TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Bowman Gray Stadium
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
February 1-2, 2025

 RETURNING TO THE ROOTS

NASCAR will turn the page on the next chapter of its annual preseason exhibition event with the sport’s premier series making its return to the historic short-track of Bowman Gray Stadium. The North Carolina quarter-mile venue has a deep-rooted history in motorsports, including holding a staple spot on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule from 1958-1971. Nearly 55 years later, the division will make its much anticipated return to track famously known as “The Madhouse” to kick off the 2025 season.

Among the 39-driver entry list includes 16 drivers representing seven different Chevrolet organizations:

•  Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
• Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Burt Myers, No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet
• Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

 
Chevrolet at the Clash

The Bowtie brand is the winningest manufacturer in the Clash’s 46-race history with 22 victories – a record more than double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 10. Among those wins includes six straight recorded between 2005 and 2010 – a statistic that has earned Chevrolet the longest streak of Clash wins collected by a single manufacturer. Only six times in the event’s history has the Clash winner gone on to win the Daytona 500, with career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon representing the Bowtie brand on that elite list (1997).

Clash Stats in the Next Gen Era

The start of NASCAR’s Next Gen era also marked a pivotal moment in Clash history, with the location moving from its longstanding tenure at the “World Center of Racing” to the center of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The three-year stint at the famed Southern California venue saw just three drivers earn a trio of top-10 finishes, led by Team Chevy’s Kyle Busch, who placed on the podium in all three events. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and William Byron shared similar success on the quarter-mile circuit, with Larson collecting three top-fives and Byron scoring three top-10s.

 NEXT GEN: YEAR FOUR

Chevrolet is coming off yet another season atop the wins leaderboard in the NASCAR Cup Series, with eight drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations earning a combined 15 victories. The feat keeps the Bowtie brand as the winningest manufacturer in the Next Gen era, also leading its competitors with 18 wins in 2023 and 19 wins in 2022. Last season also marked the second consecutive season – and sixth time in history – that Chevrolet swept all three Manufacturer Championships in the NASCAR national ranks, with drivers from each full-time Chevrolet organization contributing points towards its third consecutive title in NASCAR’s premier series.

 NEW TO THE LINEUP

Spire Motorsports will see two new full-time drivers added to its 2025 NASCAR Cup Series lineup. Jumping into the seat of the No. 7 Chevrolet in the closing races of the 2024 season, Justin Haley will return to the entry to compete in his fourth campaign in the series. The 25-year-old Indiana native already has success with Spire Motorsports, with the young driver earning the organization’s first win in NASCAR’s top division at Daytona International Speedway in July 2019. Haley’s No. 7 Chevrolet team will be led by veteran crew chief Rodney Childers. The series’ winningest active crew chief has 40 NASCAR Cup Series wins on his resume, as well as a championship title that he earned under the Chevrolet banner with Kevin Harvick in 2014.

Also joining the Bowtie brigade this season includes the driver and crew chief pairing of Michael McDowell and Travis Peterson. McDowell brings 17 years of experience and over 500 starts in NASCAR’s premier series to the Chevrolet organization. The 40-year-old Arizona native is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, with his first coming in the 2021 Daytona 500. McDowell isn’t a stranger to getting behind the wheel of a Chevrolet-powered machine, with the driver spending two seasons in the driver’s seat for Leavine Family Racing (2016-2017). This year will mark the third season together for the driver-crew chief pairing, with Peterson leading McDowell to his most recent win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (2023), as well as a series-leading six pole winning efforts last season.

Kaulig Racing will also see two familiar faces in its 2025 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup. AJ Allmendinger will make the transition back up to the sport’s top division to pilot the No. 16 Chevrolet entry for the organization. The 43-year-old California native joined Kaulig Racing in 2019, competing part-time for two seasons before enduring his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021. In that same season, Allmendinger also took Kaulig Racing on its first trip to victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. The Chevrolet driver is coming off a strong ending to the 2024 season with an appearance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Four.

Also making the jump back up to the NASCAR Cup Series is Ty Dillon, who will contest his seventh full-time season in the division behind the wheel of the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. The 32-year-old North Carolina native is a four-time winner in the NASCAR national ranks, with each victory earned behind the wheel of a Chevrolet (three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins and one NASCAR Xfinity Series win).

 BOWTIE BULLETS:

• Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Clash win: Kyle Busch – two wins (2021, 2012)
• In 46 NASCAR Cup Series Clash races, Chevrolet has earned a series-leading 22 victories – a record more than double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 10.
• Chevrolet holds the series’ record for the most consecutive Clash wins by a single manufacturer with six straight – recorded from 2005 to 2010.
• In the Next Gen era, only three drivers have earned three straight top-10 results in the Clash – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp (Kyle Busch – three top-three finishes; Kyle Larson – three top-five finishes; and William Byron – three top-10 finishes).
• In 108 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 52 victories – a winning percentage of 48.1%.
• With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 866 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 TUNE-IN:

Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray
Bowman Gray Stadium
Saturday, February 1
Practice and Qualifying at 6:10 p.m. ET
(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
Heat Races at 8:30 p.m. ET
(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

Sunday, February 2
Last Chance Race at 6 p.m. ET
(FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
Cook Out Clash Main Event at 8 p.m. ET
(FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts on the the Clash at Bowman Gray?

