High-Performance Polarized Eyewear Brand Teams Up with 23XI, Wallace, and Reddick for Multi-Year Partnership

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (January 30, 2025) – 23XI Racing and Shady Rays – an independent, American-owned adventure eyewear brand – announced today a multi-year partnership between the two dynamic organizations, bringing advanced optical technology to one of NASCAR’s most exciting teams.

The partnership establishes Shady Rays as the official sunglasses provider for the team and two of its drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, and features the brand as an associate partner on the No. 23 and No. 45 cars at select races during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

“Vision is critical in motorsports, from the driver’s seat to the pit box,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI team president. “Shady Rays’ commitment to optical excellence and innovative design makes them the perfect sunglasses partner for our driven organization. Their premium polarized lenses give our team the clarity and precision needed to compete at the highest level of NASCAR.”

23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, who has worn Shady Rays since 2021 and has his own collaborative product with the brand, emphasized the performance benefits: “As a driver, I know firsthand how critical clear vision is to a successful race. Shady Rays’ performance lens technology gives you that extra edge, whether you’re a fan watching from the stands or a crew member executing throughout the race.”

The comprehensive, multi-year partnership will begin by outfitting the entire 23XI team with Shady Rays’ premium polarized eyewear featuring COLORUSH™ color enhancing lens technology. This same optical clarity and color enhancement can be found in many of Shady Rays’ existing lifestyle and adventure eyewear products and will later expand to include a line of Shady Rays x 23XI co-branded performance-inspired shades.

“In racing, split-second decisions demand perfect vision,” Shady Rays Founder and CEO Chris Ratterman said. “Our advanced COLORUSH™ color enhancing technology and premium polycarbonate lenses provide the elite optical clarity that 23XI Racing’s teams need to perform at their peak. This partnership unites two organizations committed to pushing the boundaries of performance.”

Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, highlighted the practical advantages: “The glare reduction and clarity I get from Shady Rays’ polarized lenses are game-changers, especially during those challenging transition periods when the sun’s low on the horizon. Whether I’m driving on the road or working with my crew in the garage, having premium eyewear that I can trust makes a real difference in my performance.”

Tyler Reddick, pilot of the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE, added: “The enhanced color definition from Shady Rays’ lenses helps me as I’m analyzing the track. As we prepare to race and the crew focuses on performing at the highest levels, even the smallest visual advantage can make a huge difference.”

Lauletta elaborated on additional partnership benefits: “Aside from providing our drivers and team with stylish, quality eyewear, we also share a common interest in supporting those who make meaningful impacts in their communities. Both our brands seek to put fans first, and throughout the season, we look forward to unique collaborations that will provide great experiences for them.”

“Just like the 23XI Racing team has each other’s backs at 200 mph on the track, we have our customers’ backs every time they put on a pair of Shady Rays,” Ratterman added. “Whether you’re watching from the stands or hitting your own daily adventures, our Lost & Broken protection program means you can focus on what matters most – the moments in front of you. This partnership with 23XI Racing reflects our commitment to not just selling eyewear, but being there for our fans every step of the way.”

The partnership expands Shady Rays’ presence in elite sports, where superior vision and split-second decision-making are paramount. Beyond motorsports, the brand’s premium eyewear is trusted by professional athletes across golf, fishing, volleyball, and other high-performance sports.

About Shady Rays

Shady Rays is an independent, American-owned sunglasses company and one of the fastest-growing sunglasses brands in the U.S. All shades are made with high-quality, polarized lenses in a variety of sunglass frame styles and every purchase goes towards making an impact in our communities through Shady Rays Impact charitable giving. Shady Rays offers the industry’s exclusive Shady Rays Limited Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty and Lost & Broken protection. Shady Rays also sells high-quality lifestyle gear including Snow Goggles, UV Shirts, Prescription glasses, Blue Light glasses, and more. To learn more about Shady Rays and to stay up to date on all the action, visit shadyrays.com and follow us on Meta, TikTok, and X @shadyrays.

