Ford Performance Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Last Chance Qualifier | Sunday, February 2, 2025
TIM BROWN, No. 15 Dairi-O/Jerry Hunt/Hayes Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 10th) – “Right there at the end of the race I felt like we were as good of a car as anybody out there and those guys were really holding me up. Man, that was so much fun racing with Dillon and Haley and Stenhouse and all those Cup stars. What a blessing this has been. God, thank you so much. That was fun. I’m telling you, it was freaking awesome. It was so cool.”
YOU WERE RACING WITH BURT THERE FOR A WHILE. DID YOU HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEING IN CUP CARS AS OPPOSED TO MODIFIEDS? “No, I was just in the race and wanted to do our deal and race our race. I knew we were a lot better than the 50. I moved him and went on and drove away from him and then mixing it up with some of the guys, I didn’t know what was wrong, but we wound up cutting a right-rear tire down. We had a slow leak and the car just went to absolute junk. I told them when the caution came out, I was like, ‘Man, we’ve got to do something. We need to come in and see what’s wrong.’ We came in and the tire was flat, so we put a tire back on it. They wouldn’t let us put a sticker on it for some reason because we had a flat, but it didn’t matter because we got the car back where I could drive it like I was at the beginning of the race. What a blast. Hat’s off to everybody at RWR, Rick Ware, LIsa Ware, Cody and Robby Benton and Tommy Baldwin and everybody who gave me this opportunity. I can’t thank Jerry Hunt Supercenter, Dairi-O, Traffic Control Safety Services, Mobil 1, Pulliams Hot Dogs and all the Tim Brown fans and NASCAR for bringing us back to this awesome racetrack. This is just so freaking cool.”
IS THIS THE MOST JOY FILLED YOU’VE EVER BEEN AFTER NOT WINNING A RACE? “Absolutely. This right here is what I’ve wanted to do my whole entire life and I think tonight I showed everybody that even at my age I can still do it. Man, I wish my wife and kids were here so I could give them a great big old hug. It’s pretty cool.”
JOSH BERRY, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 2nd) – “That was about like we expected. We knew it would be rough and you hate that it’s like that, but that’s what it is. This is the Madhouse. This is Bowman Gray Stadium. It’s a tight racetrack and we’re gonna run into each other. I’m just really proud of everybody on this Wood Brothers team. Motorcraft, Quick Lane, Miles Stanley. He made some great adjustments overnight and, honestly, our car was really good. I could tell early on in the race the car was really strong and I just tired to be as patient as I could, but once we got to halfway it came time to go. It got a little physical. I hate the one with Erik. I’m not really sure. I was just trying to tuck in. I got hit from behind. I don’t know the timing of it all, but I don’t know. It’s just tough racing on a short track.”
To earn a starting spot in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash at historic Bowman Gray Stadium Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will have to finish either first or second in the 75-lap Last Chance race that will precede the 200-lap main event.
Berry, in his first run in the iconic No. 21 Mustang, was 24th in practice with a best lap at 62.854 miles per hour, which came on the 15th of the 76 laps he ran in Saturday night session. He picked up speed in qualifying, turning a best lap at 63.012 mph, which earned him the sixth starting spot in the first of four 25-lap heat races.
The heat turned into a typical affair for the quarter-mile oval known for decades as the Madhouse. After seven laps of intense battling, Berry spun on Lap 8, sending him to the rear of the pack for the ensuing restart. He worked his way up to eighth place, but dropped to ninth at the finish, which puts him in 13th place for the start of Sunday’s last-chance qualifier.
That race is set to get the green flag 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 non-points 200-lap Clash, which is set to start at 8 p.m.
FOX will provide the live TV coverage.
About Motorcraft® Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”
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.
About Ford Performance 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.
Jordon Smith Gives Triumph Racing a Historic Win in 250SX Class
Glendale, Ariz., (February 2, 2025) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton took the overall win at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season’s first Triple Crown event with (3-3-2) Race scores inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. After winning the opener, Sexton took back the points lead at Round 4 of the Supercross Championship, which also serves as Round 4 of the SMX Word Championship™.
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona provided the season’s first Triple Crown event. The racing was close throughout the 3-Race format on a track that provided huge jumps, rhythm lane options, and a high-speed sand section. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb grabbed his second podium of the season after starting the night with a win in Race 1. Webb’s Race scores of (1-5-3) were good for second overall. The red-plate holder coming into Glendale, Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen earned a victory in Race 2 and rounded off the podium with third place overall and (4-1-5) Race scores. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac won Race 3 and took fourth overall with (6-4-1) finishes. Defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion and Reigning SMX World Champion Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence was in a good position entering Race 3, but a dab on the ground ended his night at the second corner with a (2-2-DNF) for eighth overall. After the race his team reported that he’d felt a strong, unfamiliar pain in his knee and pulled off; it was unclear what this means, but there was optimism that he’ll be back on the track at the next round. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, the sport’s history books were opened up and Triumph added its name to the winner’s list thanks to Triumph Racing’s Jordon Smith’s fast and consistent (2-3-1) Race performances and the overall 250SX Class victory.
