hocevar slipped through the first two turns during the latest restart.
During the next restart with 58 laps remaining, Hamlin, Logano, and Elliott crashed in Turn 4 as Preece managed to muscle ahead of van Gisbergen to lead for the first time. Van Gisbergen reassumed the lead during the next restart with 56 laps remaining. He maintained the lead under green flag conditions through two turns. However, the caution returned as a stack-up caused by Gibbs, who was bumped and sent for a spin by Zilisch, ignited in Turn 2.
Van Gisbergen maintained the lead during the next restart with 56 laps remaining, and he continued to lead with 50 laps remaining. Two laps later, however, the caution flew as Larson stalled on the track after he reported running out of fuel. Then, during the next restart with 48 laps remaining, van Gisbergen retained the lead until Preece, who bounced off the wall earlier, assumed the lead with 44 laps remaining. Preece proceeded to lead by half a second with 40 laps remaining as van Gisbergen, Briscoe, Suarez, and Byron trailed in the top five.
Another caution occurred with 36 laps remaining due to Elliott stalling on the track after he too ran out of fuel. Preece held the lead for the next restart until van Gisbergen was bumped and sent spinning by Briscoe from the runner-up spot during the next lap. Amid van Gisbergen’s spin, he clipped teammate Zilisch and was hit by Wallace while the field scattered to avoid the carnage.
Preece maintained the lead during the next restart with 36 laps remaining, and he continued to lead before the caution flew with 20 laps remaining when Wallace sent Hocevar spinning through the first two turns as a retaliatory act from Hocevar bumping Wallace through Turns 3 and 4. Preece then maintained the top spot for the next restart with 20 laps remaining before another caution. But then, Kyle Busch, Larson and Gibbs collided due to a lack of space, which resulted in Larson getting turned backwards.
Down to the final 19 laps, the event restarted and Preece retained the lead over Blaney and Byron. Preece continued to lead with 15 laps remaining and he proceeded to stretch his lead to a second over Byron with 10 laps remaining. By then, Blaney maintained third place while Briscoe and Suarez followed in the top five.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Preece was scored as the leader by more than a second over Byron. With Byron unable to reel in to Preece’s rear bumper, Preece was able to smoothly navigate his way around the 0.25-mile Bowman Gray Stadium for a final time before he cycled back to the frontstretch and won by more than a second.
With the victory, Preece joins Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin as the only competitors to win the Clash without having a NASCAR Cup Series points-paying victory to a resume. Preece also became the 27th competitor overall to win the Clash and the only competitor to win at Bowman Gray Stadium both in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the Cup Series divisions.
Preece’s Clash victory was the first ever for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing and the 11th for the Ford nameplate.
Amid the victory burnouts and salute to the crowd, Preece was emotional and overjoyed over his first win in a Cup Series event. Having previously driven for Hyak Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing, Preece was initially left without a ride following the 2024 season until he was recruited to drive the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, starting in 2025.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Preece said. “To be honest with you, it’s been a [expletive] long road. It’s the Clash, but man, it’s just been years and years of grinding. Two years ago, I didn’t think I was gonna have a job. I thought I was going back to Connecticut. I’m just super emotional.”
“We had a really good car,” Preece added. “I felt like we were fighting adversity all day, trying to come from the back. We got a lot of good spots. When we were putting on rain tires, man, this is as much of a mental game as it is anything. I felt pretty beat up. We had a couple of restarts go our way and then before you know it, you’re on the front two rows, and then the claws just come out.”
Byron, who led 14 laps, finished in second place while Blaney, Suarez, and Hamlin battled through their shares of on-track adversities to finish in the top five. Briscoe, who led the third-most laps at 35, crossed the finish line in sixth place as Austin Dillon, Buescher, Chastain, and Bowman completed the top 10 in the final running order.
Notably, Kyle Larson, who led the most laps at 67, ended up in 16th place behind Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar, Connor Zilisch settled in 18th place in his first Clash event, Shane van Gisbergen fell back to 20th place despite leading 15 laps, and Bubba Wallace completed the final running order in 23rd place.