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. In 2024, Tyler Reddick won the Regular Season Championship and raced to a spot in the Championship 4, a first for both the team and Reddick. 23XI currently features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry, Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camry and Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota Camry. The team operates out of Airspeed, a state-of-the-art facility in Huntersville, N.C. that opened in January 2024.

• In seven attempts at NASCAR’s annual pre-season exhibition race, Spire Motorsports has made one appearance in the feature event. Corey LaJoie finished 18th in last season’s edition of the Clash at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Mooresville, N.C., organization fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s on NASCAR’s senior circuit with Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
• The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will be televised live on FOX Sunday, Feb. 2 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The 2025 pre-season race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR Raceday on FOX will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., as he embarks on his first full Cup Series season with the organization.
• Haley has competed in the three previous editions of the Clash, formerly held at the L.A. Coliseum. An 11th-place finish in the 2023 event marked his best finish.
• The Winamac, Ind., native has one appearance at historic Bowman Gray Stadium, where he started second and finished third in the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 K&N Pro Series East race.
• The F.O.E. is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope. The F.O.E. donates more than $10 million a year to local communities, fundraisers, charities and more.
• The black and yellow F.O.E. colors have been featured on Haley’s Cup Series ride 13 times, eight of which were on a Spire Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet. These starts are highlighted by Haley’s Cup Series victory in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, an upset of practically unprecedented proportions for the then 18-year-old Haley and newly formed organization.
• The 25-year-old is a veteran of 144 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 103 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
• In total, Haley has made 41 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, with the bulk of races coming during the 2021 season behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 machine. He made his first Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway March 14, 2021 where he started 29th and finished 24th.
• Last September, Haley made his return to Spire Motorsports after beginning the 2024 season with Rick Ware Racing. The three-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner participated in the final seven events of the year aboard the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet, earning a season-best finish of seventh at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Justin Haley Quotes
How do you feel about the Clash being held at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium?
“I am eager to kick off the 2025 NASCAR Cup season at Bowman Gray Stadium. It’s been enlightening to work with Rodney and the No. 7 group during the off-season, preparing for 2025. What better way to initiate this new chapter than with the loyal group at The Fraternal Order of Eagles? F.O.E. has been with me for 10 years and I’m excited to continue our partnership for many more.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Rodney Childers

Crew chief Rodney Childers comes to Spire Motorsports after spending the past 11 seasons at Stewart-Haas Racing, leading the organization’s No. 4 team. The first 10 of those campaigns were with 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick.
The Mooresville, N.C., native made two of the three Clash events at the L.A. Coliseum where Harvick finished 12th and 10th in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
In nine editions of the Clash at the highbanks of Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Harvick and Childers earned two top fives and four top 10s.
The veteran crew chief has participated in 676 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned 34 poles, 40 wins, 178 top-five and 298 top-10 finishes, and helped Harvick to the 2014 Cup Series title.
Childers’ 40 wins at NASCAR’s premier level are second-most amongst all crew chiefs in the Cup Series garage

Rodney Childers Quotes
What makes Bowman Gray Stadium unique compared to other Clash tracks you’ve competed at?
“It’s just extremely small and tight. I feel like it’s even tighter than LA was the last couple years. The car is going to need to turn really well and be good when Justin gets back to the gas. And lastly, the history there means so much more to our sport than any other place where we have had the Clash recently.”