First place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“The first two races were chaos. I had to fight really hard to get to a good position and be on the podium. In the last race I made a dumb mistake and let Eli get by me. Honestly, I’m a little bummed I didn’t win that last race; I wanted that one. But I got the overall win and that’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to win and get the red plate back, and consistency paid off tonight. My speed was good… we’re in a good spot and I’m ready to fight for this thing.” – Chase Sexton
Second place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It’s been a rough go here in this stadium… I’ve heard it all week how I suck here, so everyone can shut up now… Honestly, I had a lot of fun today. I turned the page. It was so close – one point from a win and I won a [Race], so I’m stoked with the night. We’ll keep the ball rolling as we head east. Those are my conditions that we’re headed to now, and I’m super stoked with everything.” – Cooper Webb, in reference to doubters and his sub-par past finishes at the Glendale round.
Third place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“I did know that I had to get [Justin] Barcia [in Race 3] for the [overall] podium, but I kept messing up the rhythm in the middle of the track. So I would yo-yo with Justin, and honestly almost didn’t think I was going to get him, but then with two laps to go I just left it all out there and absolutely went for it… I’m stoked to be back on the podium, and I guess it’s a breath of fresh air to be kind of bummed [with a podium], because I feel like I let a better spot slip away, along with the red plate. But overall, I gave 100% every Race, and there are a lot of positives to take away from here… we’re going to fight back next weekend and hopefully snag that red plate again from Chase.” – Ken Roczen
“[My] riding’s just fine, but I’ve gotta fix these starts. The first two were a total disaster, basically last again. That’s three in a row there [counting last weekend] being in dead last, but hopefully that’s it [with that]. I think I got some things figured out in that third [start] and hopefully we’ll carry that to next weekend. I was pumped to put in one good performance there in the last
Race. It was a tough racetrack and pretty crazy conditions.” – Eli Tomac
In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Jordon Smith’s consistency earned himself and the Triumph Racing team the win. Smith becomes the fourth racer in four rounds to win, and Triumph becomes the fourth manufacturer to put their bike atop the 250SX podium this season. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan had speed enough for consistent (3-2-4) Race finishes and second overall. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies was having a break-out ride in his fourth professional Supercross. The young New Zealand rider earned wins in Race 1 and Race 2, but a big crash in Race 3 put him at the back of the pack. Davies charged through the pack and his (1-1-8) Race scores earned him the third spot on the podium. Points leader Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer had two crashes while leading the first two Races. He kept it on two wheels in Race 3 and used (4-7-2) scores to earn fourth overall in Glendale and retain the points lead.
First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It’s unbelievable to get the first win for the Triumph brand… It feels good to be up here and get the win. The track got very tricky. [The track crew] didn’t touch those whoops since this morning so they were treacherous, but it’s just unbelievable to get this win. The bike is amazing. I think a lot of people may have questioned me leaving Star, but I believed in these guys from day one and we worked our butts off all [during the] off-season and it really shows. I’m just so happy to be back up here on the top step.” – Jordon Smith
“It was a good ride today. I’m happy with it, P2 on the day. Obviously congrats to Smitty, that’s big for him and that’s super cool. Two week break now [for the 250SX West division] and we’ll come out swinging at the next round.” – Haiden Deegan
“I didn’t get off to a great start [in Race 3]. A rider landed on a Tuff Blox and it [moved] and landed in front of me. Then I landed on the Tuff Blox. There’s not much I could have done other than getting a better start. But I fought back, I did the best I could, so [I gained] a lot of confidence going to Arlington. I’m going to work hard during this break.” – Cole Davies, explaining his crash on the first rhythm section in Race 3.
“I’m frustrated for sure. Both of those mistakes were on me; I got two perfect starts and ruined them. I went down, it’s all on me. I made the mistakes tonight and had to fight from the back. I’m happy with my salvage, happy with how I rode, I just can’t make those mistakes anymore.” – Julien Beaumer
The Glendale Supercross kicked off the SMX Next season, which gives the sport’s superstars of tomorrow an opportunity to compete on a professional Supercross track in front of a stadium of enthusiastic fans. Kawasaki Team Green’s Landen Gordon came out on top after an incredible battle that saw three lead changes in one lap. Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman battled into the runner up spot late in the race that was interrupted by a red flag. EBR Altus Yamaha’s Landon Hartz was a threat for the win but had to settle for a third-place finish at the checkered.