There were 11 lead changes for seven different leaders. The event featured a record 17 cautions. In addition, all but one of the 23 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
1. Ryan Preece, 46 laps led 2. William Byron, 14 laps led 3. Ryan Blaney 4. Daniel Suarez 5. Denny Hamlin 6. Chase Briscoe, 35 laps led 7. Austin Dillon 8. Chris Buescher 9. Ross Chastain 10. Alex Bowman 11. Joey Logano 12. Josh Berry 13. Christopher Bell 14. Ty Gibbs, five laps led 15. Carson Hocevar, 18 laps led 16. Kyle Larson, 67 laps led 17. Chase Elliott 18. Connor Zilisch 19. Kyle Busch 20. Shane van Gisbergen, 15 laps led 21. Austin Cindric 22. Tyler Reddick 23. Bubba Wallace, one lap down
The NASCAR Cup Series’ teams and competitors will be returning to action throughout next week at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the 68th running of the Daytona 500 that is scheduled to occur on February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO MAX.
The event’s pole qualifying session is scheduled to occur next Wednesday, February 11, at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM. This session will be followed by a pair of America 250 Florida Duels, which will commence next Thursday, February 12, at 7 p.m. ET on Fs1, MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO Max.
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Last Chance Qualifying Race — The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Josh Berry won the Last Chance Qualifier race while Austin Cindric outbattled Corey LaJoie for the second spot after a spirited side-by-side battle over the closing laps. Berry and Cindric will compete in the Clash Main Event at Bowman Gray Stadium
JOSH BERRY, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WAS YOUR MUSTANG GOOD ON THE LONG RUN? “Yeah, I feel good about it. Honestly, we just struggled a little bit on the restarts, cold temperatures, locking the left-front there and got it locked up a little bit under AJ and washed him out, but once we were able to settle in and get some heat in the tires I felt good about our car. I think we can make a few small adjustments and make it a little bit better, but obviously you don’t have great track position starting in the back. It’s a long night when you don’t make this race, so I’m glad we were able to put both of our cars in.”
YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE STARTING IN THE BACK FOR THIS RACE. HOW DO YOU GAIN SPOTS? “I think it’s gonna be a little bit different. It definitely seems like there’s more fall off. We obviously saw it stretch out a good bit right there, so just managing the tires probably early in the run and just trying to stay patient. We’re still at the Madhouse.”
AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Freightliner Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “That was about as fair as that could have gotten for an LCQ. I appreciate Corey racing hard. Obviously, we advanced in, but it’s a long road ahead starting last with scuffs for the final here, but happy to get the Freightliner Ford Mustang in the show here and enjoy round two here at Bowman Gray. This is a very cool place. I was happy with how the car held on for a long run. I kind of had to save my stuff after I got punted out of the way early, so it seemed to play out reasonably well. I’m glad it went as long as it did. It was fun and a good way to get started.”
WHAT DID YOU LEARN OVER THOSE 75 LAPS THAT YOU CAN ADJUST ON? “Definitely some of the wear characteristics of the tire. It’s the same right side tire and I feel like that definitely dominates a lot of the characteristics, so I think some of the same from last year. We talk about adding horsepower, but I don’t think I got full throttle the entire race there, except for maybe when emotions got high. Past that, it was pretty interesting to try to manage. Hopefully, we didn’t get too much damage there and we’ll try to have a good final here.”
COREY LAJOIE, No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It was like a game of chess at 50 miles an hour. You wanted to be the guy on the inside obviously, but you don’t want to pass the guy because then he had the opportunity to get back to you. I came up a little bit short. It was exciting. It was fun to be in the fight. I hadn’t been in a fight like that in a long time. Kudos to the 6 team. They’ve had a lot to deal with over the offseason. I know Brad is watching at home. He’ll be ready to go next week, but it was really cool to get in this 6 car system to knock the rust off. Unfortunately, we’ll be watching the show from the couch, but we’re really prepared and I feel really good about next week.”
HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO BE IN THE 99 MUSTANG NEXT WEEK? “It’s gonna be without a doubt the best opportunity I’ve had at the 500. We’ve been close with some other opportunities too in the last couple of years, so maybe this is the year. Nonetheless, we’re gonna have some strength in numbers with our RFK group next week and I’m just ready to get out of the snow, get south to Daytona where it’s nice and warm, and we’ll see if we can go sneak out a Harley J. Earl trophy.”
TOYOTA RACING – Denny Hamlin NASCAR Cup Series Quotes
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (Feb. 4, 2026) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
How are you doing after everything that has happened this offseason?