“I’ve been in the stands before as a fan but haven’t race there before. It should be wild. It’s sold-out, it’s a unique place, has a lot of history in this sport and it’s cool we’re getting the opportunity to race there. It’s a such a small track with a bunch of us trying to make the main event, so I’m sure there will be a lot of excitement on the track.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Larson on what to expect at Bowman Gray Stadium:

“I’m sure it’ll be tough to pass this weekend. I hope we can give the fans the kind of exciting racing they’re used to seeing on a Saturday night in the summer. I’m sure the energy will be high in the stands – and be crazy on the track, too.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

“I’ve been counting down the days to get back behind the wheel, and I’m excited to head to Bowman Gray in the No. 7 FOE Chevrolet. Rejoining Spire Motorsports last September was a huge step for me, and we’ve been building something strong since then. We finished 2024 with a lot of momentum, and I’m ready to keep that going. Bowman Gray is such a unique and exciting track, and having the Cup cars there for the first time is going to be something special. I’m ready to get to work and put on a show for the fans.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Elliott on heading to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Clash:

“I think that it’s probably going to be very similar to what the Clash was from a viewing standpoint or a fan standpoint. It logistically makes way more sense. I think having it out there in Los Angeles was a great thought. I commend them for the effort in doing it. But I think the shine wore off of it after the first year. I think that the (Bowman Gray) Stadium is a place that has some historical value from a NASCAR presence perspective. And they have weekly shows, and they have these modified races up there and other classes too. And I just think that people are going to be really excited for it. I think that that’s going to last more than a year, in my opinion. I could be totally wrong, and (I’m) not knocking the folks that came out to the Clash (in LA) every year either, because there were still a good number, but certainly not quite like it was that first year. So, hopefully it just carries the energy a little further before they have to switch it up again.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“I’m so excited to be able to race in my hometown. I grew up in Winston-Salem, so as a kid and teenager, I spent a lot of races sitting in the grandstands at Bowman Gray Stadium, watching some of the local heroes like Burt Myers and Tim Brown, Junior Miller, all those guys, who a few of them are going to be competing against us. It’s so cool to race a stock car, not only, but a NASCAR Cup car around small Bowman Gray Stadium. It’s going to be an exciting event. It’s our first race with Sea Best, so looking forward to putting on a show, having fun for the Clash and holding nothing back at the Madhouse.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“Bowman Gray is a big part of NASCAR history so I’m looking forward to going out there and getting back in the flow of driving the No. 16 Chevy. With The Clash as an exhibition event, we’re going out there to hopefully win, but more importantly, I’m focusing on the opportunity to work with Trent [Owens] and the No. 16 team before we head to Daytona.”

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Byron on the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium:

“The track is even smaller than the Coliseum, so I’ll be interested to see if that expands at all for us, if they move some things around. But I think that it’s just a really tight quarters race track and it’s going to create some bumping and banging naturally because that’s the only way to pass.

I feel like the fan base is a lot more traditional, so there’ll be a lot of passionate race fans. So, I’m sure if you move someone out of the way or if you get wrecked, you’ll hear about it. So it’ll be fun to see how the fan interaction is for sure.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

“Bowman Gray should be fun. Those fans will definitely tell you who their favorite drivers are and the ones that aren’t their favorite drivers. The atmosphere is definitely going to be intense. When it comes to a track that I’ve never been to, the only thing that we can really do to prepare is going to Sim. Then, we just watch film of past races there to see what line people use, how to pass, and other small details. No one really knows what to expect until we get the cars out on track during practice on Saturday.”

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Bowman on Bowman Gray Stadium:

“Obviously, it’s a really small place about like the Coliseum, probably similar size, maybe a little bit narrower – excited how close that is. I’ve raced there, but I’ve also sat in the stands there and the atmosphere there is unlike anywhere else we go. I’ve never seen the pace car driver get flipped off anywhere except for there. So, pretty excited to go there and get to run a Cup car. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Talk about the Clash and what makes it important:

“Headed to Bowman Gray is going to be special. This track has so much history and shows how far we have come in 75+ years. That said, I am excited to be back on track with a new team and a new chapter in my career. The Clash has always been a great way to work our way back into things, and we have done a consistent job making the main event the last three years at the Coliseum. I am excited to start the 2025 season with a new team, manufacturer, and partner.”

What are you looking forward to this season?