First place SMX Next Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“I wouldn’t say I had the whoops quite dialed in, but everything else was great. I rode really consistently; I’m proud of myself for that and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.” – Landen Gordon, in response to a podium comment that he looked great in the whoops.
The Glendale Supercross launched the 2025 Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign, part of an ongoing partnership between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Race fans can support this great cause, and also help spread the message with a t-shirt offer through this text-to-donate campaign. In 2024 the Supercross community raised over $500,000 for the St. Jude mission. To get involved please text “SUPER” to 785-833 or go to the St. Jude Donation Page.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross streaming and broadcast coverage has been setting new records. The early rounds of the 2025 season delivered three straight weeks of record-setting viewership. Helping that is the expansive availability of the racing action. Every race is available live and on-demand on Peacock. NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms will also broadcast events, with CNBC airing an encore presentation on the Monday following each race at 1:00a.m. ET. Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels provide coverage with Spanish-language commentators. Fans outside of the US can find International coverage through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv); it delivers live coverage of each round in English, Spanish and French languages. NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85 bring live audio coverage for fans on to go but still looking for a taste of that live-action experience.
The Supercross season continues east to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida next weekend. The racing starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 8th for Round 5, which also marks the start of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship. Video highlights, a live qualifying display, race results, and ticket sales are available at SupercrossLIVE.com. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final are on pre-sale now and will be on-sale to the public on Tuesday, February 4th. For more information and ticket sales please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SMX World ChampionshipTM. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:
Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About the SMX World Championship:
The SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Cook Out Clash – Bowman Gray Stadium Winston-Salem, NC – February 1, 2025
Joey Logano, driver, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang 7th
Austin Cindric, driver, No. 2 Freightliner Ford Mustang 16th
Ryan Blaney, driver, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford Mustang 17th (LCQ)
BACK ON TRACK: NASCAR Cup Series drivers hit the track for the first time in 2025 on Saturday evening as the series returned to the historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for the Cook Out Clash—marking the first Cup race at the quarter-mile short track since 1971. The event, previously held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the past three years, now brings the action to one of NASCAR’s most storied venues. Reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano and Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric secured spots in Sunday night’s 200-lap main event with top-five finishes in their respective heat races. Ryan Blaney came up short in his heat but remains eligible for the provisional spot as the highest-finishing driver from last year’s standings not yet in the field.
TUNE IN ON SUNDAY: Coverage of Sunday’s Last Chance Qualifier kicks off at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the Cook Out Clash main event at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can catch all the on-track excitement live on FOX, with radio coverage available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
WINSTON-SALEM (Feb. 1, 2025) –RFK Racing showed early strength at Bowman Gray Stadium, securing starting positions for all three team cars in the Clash main event. Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece will each start among the top-12 when the green flag waves Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET
6 Recap
Focused on balance, and looking for speed, the 6-team used two of Saturday night’s three practices to fine tune and dial in the 6-car. When final practice rolled around, with a strong qualifying position for the first heat race on the line, Keselowski rose to the occasion, posting the 5th fastest overall lap.
That qualifying lap scored Keselowski the outside pole for the first heat race. The tight confines of the Bowman Gray half mile proved challenging early, as Keselowski found himself forced to the outside groove. Carefully navigating the outside line Keselowski worked his way toward the bottom groove and settled in to score a second-place heat race finish. The Buildsubmarines.com Ford Mustang will roll off 5th in the 200-lap feature Sunday night.
17 Recap
Buescher led all 25 laps and won the second heat race after starting on the pole to clinch his third career appearance in the Clash finale. He held off a surging Chase Briscoe to advance to the main event for the first time under the new format, and for the first time since 2021.
After struggling with handling during practice, he laid down the second fastest lap across a four-minute qualifying session to earn the pole for the second heat race. Buescher rode the bottom of the racetrack and never surrendered the lead as he drove the Kroger/Tree Top Ford Mustang to victory lane.
The Prosper, Texas will start on the front row for Sunday night’s main event, alongside Chase Elliott, which marks the best starting position of his career in the Clash. Buescher has two starts in the annual Clash event with a best finish of ninth back in 2017.
60 Recap
Preece showcased his short-track talent early during Saturday night’s first practice session. The short-track ace from the northeast navigated the Bowman Gray quarter-mile with relative ease, posting the second fastest time during the day’s first session. Although Preece wasn’t able to match that speed in final practice, he was undeterred by starting 6th in his heat.
During a physical heat race, Preece made his way to the front using the outside groove masterfully. He not only fended off several challenges, but worked his way into the top-5 by the sixth lap, and ultimately finished 3rd. Preece and the Fastenal Ford Mustang will start 12th on Sunday night.
Up Next The last chance qualifier (LCQ) is slated for Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. ET on FOX, with the top two finishers and the highest remaining finisher in the 2024 season points standings advancing to the Clash tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
About RFK Racing RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, 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 rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.
