Chase Elliott Dominates Cook Out Clash at Historic Bowman Gray Stadium
Chase Elliott dominated the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, leading 171 of 200 laps to secure his first victory in NASCAR's season-opening exhibition race. Elliott finished 1.333 seconds ahead of Ryan Blaney, who charged from last place to second in the 23-car field.
Three IndyCars racing on track
The historic quarter-mile track, hosting NASCAR's return after 54 years, provided an electric atmosphere with a sellout crowd. Denny Hamlin finished third after briefly leading 28 laps, while Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five.
Kyle Larson won the 75-lap last chance qualifier to secure his spot in the main event, advancing from tenth position despite sustaining damage late in the race. Josh Berry finished second in the qualifier, earning the final spot in the Clash field.
Elliott's victory marks the 26th different winner in Clash history and the eighth different winner in as many years. He becomes the first Chevrolet driver to win since Jimmie Johnson in 2019 and the sixth driver to win from pole position.
"This environment is special," Elliott said. "This is a place that has a deep history in NASCAR. I think they deserve this event, truthfully."
NASCAR Cook Out Clash winner display
The victory showcased Elliott's masterful handling of lapped traffic and demonstrated the success of NASCAR's decision to bring the Clash to Bowman Gray Stadium after three years at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
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