“There has been a lot of change this offseason, and Spire has been super helpful in integrating me into their system. There has been a lot to learn, and I am enjoying the process of everything; it is going to be a slow build while our team gets the hang of things, but I am excited to see where we can be as the season goes on. We have been very upfront about our goals, we want to win races and make the playoffs, and I think this has been my best opportunity to make that happen.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

“I’ve been ready to go back racing since November, so I’m pretty pumped to get to Bowman Gray and be back behind the wheel of the Delaware Life Chevrolet. We ended 2024 on a high note with the Rookie of the Year title and we’re in a good position to build on that right from the start. Bowman Gray always puts on an exciting race, and I really think that will be true with the Cup cars on track at the Madhouse for the first time.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Bowman Gray Stadium is a new track for the NASCAR Cup Series this year. What’s something that stands out to you about this track as you head into your first Clash Weekend?

“I don’t know much about the track, but I’ve been watching some videos on YouTube and it looks like the racing is pretty intense, but that’s all short track racing in this cup car. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Bowman Gray excitement is all about and finally getting on track with my No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. It would be epic to advance to the main event with this new team, so hoping we can accomplish that!”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts on your 2025 Clash?

“This going to be pretty wild. It’s been a long time since I raced at Bowman Gray. If you haven’t seen a race there you don’t know what you are missing. There is as much action in the stands as there is on the track with the fans really getting into it. I think the fans fight as much as the drivers. I think this is going to be a fun way to start the season. I hope we can put the Freeway Chevrolet at the front of the field. Winning there would be really special.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturer Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 43

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Most recent: 2024

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Driver Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 866 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 753

Laps led to date: 252,711

Top-fives to date: 4,369

Top-10s to date: 9,007

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,200

       Chevrolet: 866

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 840                                                           

       Ford: 740

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 189

 
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.

NEXT RACE
Bowman Gray Stadium
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025
0.25-mile short track
8 PM ET
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (exhibition race)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
 Age: 32 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Week: N/A
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: N/A

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

2024	Cup Career	Clash
Races	35	366	9
Wins	6	29	0
Poles	5	21	0
Top 5	15	119	6
Top 10	18	182	7
Laps Led	1,700	9,256	3
Stage Wins	12	62	N/A
Average Finish	12.9	14.1	7.9

• Kyle Larson competed in an ARCA East Series event on the .25-mile Bowman Gray Stadium in 2012. The Elk Grove, California, native won the pole and finished fifth.
• For the past three years, the Clash was held in Southern California on a .25-mile track built inside the LA Coliseum. The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet finished fifth in each of those events.
• With 407, Larson has turned the third-most laps inside the top 10 in the last three Clash main events.
• The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion has the third-best average finish (7.59) in the Next Gen car in points-paying events on short tracks.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 29 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last week: N/A
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: N/A

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet

2024	Cup Career	Clash
Races	36	322	8
Wins	1	19	0
Poles	0	12	0
Top 5	11	104	1
Top 10	19	171	4
Laps Led	431	5,526	28
Stage Wins	2	38	N/A
Average Finish	11.7	12.9	11.3

• Chase Elliott enters his 10th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025. It marks the 21st for crew chief Alan Gustafson.
• This weekend, the series takes on Bowman Gray Stadium for the Clash for the first time in the sport’s modern era. Elliott competed at the North Carolina short track in the ARCA East Series in 2011 and 2012, finishing 18th and sixth, respectively.
• The 29-year-old driver’s overall best finish of second in the Clash came in 2021 on the Daytona Road Course.
• In points-paying races on short tracks in the Next Gen car, Elliott has the second-best average finish (7.5). Last season, he was the only Cup Series driver to finish inside the top 10 in all seven points-paying short track races.
• Overall, Elliott ended 2024 with the best average finish (11.7) among full-time premier series drivers. He had one win (Texas Motor Speedway).
• The Dawsonville, Georgia, native won the 2024 National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver award for the seventh straight season. It was the 17th consecutive season a Hendrick Motorsports driver won.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
 Age: 27 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Week: N/A
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: N/A

No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet

2024	Cup Career	Clash
Races	36	252	5
Wins	3	13	0
Poles	1	13	0
Top 5	13	54	1
Top 10	21	104	4
Laps Led	357	2,978	4
Stage Wins	2	23	N/A
Average Finish	12.9	15.2	9.0

• William Byron has raced at Bowman Gray prior in the ARCA East Series in 2015, scoring a 15th-place finish.
• The last three Clash events were held at the LA Coliseum. Over those starts, the 27-year-old driver made the main event each year and had an average running position of 5.78, second best in the field, and an average finish of 8.67.
• At the Coliseum, Byron spent 231 laps running in the top five (third most) and 451 laps in the top 10, tops among all drivers.
• In the Next Gen era on short tracks, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has an average finish of 11.53, good enough for sixth best.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
 
Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Week: N/A
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: N/A

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

2024	Cup Career	Clash
Races	36	325	6
Wins	1	8	0
Poles	1	5	0
Top 5	8	40	3
Top 10	17	96	5
Laps Led	67	1,368	2
Stage Wins	1	7	N/A
Average Finish	14.8	19.4	6.7