WINSTON-SALEM (Feb. 1, 2025) – Cole Custer fired off fourth in Saturday night’s fourth and final heat race at Bowman Gray Stadium. The team was optimistic after a solid qualifying effort earlier in the evening, but an incident on lap five would prove too much to overcome, with Custer settling for a ninth-place finish. The No. 41 Team will start 16th in the last chance qualifier (LCQ) on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. ET, and need to finish in the top two to advance to the main event.
Custer and the team struggled throughout the first two practice sessions – finishing in the 31st position heading into the four-minute qualifying round. However, the team continued to battle, and Custer climbed his way back up the leaderboard and qualified 16th, to give him the fourth-place starting spot in the last heat race of the night.
After an incident with AJ Allmendinger on lap five, Custer slipped back to the seventh position and was never able to recover. He was shuffled back after restarting in the outside lane, and dropped two more spots before crossing the finish line in ninth place.
Up Next Custer will have a chance to race his way into the main event in the LCQ on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET on FOX. The top two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the Clash at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX, and start 21st and 22nd, respectively. The 23rd and final position in the Clash is reserved for the driver who finished highest in the 2024 season points standings that did not otherwise transfer via the heat races or LCQ.
About Haas Factory Team The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.
NASCAR CUP SERIES BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM TEAM CHEVY POST-HEAT RACE REPORT FEBRUARY 1, 2025
Chase Elliott Takes Heat Race Win, Pole Position for Clash Main Event
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet team swept the top of the leaderboard in the opening day of the NASCAR Cup Series return to Bowman Gray Stadium.
The 29-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, native clocked in the fastest lap of 14.115 seconds in qualifying to secure a front-row starting position Heat Race One. Elliott went on to lead every lap of the 25-lap race to ultimately secure the pole position for tomorrow’s 200-lap main event.
Joining Elliott in the top-10 starting lineup for the main event includes NASCAR Cup Series rookie Shane van Gisbergen, who drove his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet to a top-10 qualifying effort and a third-place result in Heat Race Two.
FOX will telecast from Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 2, starting with the Last Chance Race at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray main event at 8 p.m. ET. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet: Post-Heat Race Quotes
You’re one of the handful of drivers that have raced here in the K&N Series. Do you remember anything from those races, and does any of it translate to this weekend?
“No, it’s been so long ago, I don’t even hardly remember making laps. There’s been a lot of laps made since 2012 or whatever it was, which is a good thing. That means we’ve been racing a lot. But no, I kind of had to re-teach myself, I guess, or just kind of get familiar again today. That’s kind of how I’ve approached the day and what I was expecting. Fortunately, it was pretty similar to what I was kind of thinking it was going to be based on the L.A. Coliseum and the differences visually what it looks like from that.”
There’s going to be more cars on-track during the feature tomorrow night. Did we see just how important track position is going to be right off the bat in that heat race?
“Absolutely. I mean it’s going to be tough to win from the third or fourth row. I think the first couple of rows certainly have a massive advantage on the rest of the field. Obviously anything can happen. You all have been watching long enough to know that anything can happen and I’m well aware of that. But I think just in a normal circumstance of people not totally crashing each other or whatever – yeah, I certainly would want to be on the first couple of rows and, fortunately, we are. We’ll try to take advantage of that.”
When you get out on the track, the sun goes down and how much the crowd is into it, what’s it like to just get in the car and experience that atmosphere?
“Yeah, it was awesome. Everybody was fired up, which is great. That’s what they want. It looked like our heat race got kind of rough at points sometimes and the crowd reaction reflected that. I couldn’t see it, but I had a pretty good idea that something had happened that was fairly aggressive. But that’s why we’re here. This is what it was meant to be, and I think the crowd and the people that support this race track and the modified events here over the years, this is what they want. I think they’re in for a good show, so I’m looking forward to being a part of it. I’m proud of the effort from this No. 9 NAPA Chevy team today and ready to go to work tomorrow.”
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.
Ford Performance Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Heat Races | Saturday, February 1, 2025
BUESCHER TO START ON THE OUTSIDE FRONT ROW OF CLASH AT BOWMAN GRAY AFTER WINNING HEAT 2
FORD DRIVERS ADVANCING TO TOMORROW NIGHT’S CLASH: Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric and Todd Gilliland.
Ryan Blaney did not qualify in his heat race, but since he is the highest point finisher from last year not currently in the field, he has the opportunity to claim the provisional spot and compete in the 23-car field.
Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing, led every lap to win Heat 2 tonight and will start on the front row in tomorrow night’s Clash at Bowman Gray. He spoke to media afterwards.
CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top Ford Mustang Dark Horse – THE COLISEUM IN L.A. WAS NOT KIND TO YOU. WHAT DID YOU FIND HERE THAT WORKED? “For us, a lot of things we learned about what not to do there and we weren’t good any of the times we went and we steadily found some things that were a little bit better, but ultimately needed a pretty big overhaul. I would say that Preece has been a pretty big mover for us on some of these flat short tracks. Some of the things that he’s done through the years that have worked really well. Last year they kind of excelled in this style of race and that was really beneficial to RFK as a whole, so it’s kind of one of the things we talked about a lot through media day and all that, and how we expected to be better overall and it’s already showing. We’ve got a lot of racing left to do, but it’s been a good start.”
IS THERE A COOL FACTOR RACING AT A PLACE LIKE THIS? “Yeah. I was here 15 years ago, more than that, probably almost 20 years. Geez, I’m old, but it was probably almost 20 years ago now when I raced a Legends car here and it was cool then. It was really cool and I’m not gonna lie, the track was tight in a Legends car. It’s surely snug now, but obviously through the years the history of this place, to be back here in a Cup car, we’ve all seen the Madhouse show and we all know about what goes down here. I’ve come up here as a fan and watched more fingers fly than I thought were actually in the stands. It’s just got a lot of character to it and surely it’s making it a lot of fun.”
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE NOT JUST THE RACING BUT THE ATMOSPHERE ITSELF? “I don’t think I ever can remember being heckled on a track walk in a really long time (laughing). I didn’t get it too bad. Most of it was good. I got heckled and found out that was just a friend up there, so he was just messing with me, but to have that many people here for the modified race and to stick around for all of our practice and heat races hours later is pretty awesome. We all know the energy and how well this stadium does at putting people up into the bleachers and I think they had a crazy day today with modifieds and obviously we’ve got some races to go to finish out the night, but I’m really excited about tomorrow.”
IS IT MORE AGGRESSIVE? “It was smooth from where I was at, so I will take that all day every day. We watched the first heat and obviously it was physical for the second half, but up front it was pretty smooth sailing in that one, too. If you can get away, it’s not too bad, but we’re gonna be in a lot more lap traffic too once we get in the race tomorrow.”
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BE AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD TOMORROW? “Yeah, it’s just gonna set you up to get going right from the get-go. We’re gonna be in the back of the field in 15 laps, maybe less, so I think you’re always gonna be in traffic of some sort and just having that little bit of gap behind you hopefully you’ve got to hang onto that to get going, but if you can have just that little bit of breathing room, that will put you in a lot better spot to where you’re not just pinballed around as much. I haven’t seen this one, but just the first heat some innocent bystanders getting spun out just from check ups and just the fact that it gets tight out there. It gets congested, so that’s definitely the place to be. It puts us in a good spot to just be safer from the get-go.”
WHAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE GAINS YOU MADE IN PRACTICE AND THE QUALIFYING RUN? “Yeah, we made big changes. The team made really good changes and just had a game plan coming in. We ran a lot of simulation leading up to this. We don’t typically do a ton of preliminary work from me as a driver in the simulator. It’s typically a lot more after races, but given my track record at these quarter miles, I figured better bite off into that one, so I ran a lot more there and went through all three of our cars and tried to pick out the good and the bad, and our team did a good job of having changes ready so that when we got here and realized we were just way too loose, we were able to make quick adjustments to get in the ballpark, so in our second session out there we were able to get on the other side of it and we were able to bring that back and then also just kind of tweak on some braking stuff at the same time and just got it to where it was a whole different race car for qualifying and for that heat race.”
WHAT IS IT LIKE WITH THESE TIRES AND WHAT IS IT GONNA BE LIKE FOR 200 GREEN FLAG LAPS TOMORROW NIGHT? “You watch the qualifying rounds. It seemed at the beginning it was three, four laps was the fast lap for the early groups. I think we’ve seen some groups at lap 10 or 11 maybe was their fast lap, given probably just spacing out one or two of those laps, so it changed a little bit through the evening. I believe it’s gonna be colder yet tomorrow, but I think we’re gonna get to the point where you’re gonna chase tire wear. We’re gonna try to take care of stuff. We tried in the heat race. We tried to get a couple car lengths out and just kind of conserve from there. I think it did work. We had something left at the end just to be able to get that little bit of gap, but I would imagine that we are gonna see it fall off. I think we just hope that you can control it as a driver. If you can make a difference in that fall off, that’s ideal. If we all fall off the same no matter what you do, then it’s hard to make a difference from behind the wheel, or as big a difference, but I feel like you can be smart about it and know when to push and make decisions at the right times that if the tire will react to that, then it’ll make comers and goers throughout the evening.”