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ Workforce Operational Health and Safety Solutions Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray.
• The Arizona native joins Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 team off one of the hottest seasons in his career. During the 2024 season, McDowell, along with crew chief Travis Peterson, combined for a season-best six pole positions, two top-five, and seven top-10 finishes while pacing the field for 256 laps. McDowell and his 2024 team received the Busch Light Pole Award, which is presented to the team with the most starts from the pole position across the season.
• In his last three attempts at the Clash, formerly held at the LA Coliseum, McDowell successfully transferred to the main event each year. He collected a personal-best finish of 16th in the 2022 event.
• Workforce Operational Health and Safety Solutions will serve as the primary partner for McDowell and the No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1 for this weekend’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. The blue and white livery will return at Phoenix Raceway in March and again for the Cup Series contest at Richmond Raceway in August.
• The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Occupational Health and Safety Solutions (OHSS) firm will celebrate 30 years of protection across the 2025 season. The Workforce-sponsored machine will carry a special 30th-anniversary decal atop the deck lid throughout the season as the company celebrates three decades of protecting employees nationwide in work injury management, medical bill repricing, and employer services.
• McDowell marked his 500th career start at Martinsville Speedway last fall, a milestone he celebrated at the site of his first Cup Series start in 2008. Now 40-years-old and a father of five, McDowell is set to complete his 17th season competing in NASCAR’s premier division. To date, he has 501 Cup Series career starts on his resume.
• Known to be a road course and superspeedway ace, McDowell and his fellow Cup Series competitors will take on the short track of Bowman Gray Stadium. In the 17 short-track races since February 2022, McDowell has an average finish of 19.4 with two top-five and eight top-10 finishes across races at Bristol Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Richmond Raceway and Iowa Speedway.
• The No. 71 car has a storied history at Bowman Gray Stadium, tied to Buren Skeen, a local driver who won back-to-back NASCAR Modified National Championships at the track in 1964 and 1965. Skeen, a native of Denton, N.C., also made eight Cup Series starts in 1965. Two of those starts were at Bowman Gray, where he earned fifth- and seventh-place finishes against racing legends like Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Wendell Scott, and Cale Yarborough. Tragically, Skeen died later that year at 28 following a crash on the second lap of the Southern 500. This weekend, McDowell will honor the life of the legendary modified driver by placing a commemorative nameplate above the passenger door on the No. 71 Workforce Chevrolet ZL1.

Michael McDowell Quotes
What makes the Clash so special?
“Racing at Bowman Gray Stadium is going to be special. The track has so much history and shows how far we have come in 75-plus 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’ve made the main event the last three years at the LA Coliseum. I am excited to start the 2025 season with a new team, a new manufacturer and to have Workforce on board at Bowman Gray.”

What are you looking forward to in your first season with Spire?
“There has been a lot of change this offseason and Spire Motorsports has been super helpful integrating me into the system. There has been a lot to learn, and I am enjoying the process. It is going to be a slow build while our team gets comfortable 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.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

• Crew chief Travis Peterson joins Spire Motorsports after spending the past two seasons at Front Row Motorsports. He made the move alongside driver, Michael McDowell.
• The 33-year-old reached the Clash at the Coliseum main event with McDowell each of the past two seasons. He was the lead race engineer for Chris Buescher and RFK Racing at the 2022 event.
• The decorated engineer contributed to several victories during his tenure at RFK, Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports, highlighted by clinching the NASCAR Xfinity Series title in 2014 and racking up three Cup Series wins with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and the No. 88 team in 2015.
• Peterson is a mechanical engineering graduate of the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The West Bend, Wis., native earned his degree in 2012.