• Alex Bowman returns to race for the No. 48 Ally Racing team for the fifth consecutive year. This year marks Bowman’s eighth season with Hendrick Motorsports and his 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Bowman is one of the active NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have raced at Bowman Gray Stadium – the site of this year’s Clash. The Tucson, Arizona, native raced at Bowman Gray in 2011 in the ARCA East Series.
• Blake Harris enters his third year as crew chief for the No. 48 Ally Racing team. Under Harris’ leadership, Bowman has achieved one victory (Chicago Street Course – 2024), 12 top-five finishes, 27 top 10s and three poles. The win at Chicago in 2024 secured the team’s spot in the NASCAR playoffs, marking Harris’ first such run as a crew chief.
• The LA Coliseum has hosted the event for the past three years before the change to Bowman Gray Stadium. The 31-year-old made the main event in two of three years with an average running position of 7.09, placing him sixth best, and an average finish of 5.0.

 
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

• Hendrick Motorsports enters the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season as the circuit’s all-time leader in points-paying wins (312) and championships (14).
• The organization has gone to victory lane seven times in the Clash, third-most all-time. That includes two wins apiece for Ken Schrader, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson as well as one for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• With 39, Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins in special events by 11 over any other organization. In addition to its seven wins in the Clash, the company has also piled up 16 wins in qualifiers, 11 All-Star Race victories and five wins in the All-Star Open.
• Since 2020, Hendrick Motorsports has claimed seven of 13 wins at new tracks in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• In the Next-Gen era (2022-present), Hendrick Motorsports drivers have combined to lead the NASCAR Cup Series in several short-track categories including poles (seven), top-five finishes (25), top-10 finishes (42), average start (10.72) and average finish (10.49). Its five victories are tied for the most.

 
QUOTABLE
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on what to expect at Bowman Gray Stadium: “I’m sure it’ll be tough to pass this weekend. I hope we can give the fans the kind of exciting racing they’re used to seeing on a Saturday night in the summer. I’m sure the energy will be high in the stands – and be crazy on the track, too.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on heading to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Clash: “I think that it’s probably going to be very similar to what the Clash was from a viewing standpoint or a fan standpoint. It logistically makes way more sense. I think having it out there in Los Angeles was a great thought. I commend them for the effort in doing it. But I think the shine wore off of it after the first year. I think that the (Bowman Gray) Stadium is a place that has some historical value from a NASCAR presence perspective. And they have weekly shows, and they have these modified races up there and other classes too. And I just think that people are going to be really excited for it. I think that that’s going to last more than a year, in my opinion. I could be totally wrong, and (I’m) not knocking the folks that came out to the Clash (in LA) every year either, because there were still a good number, but certainly not quite like it was that first year. So, hopefully it just carries the energy a little further before they have to switch it up again.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium: “The track is even smaller than the Coliseum, so I’ll be interested to see if that expands at all for us, if they move some things around. But, I think that it’s just a really tight quarters race track and it’s going to create some bumping and banging naturally because that’s the only way to pass.

“I feel like the fan base is a lot more traditional, so there’ll be a lot of passionate race fans. So, I’m sure if you move someone out of the way or if you get wrecked, you’ll hear about it. So it’ll be fun to see how the fan interaction is for sure.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on Bowman Gray Stadium: “Obviously, it’s a really small place about like the Coliseum, probably similar size, maybe a little bit narrower – excited how close that is. I’ve raced there, but I’ve also sat in the stands there and the atmosphere there is unlike anywhere else we go. I’ve never seen the pace car driver get flipped off anywhere except for there. So, pretty excited to go there and get to run a Cup car. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. Built in 1937, this quarter-mile asphalt flat oval short track will host the Cook Out Clash after last hosting a NASCAR Cup Series race in 1971. Nicknamed “The Madhouse”, Bowman Gray is known for its hot racing and hot tempers.

Welcome Knighthead: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB announced on Monday the team joined forces with Knighthead Capital Management See more here: LINK

First Time for All: This weekend will mark John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones’ first time competing at the Bowman Gray Stadium. With no prior experience at the quarter-mile oval, LEGACY MC is relying on simulator time to get up to speed.

Partner Spotlight: “The Madhouse” will host two LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entries. John Hunter Nemechek will support the familiar green, white, and gold Dollar Tree colors on his No. 42 while Erik Jones will have the black, red, and orange colors of Family Dollar on his No. 43 Camry XSE.

LEGACY MC Debut: Travis Mack will make his debut with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB at Bowman Gray Stadium as the crew chief on the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE. Throughout his career, Mack has called the shots as a crew chief for 156 races for drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Daniel Suarez, A.J. Allmendinger, Ty Dillon, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Josh Williams. He has one victory to his record and 11 top-five finishes.

Richard Petty’s 100th Win: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s ambassador, Richard Petty “The King” is no stranger to Bowman Gray Stadium. Petty is a four-time winner at the track, most notably, including his 100th NASCAR Cup Series win at “The Madhouse” on Aug. 22, 1969. A special shirt commemorating this historic win is currently available for purchase by visiting the Petty Museum’s website: Shop | Pettymuseum.