“I’m doing good. It’s hard to believe I’m going to be in the Clash in a couple of hours. I’ll have some rust. Didn’t get much of an offseason, obviously. No vacations, no fun stuff, anything like that. Just back on it now. I think getting back in a racing certainly will just put me back into a routine more like I’m used to.”
How have you handled this roller coaster you’ve been on the past few months?
“Everyday is a new challenge. Certainly priorities definitely shifted in the offseason, just doing non racing stuff. I’ve had a day at the race shop since Phoenix. It’s just going to take a little while to get back into the swing of things. I’ve been doing my work the last twenty something years and this is a kind of a good warm up to that. Certainly has not been an easy offseason by any means. I’m sure I’m in a different headspace than most of the competitors that have been rip roaring ready to go racing the last month or so. I’m probably in a different spot than that. I would appreciate a few more months, but I don’t have that but we’ll just kind of see how it goes. Got some unfortunate news that I re-tore my shoulder that I had from 2024. I’m going to go into the season the way I was before there. I don’t think that it ever healed properly, there were just some issues. Kind of a little after the season it was nagging me a bit and took a little fall at my mom’s house going through all the rubble and stuff. It didn’t feel right and got it scanned and they said it had re-tore again.”
Is surgery an option at this point with the season starting?
“I could, the option was just do it now and miss the first three or four months, or just tough it out and do it the first day of the offseason and that’s what I’ll do.”
Can you give us any update on how your Mom is doing?
“She’s getting better. She’s actually down in Florida with some family this week. She’s definitely getting better physically and mentally certainly will take some time. She’s getting in a better place.”
Sounds like you were a key voice in the playoff format changes. Are you satisfied with the changes?
“I am. Seems like the bulk of the offseason was from what I could see, was NASCAR undoing some of the direction they had gone the last decade or so, which are all good things. I feel like the Chase is a very good compromise for all the stakeholders and I certainly feel like if anything, it’s a benefit for your top competitors who are the challengers week in and week out. It will reward them during the regular season and reward them in the playoffs giving them a little bit of a head start. Certainly more of a head start of what the Chase had back years ago. So while it is the old Chase, you actually have more motivation to perform well in the regular season because of the gap it will give you to start that 10 races a little more than previous. I do feel like it’s a really good balance of everything. Without a doubt there will be no question of the validity when we come down to the end and we see who is first. While it can come down to one last restart at the end of Homestead, it’s still going to be a body of work you put in over the first nine and-a-half races up to that point. I don’t think any one restart will define it even though it might determine who the champion might be, it’s still going to be the two or three most deserving guys when it comes down to that final race. I’m certainly happy to see where it ended up and I’m in full support of it.”
What do you want to see this year from Riley Herbst to show he’s taken a step forward in his growth?
“We got to see better performance, for sure. Where the 35 was running last year was not up to what we expect. We signed a multiyear agreement with Riley because we want to see where it goes in the second year. I want to see gain in performance and needs to be challenging into the top-10 and top-15. That’s where we expect our cars to run. The more experienced guys in Tyler (Reddick) and Bubba (Wallace), they need to be competing for race wins more often as well.”
How do you expect JGR will fill the void with Chris Gabehart no longer there?
“It’s a little different. I’m used to having Chris (Gabehart) there. But we also have the experience of Wally Brown that’s been in that role as competition director in many of the heyday years of JGR and their performance. I think he can step in there and do the role. He never left, he was always in those competition meetings so he can just kind of pick up that quarterback role. I think that he got to observe some things that Chris Gabehart did last year that he can refine. Even he admittedly said that I think that was a good direction and pick up from where he left off. So I’m confident that JGR can have so much depth within the race team that they can find a way to make it work.”
Charlotte Motor announced they are moving away from the Roval and back to the Oval for their fall weekend. How do you feel about the change and that there will now not be a road course in the Chase?
“I don’t think it’s a secret that it’s all positive from me on these types of changes. Bigger sample size, less road courses, given my history, so those are all positive for me. But beyond myself, we need to talk about the sport and the racing in the NextGen car, especially the mile and-a-half tracks, have been it’s strength. I was part of that battle with (Ross) Chastain and (William) Byron in the 600 and just a fantastic race that nobody could hold the lead. You get out in the lead and your car would handle terribly, but when you were in second, it was actually better. That racetrack is too good of track. If you have any track that’s going to have multiple races at the same venue, same track, Charlotte would be one that you would think would be at the top of the list. Good to see that come back. I think it’s going to be on the fans to make sure you show up and support that. I think the drivers for the most part are certainly supportive of the change back to the oval. It’s what we are, we are oval racing. I definitely appreciate the changes we made over the last few years in the road courses and the different venues like Charlotte or the Chicago Street Race, which I thought was a positive for our sport. We look like we’re heading back to more of our roots, which is a I think a good thing.”