Travis Peterson Quotes
How do you find success at a new track with little to no on-track data?
“It makes it super interesting and different than what we normally do, because we have so many good tools nowadays with track scans and experience at tracks, so you try to find things that are similar. Obviously, our Bowman Gray setup is based off what we did at the Clash last year, but every track has a ton of unique little details and we are not going to find those out until we get there. Even the tools that we have used in the past are roughly based on our resources and what we think the track geometry is, nothing too tangible to build the set up on. It makes some of your decisions interesting, because that normal flow is disrupted.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Carson Hocevar kicks off his second full-time Cup Series effort behind the wheel of the No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Iconic Bowman Gray Stadium will host The Clash for the first time in the event’s 46-year history. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum played host to the exhibition event for the past three years after a 42-year run at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
• In last year’s event, inclement weather led to the field being set based on qualifying times. Hocevar qualified 25th, just two spots short of making the feature race.
• Hocevar closed out the 2024 season with one top five, six top 10s and NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors. His best short-track finish of the season was an eighth-place result August 11 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
• Delaware Life returns to the No. 77 Chevrolet at Bowman Gray. Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001 Insurance”), their focus is to deliver a seamless experience for advisors. They understand how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation, and every individual need. They’re passionate about equipping clients with annuities that give customers peace of mind and a successful future—allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
How do you feel about The Clash moving to Bowman Gray Stadium?
“I’m really excited to see how things go at Bowman Gray. The Clash was at Daytona for so long and we saw it get a different look in LA, but it’ll be good to see it on one of the most well-known short tracks. The racing at Bowman Gray is so intense and I think we’ll be seeing guys use up every inch of the track and maybe some of the grass too. I think it’ll put on a really good show.”

Do you feel more settled and comfortable heading into the start of your second full-time Cup Series season?
“Yeah, it’s a huge difference with how I feel going into this year. I had run a few races in 2023, but when we showed up at The Clash last year I still had a lot to learn about the Next Gen car and the No. 77 team. I feel like we made really good progress toward the end of last season and we can pick up where we left off.”

Is there more of a level playing field for the drivers with this being the first Cup Series race held at Bowman Gray?
“I think so. We already have that with the cars being the same, so it really comes down to the people that you’ve got on your team. Spire has done a great job of adding experienced people to our competition group and I feel like we’re going to see that pay off pretty quickly. The Delaware Life team is already on the right track with me and Luke (Lambert) having already worked together, but having Rodney Childers, Travis Peterson and Matt McCall to bounce ideas off of will make a big impact.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

• Hocevar is once again paired with crew chief Luke Lambert. The two first worked together in 2023 when Hocevar was behind the wheel of the No. 42 entry for eight of the final nine races of the year and reunited at Spire Motorsports for the 2024 season.
• The 14-year veteran of the sport has spent time atop the pit box in the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. He has led the competition efforts for some of the sport’s most notable names including Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler and Chris Buescher.
• In 2014, the Mount Airy, N.C., native led Newman to a berth in the Championship 4, and ultimately a runner-up finish in the Cup Series championship point standings.
• Lambert earned a degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University in 2005. During his time at NC State, he led efforts on the University’s Formula SAE team.

Luke Lambert Quotes
You secured rookie of the year honors with Carson last season. What are this year’s goals?
“Carson is a tremendous talent and he’s proven that he has a lot of potential in NASCAR. I’m here to help him prepare for the challenges that may come along in this sport and develop him as a driver. We have a great opportunity to start the season with a strong run and that kicks off this weekend at the Clash.”
About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Let’s Clash… The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off with the Clash at Bowman Gray this Sunday, February 2 at the narrow quarter-mile oval inside the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium. This weekend’s event marks the 47th running of the annual non-points exhibition race, with the Winston-Salem, North Carolina track serving as just the fourth venue for the event since its inception in 1979.

Richard Childress Racing in the Clash… Richard Childress Racing has earned nine wins in the Clash, six by Dale Earnhardt (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995) and three by Kevin Harvick (2009, 2010 and 2013). In the last three Clash races – all held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, RCR has had at least one driver claim a podium finish (2022: Austin Dillon – third; 2023: A. Dillon – second, Kyle Busch – third; and 2024: K. Busch – second).

Coming Home… Headquartered in Welcome, North Carolina, Richard Childress Racing is only 14 miles away from Bowman Gray Stadium.

Did You Know? Richard Childress’s humble beginnings started at Bowman Gray Stadium, selling peanuts in the grandstands as a young boy. Childress then began his driving career with a $20.00 race car – a taxicab – competing at Bowman Gray. The now-NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner also raced at the facility in the 1971 Cup Series event and the 1972 Grand National race.