Chase Elliott will lead the field to the green flag from pole position for the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Elliott’s Clash pole occurred after the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion from Dawsonville, Georgia, commenced the pre-season event’s festivities by posting the fastest lap time during an on-track group-qualifying round on Saturday, February 1, which enabled him to start in first place for the first of four qualifying Heat Races that followed suit and determined nearly the entire starting lineup for the Clash. Once in the first Heat Race, Elliott muscled away from his respective group of competitors through three restart periods to win the event and claim the first-starting spot for the main event, the Clash, that will occur on Sunday, February 2.
Saturday’s activities determined nearly the entire starting lineup of the pre-season Clash in NASCAR’s historic return to Bowman Gray Stadium. They consisted of three practice sessions with the final practice session serving as a group qualifying session.
The 39 competitors who entered to bid for the main event’s spots were split into three practice groups. The three groups were comprised of 13 competitors who were given three practice sessions. The first two practice rounds lasted for eight minutes while the third and final one lasted for four minutes. During the final practice/qualifying round, the 13 competitors in each of the three groups were split into two smaller groups of six or seven.
The starting lineup for the Heat Races determined the first 20 of 23 spots for the Clash, based on the competitors’ fastest lap time from their final practice session. The fastest competitor from practice would start on the pole position for the first Heat Race, the second-fastest would start on the pole for the second Heat Race, and so forth. During the four 2-lap Heat Races only green flags counted, and overtime was not implemented. The top five finishers from each Heat Race transferred into the Clash.
Following the final practice/qualifying session, Chase Elliott, who was in the third qualifying group, started on the pole for the first Heat Race. This was due to being the fastest competitor overall, with the best on-track lap time of 14.115 seconds at 63.762 mph.
Brad Keselowski, who clocked in his best on-track lap time in 14.170 seconds at 63.515 mph, was the fifth-fastest competitor overall during the qualifying session, and joined Elliott on the front row for the first Heat Race. Earlier, both Keselowski and Elliott contested against one another in the same qualifying group.
During the first Heat Race, Elliott withstood three caution periods and ensuing restarts amid several early on-track incidents and tempers flaring to win the event after leading all 25 laps. The victory enabled Elliott and his No. 9 NAPA/Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team to claim the pole position for the Clash, where the former will also make his ninth career start in NASCAR’s pre-season exhibition event.
“It’s going to be tough to win from the third or fourth row,” Elliott said. “I think the first couple of rows, certainly, have a massive advantage over the rest of the field. Obviously, anything can happen.
“You all have been watching this long enough to know that anything can happen and I’m well aware of that,” Elliott added. “I just think in a normal circumstance of people not totally crashing each other or whatever, yeah, I certainly would want to be on the first couple of rows, and fortunately we are. So, we’ll try to take advantage of that.”
Elliott was followed at the finish line by Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Kyle Busch, and Ross Chastain, respectively, as all transferred to the Clash. For Busch, he rallied from being involved in two early caution periods amid dust-ups with Gragson and Justin Haley, the latter of whom spun Busch’s No. 8 zone/Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet exiting the frontstretch while under caution on the seventh lap.
This prompted Busch, who had already been rubbed and bumped by Haley repeatedly earlier, to exchange the favor by repeatedly running into the rear of Haley’s No. 7 Fraternal Order of Eagles/Spire Motorsports Chevrolet to express his displeasure.
Photo by Andrew Boyd for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Meanwhile, Haley, the Dillon brothers of Ty and Austin, Josh Berry, and Ryan Blaney did not claim transfer spots from the first Heat Race. Gragson had also rallied from being bumped and spun on the fifth lap after Busch bumped Haley into Gragson amid a domino effect.
Next, Chris Buescher, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying time in 14.146 seconds at 63.622 mph while in the second qualifying group, started in pole position for the second Heat event. He shared the front row with Chase Briscoe, the latter of whom posted the sixth-fastest qualifying time in 14.173 seconds at 63.501 mph while in the third group. Briscoe’s run occurred as he logged in his first laps driving the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE entry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
During the second Heat Race, Buescher, driving in his No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top/RFK Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse, proceeded to lead all 25 laps and fend off a late charge from Briscoe amid a caution-free event to win and claim the second-place starting spot for the Clash.
Both Buescher and Briscoe along with rookie Shane van Gisbergen, Bubba Wallace, and Daniel Suarez transferred to the main event after finishing in the top five on the track while Zane Smith, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Cody Ware, and Garrett Smithley did not transfer.
Photo by Andrew Boyd for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin, the reigning four-time Clash winner, started on pole position for the third Heat event after he posted the third-fastest qualifying time overall in 14.151 seconds at 63.600 mph while in the second group. Joey Logano, the reigning three-time Cup Series champion who clocked in the eighth-fastest qualifying time in 14.194 seconds at 63.407 mph, started alongside Hamlin’s No. 11 Sport Clips/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry on the front row.