Hometown Hits: Rick Rozier, the fueler for the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE pit crew, attended Winston-Salem State University, where he majored in exercise science and competed as a football and track student-athlete. For those visiting the Winston-Salem area, Rozier recommends checking out Forsyth Seafood, Milner’s, or Jeffery’s Adams on Fourth for a great meal.

Off-Season Fun: When he’s not at the track or at the LEGACY MC race shop, Nemechek enjoys quality family time with his wife and two daughters. During their break, the Nemechek family headed to Aspen, Colo. for some fun on the slopes. Nemechek also made a trip to the X-Games to catch the action and cheer on some friends who were competing.

EJ Dad Duty: The off-season was different this year for Erik Jones as he and his wife Holly welcomed their first child, David, during the Thanksgiving break. David will attend his first DAYTONA 500 On Feb. 16 to cheer on his Dad.

Eyes in the Sky: Both Jones and Nemechek will have new spotters in the spotters stand this year. Jones will be matched up with Will Rodgers while Nemechek will be paired with Hayden Reeves.

Reeves comes from a racing family as he is the son of Stevie Reeves, a former NASCAR and Open-Wheel driver in the 1990s. His father would go on to become a spotter for Jimmie Johnson, Ernie Irvin, Robbie Gordon, Christopher Bell, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., leading him to his first Daytona 500 victory in 2004. Hayden has a vast background in racing himself, having raced quarter-midgets up to sprint cars. Reeves has also been a mechanic, a shock mechanic, and currently a spotter.

Rodgers began his racing career in go-karts at the age of nine and quickly rose to the ranks as state champion. At age 13, he switched to motocross racing, becoming a regional champion. In 2015, he became a West Coast NASA Champion, and the following year he competed in six starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series – winning two races, one of which came at Sonoma Raceway, where he won over five NASCAR Cup Series drivers. In 2018, Rodgers made his ARCA debut and followed that up with his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Iowa Speedway in 2019. Since 2021, Rodgers has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, mainly racing road courses. Rodgers will make his full-time Cup Series spotting debut with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB at the Clash.
QUOTABLE:

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

“I think [The Cook Out Clash] is going to be wild for sure. I believe that the qualifying and the heat races, are going to be intense and it’s going to be really tough to qualify for Sunday’s main race. At the same time, it will be exciting from a fan perspective. With that many cars on a quarter-mile racetrack, around a football and so much history there, it’s neat to be able to go back there. We’ll see what the Cup cars can do and if we’re able to live up to the hype and hopefully we can put on a great show for them.”

Travis Mack, Crew chief of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:
“It’s a great practice before going to the Daytona 500. This is a new team with new processes, we started from the ground up – it’s going to be new to everybody just to get family with each other, and how we work together before get to the Daytona 500.”

“I am excited about this weekend. I grew up racing at a track just like [Bowman Gray Stadium] it’s a lot that I can remember about growing up. I hope we see some good racing and fights on the track, some of the normal stuff that the fans see on a Saturday night!”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

“I think Bowman Gray is special for everyone because of the history. The Cup series went there for a long time years ago, and to be able to go back is always fun as a driver and as a fan to go to historic tracks. We’re looking forward to going back and hopefully put on a great show for everybody.”

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

“The history of the track makes it a special one to race at. To be able to go back to one of the original tracks that got NASCAR started is really cool and I think it will put on a great show for the fans”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit DollarTree.com

Clash Event Info:
Date: Sunday, February 2
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Format: See Below
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 6:10 p.m. ET, Practice/Qualifying (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 8:30 p.m. ET, Heat Races Begin (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, Last Chance Race (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 8 p.m. ET, Clash (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• The 2025 season unofficially begins this weekend as the Clash at Bowman Gray takes place Sunday in Winston-Salem.
• This is the first year of the Clash taking place at Bowman Gray Stadium, marking the Cup Series’ first return to the historic Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971.
• The format for the Clash remains similar to the 2024 edition held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as 23 cars overall will make the main event.
• Saturday features three practice sessions with entrants split into three groups. The fastest lap time in each car’s final session will determine the starting lineup for the four heat races, meaning no separate qualifying session will take place.
• The 25-lap heat races will feature up to 10 cars per race, with only green-flag laps counting in each heat with no overtime allotment.
• The top five finishers in each heat will automatically advance to Sunday night’s main event, while the drivers that finish below fifth will advance to Sunday’s last chance qualifier (LCQ). Starting positions for that race will be determined by the finishing order in the heats. The top two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the Clash 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.
• The Clash will be 200 laps and feature those 23 cars.

41 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: HaasTooling.com

Custer in the Clash
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

Custer has two starts in the annual Clash event with a best finish of seventh back in 2022. He finished 20th in 2021 in Daytona.

The Wood Brothers and the crew of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang kick of the team’s 75th Anniversary season with a return to a familiar old venue – Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Sunday’s Cook Out Clash will be the first outing in the iconic No. 21 Ford for driver Josh Berry and crew chief Miles Stanley, and the new duo will be attempting to capture some of the magic that the team’s founders enjoyed back in the day on the tight, flat quarter-mile oval track known then and now as “The Madhouse.”