Format Loading for 2025… Although 39 drivers will attempt to make the Clash, only 23 will make it through to the 150-lap main event. Each driver has two chances to qualify for the feature.

There will be four heat races (25 laps each) consisting of 10 drivers each. The top five finishers in each heat will advance to run in the main event, filling 20 positions on the final grid.

Positions 21 and 22 will be set by the top two finishers from the last chance qualifying race (75 laps, only green flag laps count). The 23rd and final starting position is reserved for the driver who finished highest in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series points standings that did not transfer on finishing position.

Catch the Action… The Clash at Bowman Gray will be televised live Sunday, February 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX, with the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 carrying the live radio broadcast.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet at Bowman Gray Stadium… Austin Dillon, the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion, is among the NASCAR Cup Series drivers that will battle in the inaugural Clash at Bowman Gray. In nine previous Clash appearances, Dillon has recorded four top-five finishes and posted an average finish of 7.3.

Homecoming Race… With the Cup Series returning to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time in his lifetime, Dillon has a new home track on the circuit. Dillon – who grew up in Welcome, North Carolina, a short 18-minute drive from the historic Winston-Salem, North Carolina facility – attended multiple races at the track during his younger years.

New Year, New Face on the Pit Box… This weekend’s event will mark Richard Boswell’s debut as crew chief for Dillon and the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team. Having grown up in a racing family, Boswell has more than 15 years of professional motorsports experience as a crew chief, engineer, and driver. During his time on top of the box, Boswell has earned one Cup Series victory and nine Xfinity Series wins.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

Welcome, Winchester Ammunition… Debuting for the first time, Winchester Ammunition joins Bass Pro Shops on the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet. Winchester is the leading small caliber ammunition brand for hunting, recreational shooting, and law enforcement, and the largest supplier to the U.S. military. The legendary Winchester® brand, with its 159-year history, is founded on principles of integrity, hard work, and a strong commitment to its loyal customers. As a division of Olin Corporation, Winchester shares Olin’s purpose to deliver materials and solutions that enhance and protect lives. Learn more about Winchester and the responsible use of its products by visiting Winchester.com or connecting with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.

Meet Dillon… On Saturday, February 1 at 2:45 p.m. ET, Dillon is scheduled to greet race fans and sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the East Lot Fan Zone, located across from Bowman Gray Stadium. On Sunday, February 2 at 4:45 p.m. ET, Dillon is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session at the NASCAR Experience Stage in the East Lot Fan Zone. Stop by to meet the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet and pick up new gear prior to the green flag.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts heading into the inaugural Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium?

“It’s cool for our sport to be back at Bowman Gray Stadium. I love short-track racing. The race is going to be aggressive. With 23 cars on that small of a track, you will see beating and banging. I think the race will be similar to the track at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The turns are a little wider, and we will use as much of the track as we can to make good lap times. Passing is going to be very difficult, and patience will be key. Our No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester team has been working hard on building the best car we can to go out and get a win in front of the home crowd.”

Bowman Gray Stadium has meant a lot to Richard Childress Racing. How special is it to have the NASCAR Cup Series come back to race there?

“It’s very special. Being from here, born and raised in the Winston-Salem area, and watching many races at the track, I’ve enjoyed the entertainment value Bowman Gray Stadium brings to the Triad area. RCR’s beginning is Bowman Gray, where my grandfather used to sell peanuts in the grandstands as a kid. It’s very special to him and our entire family.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet at Bowman Gray Stadium… Kyle Busch enters the Clash at Bowman Gray in good company of drivers who have never raced at the quarter-mile oval. Busch has won the season-opening exhibition race twice, both at Daytona International Speedway – on the oval in 2012 and again on the road course in 2021.