Can you talk about the importance of having the Clash here at Bowman Gray Stadium?
“I can just tell you why it’s good for the teams. One, it’s a good warm up for them to get their race weekend routine going. It’s close to home, so there’s not a big haul travel wise for the race teams. For the drivers like myself, I don’t think I would like to barrel it off at Kansas right now into the turn 1 for the first laps of a new season. Short track is good for the drivers and is a good warm up. This is a racetrack that is embedded in the NASCAR roots with making the move here. We were doing the short track thing in LA and I thought that was very good event, it’s more feasible and economically viable for the teams to be here close to home on a very similar racetrack. You are also kind of giving back to the short track community up here in Winston.”
What does your timeline look like getting back to the gym and into the SIM to get ready for the season?
“I wish I could predict the future and tell you, but I just don’t know. I certainly give my team the preparation that they deserve as the leader of the team. There’s no way I could actually show up this week and face my team and not be prepared, so I’ve done as much as I can to be prepared given the amount of time that I got and given all the stuff I have going on. But they know once I get in that car, they never have questioned that I’m capable of going out there and competing and giving them their best opportunity to win. That’s ultimately my job is to get the result that the team that’s been preparing all offseason while I’ve been doing other things is give them a shot to reap the benefits and rewards of their hard work.”
How do you feel about the leadership change within NASCAR with Steve O’Donnell at the top?
“I don’t know too much of the ins and outs of it as far as how does the role change for O’Donnell as opposed to what it was before. We’ve only had one team owners council meeting. I overall, left there feeling the direction and vision they got for this upcoming season is good. I’m certainly a believer in the direction they are going. Ultimately, the results will be shown by our TV numbers and our people in the stands, if it resonates with them or not. Overall, I feel as though the sport got a good reset point at the end of last year and now we are going into this year the team owners are in a better position for the long term than where they’ve ever been before. So now it’s just a matter of can we get this sport back into prominent relevance in the sports market, and I think that’s their focus as well.”
Can the relationship between the industry and NASCAR improve moving forward?
“Yeah, hopefully. That’s the goal. We all use it as a reset, we need to think more holistically and trying to make it better as opposed to maybe criticizing this and that. Holistically, are we heading in the right direction? One moment might not be exactly how we want it, but is it generally heading the right way. I think that’s the way we need to look at it. Like I said, I’ve looked at the inner strategy of NASCAR of what they put out to us to get back to where we were, and I think it’s the right strategy. This is not going to be something that we’re going to see right away, it’s something that could take time within the garage. The proof will be in the pudding that the sport and the teams have said they wanted to do for the last decade. While it is more collaborative or was more collaborative than it was in the 1990’s, it’s still nowhere nearly as collaborative as other sports are. When I talk to Curtis Polk and many others that have been in other sports and even other owners who have had interest in other sports, their ownership meetings are totally different. They are all figuring out, how are we going to create more revenue? Here’s what we are thinking about doing. Where us, we’re just so cutthroat on what’s best for our team and this team doesn’t like this splitter and this team doesn’t like this transaxle. It’s all dumb stuff that gets talked about that doesn’t push the sport forward. We have to talk about things that are going to grow the sport collectively and everyone has to get on that same page. Hopefully that starts January 1 of this year.”
In the past you’ve had trouble lifting your shoulder. Is it about the same as it was in the past?
“I don’t right now. If you can look into a crystal ball, as the year goes on it just kind depends on making sure I’m doing the things out of the car. Keeping the range good and keeping the strength good to kind of get to that November date where I can work on it and get it fixed again. It’s limiting the things I like to do and that’s not going to be a priority during the season, unfortunately. I’m going to miss out on a lot of the fun things, but I can’t do some things I like to do simply because that aggravates it and it causes the tear to get worse. It’s kind of hanging on currently, but still has a few parts and pieces hanging on that I need to keep intact for the full year.”
Has your perspective on life changed since the last race in Phoenix last year until now?