During the third Heat Race, Hamlin proceeded to lead all 25 laps and he cruised to win a caution-free event by more than a second, which allowed him to claim the third-starting spot for the Clash. Logano fended off William Byron to finish second as they transferred to the Clash along with top-five finishers Carson Hocevar and Alex Bowman, while Ty Gibbs, Riley Herbst, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Burt Myers, and Tim Brown did not transfer.
Photo by Andrew Boyd for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Lastly, Tyler Reddick, who contested in the third group, started on pole position for the fourth and final Heat event after being the fourth-fastest competitor overall during the qualifying session and with his best lap time in 14.163 seconds at 63.546 mph. He shared the front row with Toyota teammate Christoper Bell, who contested in the second group and posted the seventh-fastest qualifying lap time in 14.194 seconds at 63.407 mph.
During the final Heat Race, Reddick withstood two early caution periods and proceeding restarts to lead all 25 laps and win in his No. 45 Jordan Brand/23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry by more than two seconds, which enabled him to claim the fourth-starting spot for the Clash.
Reddick was followed at the finish line by Bell, Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric, and Todd Gilliland, the latter four of whom claimed starting spots to the Clash, while Michael McDowell, AJ Allmendinger, John Hunter Nemechek, and Cole Custer did not transfer. Allmendinger, Nemechek, and Custer finished the event despite being involved in on-track incidents that left all three with damaged race cars.
Photo by Andrew Boyd for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Overall, the following competitors including AJ Allmendinger, Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, Tim Brown, Cole Custer, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Ty Gibbs, Justin Haley, Riley Herbst, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Burt Myers, John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, Garrett Smithley, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Cody Ware did not transfer to the Clash from Saturday’s Heat Races.
As a result, they will all compete in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) Race on Sunday before the Clash. The LCQ’s starting lineup is based on the competitors’ results from their respective Heat events. Through this format, Ty Dillon will start in pole position for the LCQ after finishing in sixth place during the first Heat Race.
Dillon will share the front row with Zane Smith, the latter of whom finished sixth in the second Heat Race. Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell, who both finished sixth during the third and fourth Heat Races, will follow suit in the second row.
The LCQ event will consist of 75 laps, where green flag laps will be recorded, and no overtime will be implemented. Only the top two finishers from the event will transfer and claim the 21st and 22nd spots, respectively, into the Clash. The 23rd and final starting spot to the Clash is a provisional spot reserved for the competitor who was the highest finisher in the 2024 driver’s standings but did not transfer from either of the Heat events and LCQ.
Before the Heat Races, Joey Logano occupied the provisional spot for being the 2024 Cup Series champion. Logano, however, transferred to the Clash by finishing in second place during the third Heat Race.
Ryan Blaney, Logano’s teammate at Team Penske, finished in the runner-up spot in the 2024 championship standings. If Blaney does not finish in the top two spots during the LCQ event, he is next in line for the provisional spot in the Clash
Clash starting lineup:
1. Chase Elliott 2. Chris Buescher 3. Denny Hamlin 4. Tyler Reddick 5. Brad Keselowski 6. Chase Briscoe 7. Joey Logano 8. Christopher Bell 9. Noah Gragson 10. Shane van Gisbergen 11. William Byron 12. Ryan Preece 13. Kyle Busch 14. Bubba Wallace 15. Carson Hocevar 16. Austin Cindric 17. Ross Chastain 18. Daniel Suarez 19. Alex Bowman 20. Todd Gilliland 21. *Last Chance Qualifier – First Place 22. *Last Chance Qualifier – Second Place 23. *2024 Point Provisional Competitor
The Last Chance Qualifier Race at Bowman Gray Stadium is scheduled to occur on Sunday, February 2, and air at 6 p.m. ET on FOX. The Cook Out Clash will follow suit with an airing time of 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
NASCAR CUP SERIES BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM TEAM CHEVY TRANSCRIPT FEBRUARY 1, 2025
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media onsite at Bowman Gray Stadium ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray.
Media Availability Quotes:
Larson on the new rule that allows an elite driver in the field?
“Yeah, I don’t know.. I mean, obviously he’s (Denny Hamlin) from the ownership side, so he’s going to have a strong opinion one way or another, where I don’t really have an opinion on that. But regardless, I love to see drivers come out and try our series and our racecars. I feel like since we’ve gotten the Next Gen car out there, we’ve had multiple drivers each year from different backgrounds, countries and all that. I think that’s great for motorsports, not just NASCAR, but obviously it helps out NASCAR a lot. Yeah, rarely I feel like are you ever going to run into that 41st entry, aside from maybe the (Daytona) 500.”
You’ve had a really nice start to the 2025 season. Are you undefeated?
“No.. I lost two micro races at the Tulsa Shootout, and I lost the ‘Race of Champions’. I think I’m 50 percent, though (laughs).”
How do you feel heading into Daytona, one that you’ve not yet won but probably very much want to?