The late team founder Glenn Wood had four Cup Series wins at Bowman Gray and a total of 29 victories across all divisions he competed in at the track. Wood’s success at Bowman Gray will be honored with a special paint scheme representing the Modified “Backseater” that was among his winning mounts back in the day. That heavily-modified 1937 Ford flatback coach got its nickname from the fact that Wood was sitting so far back that it looked like he was in the back seat.

Those wins often meant prevailing in spite of the on-track incidents that often occur in races at Bowman Gray. In Wood’s final Cup win there, he started from the pole and led the first lap only to be collected in a Lap 5 multi-car crash that sent him to the rear of the field. He roared back through the pack and led the final 94 laps of the 200-lap race, finishing five seconds ahead of Ned Jarrett, with Buck Baker, Lee Petty and Jack Smith completing the top five. (It was the final top-five finish of Petty’s career, which was cut short by a devastating crash at Daytona International Speedway two years earlier.)

Berry said he expects Sunday’s race to be a typical Bowman Gray affair.

“Bowman Gray is known as The Madhouse for a reason, so I’m sure we’ll see plenty of excitement there,” he said. “It’s such a historic track, and bringing the Cup Series back to it is going to be really cool. The Wood Brothers have a long history at Bowman Gray, and I’ve already heard some great stories and seen a lot of pictures from back in the day. It’s even more special that we get to run a paint scheme that reflects their early success at the track, which is a great way to kick off the team’s 75th anniversary.”

Stanley said he too is looking forward to starting the season in his new position.

“We’ve put in a lot of work during the offseason to build the team and establish a strong foundation as Josh and I have gotten to know each other,” he said. “I feel like we’re ready for the challenges ahead of us at Bowman Gray this weekend. There’s still some fine-tuning to do as we prepare for Daytona and the rest of the season, but we’re making great progress. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.”

Eddie Wood, who grew up watching his dad race at the Stadium, for years has regularly attended races there as his schedule allows.

“Bowman Gray is really special to me,” he said on a teleconference this week. “When I first heard they were even thinking about going to the stadium to race the Clash I thought, ‘Man, that’s the coolest thing ever.’ I’m really into the Stadium. I keep up with it weekly during the summer with the Myers boys and Brown and Butner, all those guys.

“I was listening to Josh, and he was talking about the fighting and the stuff that goes on there, you didn’t really see any of that out in L.A., but there’s something about Bowman Gray that brings out the worst in people, or the best. You can say it either way you want, but I think everybody is really amped up about doing well there. I know we are, and everyone I’ve talked to and been around is really looking forward to it. I have nothing but good memories about Bowman Gray Stadium.”

Practice for the Cook Out Clash is set for Saturday at 6:10 p.m. The field will be divided into three groups for three sessions, with each driver’s fastest lap time from the third session setting the line-up for the four 25-lap heat races that kick off at 8:30. The top five finishers in each heat earn a starting spot in the main event. A 75-lap Last Chance race gets the green flag on Sunday at 6 p.m. The top two finishers, plus the highest points finisher from 2024 not already in the starting field, will be added to the 23-car starting field for the 200-lap Clash, which is set to start at 8 p.m.

FOX Sports 1 will broadcast the preliminary events on Saturday, with FOX carrying Sunday’s races.

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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Clash at Bowman Gray Media Availability | Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske, is the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion and a two-time winner of the Clash. As the season prepares to start this weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium, Logano spent a few minutes chatting with media about what lies ahead.

JOEY LOGANO, Driver, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW HAS YOUR OFFSEASON BEEN? “The offseason has been great, obviously. Anytime you leave the season as the winner, the offseason becomes a lot more enjoyable and also a lot busier at the same time, where a lot of opportunities have come my way and you don’t want to waste those. You don’t want to waste any opportunity that comes your way because you have a championship under your belt. A lot of great things and a lot of fun things. I got to spend some time with the family, which is great and get prepared for the season. The facts are the championship was awesome and we enjoyed it, but it’s over. If you look at the scoreboard right now, everybody has zero. We’ll have an opportunity to go up to Bowman Gray and have a little bit of fun and knock the rust off and just go through the motions and try to win a race up there with nothing to lose and then, obviously, the biggest race coming up here in the Great American Race, the Daytona 500.”

NASCAR SAID THEY WON’T CHANGE THE CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT. DID YOU EXPECT ANY CHANGES AND DO YOU FEEL THERE SHOULD BE? “I personally don’t expect changes and did not expect changes only because I feel like our playoff system is very entertaining and it also takes a lot to get through those 10 races to win the championship. I know it’s hard to compare to other sports because we’re a unique sport and we’re our own, but there is comparisons that you can draw to the NBA, the NFL, plenty of others as well and their playoff systems – the regular seasons they have versus the playoff runs that they have. Their seasons are long as well and ours is too and you can go up and down throughout all that, but when the playoffs start a lot of times you see teams that fire up and we’ve been one of those teams, thankfully, and it’s worked out for us through time. I don’t think that means you have to change the playoff system. I think if you look at the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series, which that’s the same playoff system with just minor tweaks because of the fuel size, it’s really fun to watch as a race fan. Myself as a fan, not as a competitor, without a horse in the race in those races I find myself glued to the TV watching the races. Personally, and everyone has their own opinion and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I like it.”