“Yeah, I think certainly it’s different. The easy thing for me to say is poor me, but I still have a fantastic life, a great family. A lot of people go through tragedies. A lot of people go through what happened. What happened to me in the offseason was highly publicized, but there’s probably tons of stories that have happened to other crew members that happened this offseason and during the season that nobody knows about. Everyone has their times where they have to go through tough moments. I think those are building moments for your character and how your respond to it. This season for me could go one of two ways and I think not much of a middle road. It’s going really one way or really the other way. It’s up to me which was I decided to turn. Right now my focus is keeping this thing on the right track and spending these last couple of years accomplishing everything that I want to before my career is over.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.
HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 4, 2026) – When NASCAR comes to Atlanta, fans are dazzled by the action both on and off the track.
For many, the intense, high-speed action EchoPark Speedway is known for makes the Autotrader 400 weekend a can’t-miss event. But what truly sets Atlanta’s Spring NASCAR weekend apart are all the fun things to see and do when cars aren’t racing around the 1.54-mile speedway.
From live music to entertaining acts and even opportunities to see racing’s biggest stars, here are some of the must-see attractions that will complement the Autotrader 400 weekend’s slate of racing:
Fan Zone Attractions
EchoPark Speedway’s Fan Zone welcomes thousands of guests on race day with a carnival-like atmosphere. Everywhere you look, there’s something to see or do — from partner exhibits and kids’ games to live performances.
Topping the list for many guests are the sea lions who star in the Sea Lion Splash. Throughout the day, these sea lion performers demonstrate their bond with their trainers, show off their natural behaviors, and even teach kids how to recycle.
Another fan favorite is the Canine Stars — an educational entertainment act featuring a world-class team of dog trainers and their adopted dogs from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and South Korea.
These live acts are joined by free activities like the American Axes axe-throwing experience, American Cornhole League games, racing and golf simulators, the Cracker Barrel Fan Stage, and much more.
Peach Pit Party
The fun doesn’t stop when the checkered flag flies on Atlanta’s NASCAR Doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21.
After the day’s racing concludes, the party starts in the infield at the Peach Pit. Featuring live music from Aerosmith cover band Pandora’s Box, the celebration rocks into the night with games, mechanical bulls, and fireworks to cap off the evening.
Best of all, the Peach Pit Party is included at no additional charge for fans camping at the track or attending the weekend’s racing.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Autograph Session
The ultimate souvenir from a sporting event is an autograph — and EchoPark Speedway makes it easy to bring one home.
There are several opportunities throughout the weekend to get drivers’ signatures, but none are easier than the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver autograph session at the Cracker Barrel Fan Stage on Saturday morning, Feb. 21.
Before they chase glory in the Fr8 Racing 208, some of NASCAR’s rising stars will be on hand to sign autographs, and all fans need to do is stop by the fan stage to receive a free wristband while supplies last.
Drake Milligan Pre-Race Concert
Country musician Drake Milligan will perform hits like “Honky Tonkin’ About,” “I Got a Problem,” and “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” during a live concert preceding the Autotrader 400 on Sunday, Feb. 22.
New for the 2026 Spring NASCAR Weekend, Milligan’s pre-race concert will take place on the Cracker Barrel Fan Stage in the Fan Zone. This new location allows fans attending the race to enjoy stage-front access to the performance as a complimentary perk of their race ticket.
Trackside Live
On race day, most fans want to get as close as possible to the stars of the weekend — the drivers. One of the best ways to do that is by attending Trackside Live on the Cracker Barrel Fan Stage.
Known for its electric atmosphere, Trackside Live brings fans closer to the action with engaging driver and celebrity interviews, interactive games, contests, and nonstop fun. Throughout the weekend, the show offers an inside look at the world of motorsports, from racing insights to candid conversations with top drivers.
Don’t miss the fun on and off the track
Tickets and camping accommodations for the Feb. 20-22 Autotrader 400 NASCAR weekend are available now at www.EchoParkSpeedway.com.
About the Autotrader 400 weekend:
Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Autotrader 400 on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, with intense superspeedway pack racing that challenges NASCAR’s best and dazzles fans.
The race weekend also features the 12th year of Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. The thrills of the Fr8 Racing 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race and the Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race all happen in one action-packed day.
More information on the Feb. 20–22, 2026 Autotrader 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at EchoParkSpeedway.com.