“Yeah, I don’t know.. I mean I think it doesn’t really, to me, matter how the beginning of my year kind of goes. To me, the Chili Bowl always feels like the end of the year.. end of the season. But yeah, I don’t know.. yes, it’s obviously a race that I would really like to win some day, but I try not to treat it any differently than any other race. I put the same amount of focus in as others. And I think as I’ve gained more experience, it doesn’t feel any bigger than the other races. I think, like I said, you just treat it the same and I think you go in with less.. not that I ever have nerves, but any anticipation of what might happen and stuff.
But yeah, I feel like we’ve improved a lot on superspeedways, as well. I feel like we’re contending throughout most parts of the race.. end of the stages, end of the races. It just hasn’t quite worked out, but I think if you can keep putting yourself into contention, it’ll work out someday.. hopefully. Yeah, we’ll keep trying our best and hopefully we can get that last crown jewel.”
How many races do you have on your schedule so far?
“Somewhere in the low 80s.
No mic..
“Honestly, that’s about normal. Every year, I get 85 to 90.”
So it’s down from normal?
“By a couple, maybe (laughs). But yeah, that’s still twice as many as anybody else.”
NASCAR decided not to change the playoffs for this year, but they said that they’re looking at possibly doing that next year. Do you care to give your input on that? Are you a part of the panel or anything? What would you like to see happen?
“I mean currently, I haven’t really put much thought into like – if I could recreate the format, what would I make it. I think there’s probably pros and cons to every format. It’s never going to quite please every single person that pays attention to our sport or is a part of the sport. I don’t know.. I think it could have some differences, though, but we’ll see. I would definitely like to be a part of that panel. I don’t know who is a part of that panel.. I’m assuming the driver council, which I’m not a part of. But yeah, I get into formats and stuff like that on the dirt side, so I think I would have fun trying to come up with something.”
What has the response been taking High Limit over to Australia? You see big picture motorsports, and I’m just kind of wondering what was the effect? Now that you’ve had a couple weeks off, you’ve had time to look back on that..
“Yeah, I thought it went amazing. I think the perception from fans and competitors across the world also thought it was amazing. You can’t do it without a great facility, too, and Perth Motorplex is – I mean you guys were there, it’s probably a top-three facility. Yeah, the crowd was awesome. There were fans from multiple different countries there. A lot of competitors. It had a lot of buzz, and I feel like already, there’s teams, drivers and fans talking about going next year that weren’t there this past year. So that’s great.. I think it’s great for Australia and sprint car racing, probably more than anything. But also for the High Limit brand, as well, and sprint car racing as a whole. It was great.”
Has it helped your entry list for Las Vegas, the kickoff for the real High Limit season?
“I don’t know.. I have zero idea if it helped. I doubt that it would help, you know, because it’s as far away from Las Vegas as you can get (laughs). But yeah, hopefully it just puts more eyes on the beginning of our season. I think that’s the most important thing… maybe more fans tuning in from Australia on Flo Racing and stuff like that.”
With the new manufacturer rule, are you clear on what racing will be allowed at Daytona and Talladega?
“I hadn’t really read anything about it or heard anything about it. I’m sure I’ll get caught up on all that as we get through this event. But right now, I don’t know anything about it.”
What would you like to see with the Clash moving forward? Would you like to see it rotating on more short-tracks? Do you want to see it go international? Where would you like to see it go?
“I think all of that. I think all of that would be cool. I think going to L.A. was great. I think that was huge for our sport. It was fun for all of us involved. I think coming to Bowman Gray is amazing, as well. You know, resurrecting.. I mean you’re not resurrecting this place, but you’re still tapping into your roots a lot coming to this event here. Yeah, I think spending two or three years at a place is great. But I do think the L.A. thing was great because it proved that they could take that model to different venues, so I would like to see us tap into that a lot. But also, going to Rockingham or something like that would be cool. You know, I think seeing the Cup Series back there, whether it be a points-paying race, the Clash or something, I think that would be neat.”
What are your thoughts on the state of the sport after a tumultuous playoffs, if you will, and a lot of conversation about the format, etc. As we go into 2025, how do you assess where NASCAR is at?
“Yeah, I’m not sure.. I hadn’t put much thought into any of that, as far as where the sport is at. I think there’s a lot of good going on in the sport, as well as there’s a lot of drama behind the scenes also, as I’m sure there is in every sport. So I don’t know.. drama sometimes is OK.. it got people talking about the sport. And if change comes from it, that’s good, too. I would say, overall, our sport is in a great spot. I think from what I’ve heard, TV ratings are continuing to climb. Fan attendance has been well. Our schedule is exciting. The racing is as close as it’s ever been. So there’s a lot of positives that probably outweigh, if you want to call them ‘negatives’ going on in the sport.”
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