DID YOU CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAID AFTER YOU WON THE TITLE LAST YEAR? “To be honest with you, I can’t hear well because my trophies, they kind of echo around me, so I can’t hear that. It’s kind of crazy (laughing).”

WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT MOVING THE CLASH AROUND? “I think we should. I think it always draw up a little bit more excitement and people talk about it more when it’s something new. ‘What are we gonna see at Bowman Gray? I don’t know.’ When we went to L.A. the first time, remember all the talk of what that race was gonna be like and no one had a clue? It draws up a lot of hype, which is good, and you’re also bringing it to the race fan. I’ve said this many times before, but it is hard to ask a family of any size to travel a long distance to go to a sporting event. It’s hard to do that, whether you have young kids or older kids, getting hotel rooms, getting the tickets, it becomes expensive. These days, it’s hard to do that, so I think moving our races around, going to our race fans is great. When you look at what Winston-Salem is to our sport, and that whole region, we all see the numbers and there are a lot of NASCAR fans there, a ton of them, and so going to our race fans is kind of going back to grassroots up there, but it’s also cool that we’re giving race fans that might not have been able to go to other races an opportunity to see a race. Whether that’s in Winston-Salem or in L.A. or name a city, I think moving it around is cool because it gives people opportunity.”

HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU FLOWN INTO THE AIRPORT AT DAYTONA? “For about 17 years now.”

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE THE FIRST TIME FLYING IN AND SEEING THE TRACK ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT? “It’s still cool. It never changes. I always enjoy the first flight of the year because you get on and everyone is exciting. You land right next to the race track and then you drive into the tunnel. That experience of getting back in the tunnel is like, ‘OK, a new year, here we go.’ You get settled back in. You get on the racetrack for the first time. That magic to me has never left. It’s always been there. It is more fun now to do that with your kids. My oldest being seven, he gets excited when he sees the racetrack now. He’s like, ‘Oh, it’s right there,’ and you’re landing in the plane and he’s talking about it. That’s cool and there’s a little extra special moment there for sure.”

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DID YOU GET DURING THE OFFSEASON? “I think there’s a lot of opportunities to take advantage of because the spotlight is on you. I think that’s what I mean when I say that, whether that’s with your partners, the sponsors that we have. How do we leverage what we have with the opportunity we have right now to make a difference? The opportunity to promote our sport, to grow. The opportunity for growth is right now and that will diminish as the season goes along and there are other storylines, but especially right after the season last year until Christmas, it was wide-open because we had opportunities to grow every area of our business in our industry, so, for me, that’s where I felt like the opportunity really was ahead of us – more so than doing cool stuff. I don’t need to go do cool stuff. Honestly, what I want to do is go home with my family and ride my four-wheeler. That’s really what I want to do, so I don’t need to go on different things, but taking advantage of the opportunities that come from the championship to grow our industry is most important as well.”

DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE OVER WHERE THE CLASH WOULD BE? IN L.A. IT WAS IN A HUGE STADIUM AND THIS YEAR IT’S A HISTORIC SHORT TRACK. DO YOU WANT TO BE AT THOSE LOCAL TRACKS THAT COULD USE A BOOST OR BE IN THE CITIES, IF POSSIBLE? “You’re asking a driver. I’m not NASCAR by any means. I don’t make the decisions. I don’t see the economics behind the decision and why they do it, so my opinion is purely based off of what I think is cool. I thought what we did in L.A., especially the first year with how many new fans there was there, was one of the largest wins our sport has ever seen that I’ve been a part of. I thought that was amazing and that was going to a whole new market and racing downtown basically, like we were really close to it at least. I thought that was huge. I would love to see our sport continue to do things like that because it just feels big. When we went to the Coliseum, it felt like a big event. It felt big. I’m not saying Bowman Gray doesn’t feel big, but it feels like we’re going to our grassroots, which is also cool in its own way, but different. It’s definitely a lot different than what L.A. is, so, personally, I’d like to see us race in the cities. That’s where our sport has a little bit more of a challenge because it’s hard to put a one-mile or two-mile racetrack in a city. It’s really hard to do that, so if we have the opportunity to be like a baseball team or a basketball team, a hockey team, and NFL team, where their stadiums are where the people are and where people can walk to it, you get a whole new demographic, so I think those type of things are really what I think is cool. I can’t make the decisions. There’s a lot more into what Joey Logano thinks is cool, but that’s what I do think.”