About EchoPark Speedway:
EchoPark Speedway is a premier entertainment venue located about 30 miles south of Atlanta, Ga.
Since 1960, EchoPark Speedway has been a staple of the NASCAR calendar and currently hosts two weekends of racing in the spring and fall each year. When NASCAR isn’t in town, EchoPark Speedway’s versatile facility hosts an assortment of events that attract visitors from near and far, from Monster Jam to the Georgia State Fair and everything in between.
For more information on EchoPark Speedway and to see upcoming events at the facility, visit EchoParkSpeedway.com.
NASCAR CUP SERIES BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES FEBRUARY 4, 2026
NASCAR Cup Series rookie, Connor Zilisch, met with the media in advance of the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Media Availability Quotes:
You had a stellar season last year. Coming into the Cup Series, the obvious question is — how much of that success do you feel like you can transfer into this opportunity? And then also, putting behind you stellar season, but coming up just one spot short for that championship run last year?
“Yeah, last year definitely lights a fire under me to go out and chase something that I’ve wanted to accomplish for a long time. I know I couldn’t win the championship last year, and I know it’s going to be way, way different this season. So, I don’t have any expectations to go out and win a championship at all. But I definitely want to work towards that and one day be able to be in the position to go out and win one. But I’m just excited for this season to go out and learn; have fun and enjoy it. I know it’s going to be a challenge. I know it’s going to be tougher than it was last year, and I’m ready for that.”
I remember last year I asked a question about the goals that you and your crew chief set in the NOAPS. Have you and your team set similar goals in the Cup Series for this year?
“No, I haven’t really set any goals for myself. I don’t really know what to expect coming into this year, so it’s hard to set expectations when there’s so much new for me and my team.
I’m excited. You know, my biggest goal is to be a better driver at the end of the year than I am today, and if I can accomplish that, then I’d be satisfied.”
Every Cup Series veteran says there’s nothing that can really prepare them for once they get to this level. And I’m curious, what has been the best advice and from who, from those who have done it, that you’ve kind of reached out to say — hey, what do I need to do to be like you guys?
“Yeah, I mean, I think everybody I’ve talked to has told me that it’s going to be harder than I expect it to be. I think after 10 to 15 guys that have done it have told me that, I think that’s when it finally starts to sink in and you realize that — OK, maybe these guys aren’t lying to me.
I’ve definitely gotten some great advice from a lot of people. But overall, I’d say the biggest thing is just to not let the stress and pressure of racing at the highest level overcome the amount of life lessons and the enjoyment of living out your dream. I think that’s, for me, the biggest thing is that no matter how hard it gets, no matter how many bad days and good days there’s going to be, to just remember that you are living out your childhood dream. You made it to where you want to be and just remember to enjoy it.”
You haven’t ran a short-track in a Cup car just yet. How do you approach this practice and qualifying session?
“Yeah, I mean, it’s going to be a lot to figure out quickly. I’m in Group One. The track’s obviously been sitting here for a while and hasn’t had the best weather on it the last week and a half, two weeks, so by no means is practice going to be an indicator of how qualifying is going to be. But I got to test at North Wilkesboro a couple weeks ago and get a little bit of short-track experience. But yeah, this track’s going to be a lot different than North Wilkesboro was.
So yeah, I’m just going to have to learn quick, adapt quick and figure it out on the go. But it’s certainly not going to be easy today. I know that already being in Group One, we’re all at a bit of a disadvantage just with how the track’s going to evolve. But everybody has kind of been dealt the same card, so you’ve got to figure it out, deal with it and make the most of the situation you’ve got.”
Bowman Gray is a different animal from, let’s say, Martinsville, where you kind of experienced that last year. Is there any way you can prepare for the level of physicality this track provides, or is it just you go out there and see what happens?
“Yeah, I mean, there’s no way to prepare for it, right? You can go on iRacing, and I’m sure that iRacing would probably be pretty similar to how it’s going to be today with everybody hitting each other. And that’s really the only way to pass. It’s hard to pass here without making contact, so it just leads to being a physical race. I think everybody knows that coming in, so that’s why you don’t see tempers flare. Obviously, people get upset, and you can get mad. But at the end of the day, it’s expected.
It’s bound to happen. You can’t let it get to you. You can’t get emotional. You’ve just got to focus on making your next best corner and making the most of the next opportunity you have.