Exhibition Wins Not Limited to the Clash… Busch’s success in NASCAR exhibition races extends beyond the Clash. The Las Vegas, Nevada native also has a win in the 2017 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Busch used an aggressive three-wide pass for the lead to earn his first All-Star victory. The win was the first for him in a NASCAR Cup Series car at Charlotte Motor Speedway and paid a $1 million-dollar grand prize.

Starting Out Strong… Busch has scored finishes of first, second, third and second in his last four Clash races.

Meet the Driver… Busch is scheduled to visit the RCR Merchandise Hauler at 4:10 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 2. Immediately following, the veteran driver will join team owner Richard Childress and teammate Austin Dillon at the NASCAR Experience Stage for a question-and-answer session at 4:45 p.m. ET.

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KYLE BUSCH QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on heading to Bowman Gray Stadium for this year’s Clash?

“I don’t really know. I’ve never raced at Bowman Gray before. You see some of the highlight reels on TV of all the craziness that can happen, with people wrecking each other and whatnot. I’ve never been there to see a race. I’ve got a few friends that have raced there for years though, including Burt Myers, which is cool, so I’ll lean on some of those guys to figure out how to get around there fast. It’s a place that’s been a part of NASCAR history for many decades and it’s really cool to get a chance to race there. It’s my first time, and it’s going to be fun.”

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety will adorn the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek for 14 races in 2025

STATESVILLE, N.C. / ALPHARETTA, Ga. (Jan. 30, 2025) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB today announced Pye-Barker Fire & Safety – the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the U.S. – will be a primary partner of the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE entry driven by John Hunter Nemechek for 14 events during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

“Pye-Barker has been a longtime supporter of mine throughout my racing career, dating back to my Truck Series days,” said Nemechek. “I’m thrilled to continue with Pye-Barker at LEGACY MC. I hope to make everyone at Pye-Barker proud when I represent them both on and off the track.”

“I’m excited to see Pye Barker extend and expand with the CLUB,” said co-owner Jimmie Johnson. “The Pye-Barker leadership and team members share the same mindset and vision as we do at LEGACY MC. Additionally, John Hunter is a great spokesperson for their brand, and we can’t wait to deliver for them.”

Every day across the U.S., Pye-Barker Fire & Safety’s team of 8,000 fire and security experts protect their communities by installing, testing and servicing fire suppression systems, extinguishers, fire sprinklers, security systems and fire alarms, and providing 24/7 alarm monitoring. Since its founding in 1946, Pye-Barker has grown to more than 250 locations nationwide, while remaining dedicated to caring for customers and team members like family.

“At Pye-Barker, we’ve built a culture where individual work is rewarded, but your team has your back. That’s a philosophy I see reflected in the sport of racing,” said Bart Proctor, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety CEO. “We admire John Hunter [Nemechek] for his integrity as an athlete, willingness to put in the work, and dedication to his teammates. Our shared values make him a great representative of Pye-Barker and make us proud to continue this relationship with Nemechek and LEGACY MC in 2025.”

Pye-Barker’s tagline is, “Define your legacy here,” reflecting the company’s commitment to upholding its values and culture for current and future team members. At Pye-Barker, individuals are empowered to build a legacy to support their families, grow within the company, and serve their communities with pride.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety will first appear on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sunday, March 2. Last season, when Nemechek and his green, blue and white-themed Pye-Barker scheme hit the track, success followed. Nemechek scored three victories in the Xfinity Series with the brand and led 16 laps last season in the No. 42 Cup Series entry at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

To follow along with Pye-Barker Fire & Safety on the track, visit pyebarkerfs.com/pye-barker-racing/

ABOUT PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY: The U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 250 locations and 8,000 team members nationwide, Pye-Barker is an industry leader and ranks No. 849 on the Inc 5000 and No. 8 on the SDM 100.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-founded by entrepreneur Maury Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, 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 in with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Jimmie 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.

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.”