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TEST AT ROCKINGHAM YESTERDAY. DID YOU SEE ANY OF IT AND IS IT SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO SEE THE CUP SERIES GO BACK TO? “Let’s see how it goes first. Let’s not pull the trigger already, but let’s watch those races. We’re all gonna be glued to our TV on Easter to watch those races, so we’ll wait and see. I know Rockingham in the past, before they repaved it, was one of the most awesome racetracks ever. I had so much fun going around that racetrack, especially the tire wear and all that. The repave definitely changed the characteristic of the racetrack in so many ways, so I’d like to watch the races and see how it goes before I say that, but I do think it’s cool to see these tracks get brought back to life from the state they were in. We’re obviously talking about Rockingham, but also North Wilkesboro, a track that was dead and now it’s brought back to life. It’s pretty cool to see that type of stuff.”

DO YOU FEEL ADDING WORLD CLASS DRIVERS HELPS GROW THE SPORT? “Yeah, it does. It brings a different fan demographic to what we do. In a way, I don’t say it legitimizes what we do in any way because I think what we do, our talent pool that we have as far as drivers, they’re absolutely incredible, but I do think you have fans that come along with some of these drivers, whether that’s from Indy Car or F1 or from the Supercar Series in Australia. We’ve seen that and it brings those fans that may not watch NASCAR racing and say, ‘Well, I’m gonna watch because this guy is in there. I want to see how he does against the NASCAR guys.’ That’s cool. That’s good, so it definitely grows the sport.”

IS THERE SOMEONE YOU’D LIKE TO SEE OR RACE AGAINST? “No. Bring them on. I don’t care. I don’t know if I’ve ever really thought about that. I’m pretty focused on just myself when it comes to racing, so whoever shows up we’ll have to figure out how to beat them. Anybody is welcome. We’ve kind of proven that, especially this year with the rules, so I’d say we’re open doors for people that want to try.”

HOW QUICKLY DO YOU START THINKING ABOUT FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS NOW? “Pretty immediate that you think about it. On one hand, I think the three championships are great. On the other hand, I think we lost four of them that we should have won, so those are the ones that are always in the back of my mind. Probably not until I’m done racing will I be content with what I have because I’m not done yet. I’m still only 34, so I’ve got a lot of years ahead of me to win more championships and races, so as great as it is, like I always say, the first 20 minutes is amazing because you’re celebrating with your team and your family, and then every day it becomes a little less exciting and more thoughts into ‘we’ve got to do it again,’ especially after Christmas, like I said, it’s over.’”

WHEN YOU GO TO BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, HOW MUCH FREER DO YOU FEEL TO RACE FOR THE FUN OF IT? “I don’t know if it’s very free, it’s pretty confined in there. It’s pretty tight racing (laughing). You’re not gonna be able to open her up too much, but the pressure feels a lot different when you go there, only because there’s nothing to lose, really per se and everything to win. There’s a trophy to win and a lot of really cool factors to be the first to win at a racetrack, and it’s nice to get a little momentum built and all those type of things. There are a lot of reasons to want to go race, but if something was to happen, it’s not the end of the world. Would I be upset if you turn on TV and I get dumped are you gonna see Joey Logano pissed off? Absolutely, because I want to win, but it doesn’t affect the rest of our season, and I think all of the drivers probably feel similar, I would assume. If you win, awesome. If you don’t win, yeah, you might be mad for a few hours, but you’re gonna get over it and start thinking about Daytona.”

WHERE IS THAT LINE THEN IN A RACE LIKE THIS? “I think there’s gonna be bumping and banging, there’s no doubt. It’s such a tight facility that you’re gonna be bumping and banging, but I would also say things that happen at this racetrack will carry into the regular season, and so it doesn’t mean you throw all caution to the wind and you don’t care about competitors, you don’t care about the future, you don’t care about all that stuff. I always say it’s a self policing sport, so I don’t think it’s one of those racetracks where you’re gonna want to make a bunch of enemies, but at the same time, I don’t know if there are gonna be many passes made without contact. I think there’s kind of what’s acceptable and what’s not, and I think everyone kind of knows what that is.”

THAT MADE ME THINK OF THE TY GIBBS INCIDENT FROM LAST YEAR. DID ANYTHING EVER COME OF THAT? HOW DID YOU RACE EACH OTHER THE REST OF THE YEAR? “It’s obviously something that’s always in the back of your mind. It’s a thought that goes through your mind every time you see that car and that’s just racing. It’s what our sport is. Everyone is gonna keep a score sheet on each other and that’s just what it’s like, but I felt like that was too far. If you want to know where the line is, that was too far. He didn’t even win the race, either, so it wasn’t smart on his part, either.”

YOU MENTIONED AT CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA DAY THAT IF YOU WON THE THIRD TITLE YOU WERE GOING TO MENTION THAT TO TONY STEWART THAT YOU WERE BOTH THREE-TIME CHAMPIONS. DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO LET HIM KNOW? “I haven’t got to talk to him. I have not (laughing).”

I’M SURE YOU’RE STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. “I would look forward to that, absolutely (laughing).”