It’s certainly going to be new to me. I’ve never raced at a track like this before. I raced at Flat Rock in Michigan in the ARCA Series once, but ARCA is obviously a lot different than the Cup Series.
It’s going to be an experience for me, and I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m excited. I mean, I feel like starting off the year here, it’s kind of low pressure. We’re not racing for points. Just go out and do your best to make the show.”
You kind of mentioned earlier you don’t have expectations going into this year in regards to goals. But now that you have had time to reflect on last year, is there anything that you felt like you struggled on the most that maybe you want to get better at for this year as a driver?
“Yeah, I mean, we all have our struggles, right? And nobody’s perfect. Obviously I feel like there’s things that I can work on. I feel like last year, there were a couple of tracks I struggled at, and I feel like I did let myself get a little bit too comfortable at points. I knew my cars were going to be good every week, and that can lead to having that expectation that no matter what happens, I’m going to go out and contend for a win, and I think that’s a bad mindset to have. So obviously that’s not going to be the case this year. I’m not going to have the expectation to go out and win every week, so that’s going to change. But I feel like just making sure that I stay hungry no matter what’s going on is important. and I think that that’s going to be more so the case this year, with the fact that I’m going to have to catch up to the guys that I’m around. And I know that going into it, so I’m ready for that challenge. I know I’ve got a lot ahead of me. I’ve got a lot of races ahead of me. I’ve got a lot of experience and lessons over the next 40 weeks. But that excites me.”
We always hear seat time is critical. You can’t get enough seat time. But you’ve already been in the Rolex 24. You finished second there. So already having that in there, how does running the Rolex 24 help you prepare for what you’re facing now?
“I don’t know if it really gets any more opposite than the Rolex 24 in a hybrid hypercar versus coming to Bowman Gray in a Cup car (laughs). But it’s good to get all the muscles warmed up and get back in a competitive spirit. That was my first time racing at the highest level of IMSA. And, you know, I’m going into my first year in the Cup Series, which is the highest level of NASCAR. So it was good to get that challenge. I struggled at first in that, just like I expect to have to learn here, as well.
I’m just excited to go through it, right? I’ve got a great team around me with Trackhouse Racing and Chevrolet. Did the Rolex prepare me for today? I wouldn’t say those two correlate all that much. But the experience of racing at the highest level and having a lot of great people around me and surrounding me at that race is definitely helpful. And the more experience like that I can get, the better. So, yeah, I’m excited for this season. I’ve got a lot to look forward to with a great team around me at Trackhouse and great teammates with Shane (Van Gisbergen) and Ross (Chastain). Yeah, just excited to hopefully make the most of it.”
To that point about practice, it’s been a few years since we’ve had any practice and all that stuff. I assume teams have adapted to that. But with drivers coming up, what does allow you to close the gap, if at all? Is it sim? Do you still watch tape? What can help a young driver now that we’ve had a few years that maybe you can look back on?
“Yeah, I mean, it’s tough. There’s not really an answer to that one. You know, I’m 19 years old, and 15 years ago, you’d say the way to make up the experience is to just go pound laps each week and be at the track four days a week and test every day. But, you know, nowadays, there is no way to make up experience, right? Everyone runs the same amount of laps each year. We all race 38 weekends, and we all practice and qualify each week, and that’s all we do. So, you know, no matter what I do, I’m lacking four years of Next Gen experience compared to the guys that I’m racing against.
So yeah, you can do as much as you can. I’ve got a great group of people at Chevrolet with Josh Wise and everybody over there who I work with each week to prepare. But at the end of the day, there is no way to make up experience. And at the highest level, that’s tough to accept. But, you know, I’m in a spot where I have to adapt and learn and figure things out quickly. I think all the rookies who have gone to the Cup Series know that. They understand that you can’t sit here and complain about it because there’s nothing you can do about it. So, yeah, you’ve just got to figure things out quickly; adapt and be adaptable, and I think that’s the only way you can do it. The simulators are great. They help. But at the end of the day, it’s nothing like strapping into a race car and going out and racing for real.”
You talked about how tonight is a low-pressure situation and kind of wanting to navigate and don’t let the highs get too high and lows get too low. I’m curious, with making this transition and leap, what is some specific advice that you’ve received from veteran drivers or other people across the sport when embarking on this rookie campaign?
“Yeah, I feel like I touched on it a little bit. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to have a lot of bad weeks, and you’re going to lose a lot more than you’re going to win. I feel like I’ve had a lot of great advice. I want people to be honest with me. I don’t want people to fluff me. You know, I want to be able to get honest advice from people that I can trust, and I feel like I’ve gotten that. I feel like going into this year, my biggest goal and my mindset is just to try and get better each week and kind of ignore what the results are because the results will fluctuate. You know, you’ll have good weeks and bad weeks, but if I look back on the year and I say that I’m the same driver today that I will be in November at Homestead, then that’s when I know that I’ve done something wrong.
So I’d say the biggest advice and the advice I’ve heard the most is just to have fun and enjoy it. Don’t let it get to you. Don’t let the moment be too big. Just always remember to try and have fun because if you’re going to be here for a long time, you can get burnt out quick, if you are too hard on yourself.”
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Media Availability — The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Corey LaJoie is filling in for the injured Brad Keselowski tonight in the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, driving the No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing. LaJoie came to the infield media center before practice to talk about the opportunity.
COREY LAJOIE, No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DO YOU VIEW THIS OPPORTUNITY? “I think it’s house money. I was gonna be a carbon guy, still working on that and still working on standing up a business over there at dad’s shop. Just when I was almost not content per se, but starting to grasp the idea that the window is closed being a race car driver then this opportunity arose. I hate it for Brad. I saw him yesterday and he’s as sharp as he’s ever been. He’s getting around well, so I’m excited for him to be back in the fold next week, but this opportunity has been awesome. I think there’s always pressure. If you don’t feel the pressure, then you don’t understand the gravity of what the opportunity is, and just to remind myself that I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’ve been doing it at a high level, so for those guys to tap me as the guy that can be in the 6 car and feel like I can do a good job is certainly an honor. It’s been cool to be in the mix and prep in the sim again, kind of knocking the rust off, but when the rubber hits the road here shortly hopefully we shake out pretty good.”
HAVE YOU HAD TO WRESTLE WITH OUR IDENTITY IN THIS SPORT, LIKE WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. WHERE HAVE YOU LANDED AT THIS STAGE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE TO BE? “That’s a daily wrestle because it’s pretty straightforward when you’re chasing being a race car driver. If you rewind to 2012 when we won here in the ARCA car, the whole road map was more or less planned – you do whatever you could possibly do to be a Cup driver. To be a Cup winner and a Cup champion was the goal. I got close. I reached the top of the spear as I had hoped. I wish there was always more, but transitioning, not necessarily voluntarily, but transitioning to Prime, that group was unbelievable. I’m excited to run it back with those guys. I’m doing some truck stuff. Hanging out with my kids more. I’m trying to stand up a business. All of these things are learning experiences and ultimately it’s just taught me to hold things much looser of what I feel like I need to take my life and just honestly let the Lord take it. If that’s as a race car driver for the next couple weeks, great. I’m gonna give everything I’ve got to that opportunity, and if it’s the next thing, then I’ll just hold it loosely and just be present with every passing day because it is ever changing. It’s been fun. It’s been a confusing journey of sorts lately, but it’s been nice to have a central focus, whether it be this week preparing for the Clash or certainly next week for the 500 to really lock in and focus. In racing, your goals are really clear. It’s to prepare and do a better job than the next guy, and I’m glad I get to have that clear-cut goal for the next two weeks.”
WHEN YOU DRIVE THE 99 FOR THE 500, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING TWO OR THREE CARS WORKING TOGETHER ON A SUPERSPEEDWAY TO NOW HAVING FOUR GUYS WITH MULTIPLE SUPERSPEEDWAY WINNERS IN THAT GROUP? “It gives me a lot of confidence. I went down there with no friends and made the race as an Open car my first time. I went there last year with relatively no friends with Rick and we executed the Duels great and we made the race, so to have more or less a factory supported Ford car to try to make the race, and just strength in numbers is why RFK is doing it, and to have Brad and Chris and Ryan, all three, no matter how the Duels shake out, I feel like we’re gonna have some good backup to put ourselves in a good position, but we also can’t let our guard down. We’ve got to press and we’ve got to go attack to make sure we cover everybody else, but I know the guys at the shop, even today, are working on the 500 car to make sure that thing can go qualify in on speed on Wednesday night. I know that’s the priority for the team, but, for me, I go down there with all eyes focused on executing the details on Thursday night to be in the race.”
