What feels like the shortest off-season in sports has come to a rapid conclusion once again as the 2025 Cook Out Clash is here! While the Clash isn’t a points-paying race, it is another chance to see the best drivers in the sport compete with a cash prize on the line.
And with this edition of the Clash coming at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium, we’ll also get a chance to see some talented local short-track drivers in the field. However, before we even get into the racing action at Bowman Gray, we have a whole off-season of team shakeups to talk about!
Silly Season Ahead of the Cook Out Clash
Stewart-Haas Racing as we knew it is gone with just the #41 continuing on as the Haas Factory Team with Cole Custer behind the wheel. The four drivers who raced for SHR have all moved on to new opportunities. Chase Briscoe heads to Joe Gibbs Racing to take over the #19 for the retiring Martin Truex Jr. Noah Gragson heads to Front Row Motorsports where he’ll replace Michael McDowell and drive the #4, formerly an SHR car number. Ryan Preece moves into a third entry for RFK Racing, the #60, and finally, Josh Berry heads over to the Wood Brothers to take over the iconic #21.
Pumped for our season opener to be a tribute to team founder Glenn Wood and his ‘37 Ford “Backseater”
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) January 27, 2025
It’s called that because chief mechanic (brainiac) Leonard Wood moved the engine backward so far, ‘Pa’ had to sit in the backseat to drive. pic.twitter.com/xPs2jJewWn
At Kaulig Racing, Ty Dillon replaces Daniel Hemric as the #31 team becomes the #10 team. Meanwhile, AJ Allmendinger will be back in the series full-time in the #16 car.
23XI Racing has added a third full-time entry – the #35 with Riley Herbst. Trackhouse Racing also adds a third full-time entry with Shane Van Gisbergen getting behind the wheel of the #88.
Justin Haley is in the #7 for Spire Motorsports continuing after the “trade” made with Rick Ware Racing (Corey LaJoie drove the #51 for RWR as a result but was replaced by Cody Ware full-time in 2025) last season with Michael McDowell also joining Spire, taking over the #71 for the departing Zane Smith.
Smith shifts over to the #38 for Front Row, with Todd Gilliland shifting from the #38 to the #34 within the team.
Finally, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. stays in the #47 but the team formerly known as JTG Daugherty Racing is now HYAK Motorsports.
Of course, there are part-time entries to consider but we’ll get to those as they come over the course of the season.
2025 Cook Out Clash Entry List
We’ve covered a lot of the changes in lineups for the 2025 season and all full-time drivers are scheduled to take part in this race. We do have a few short track aces as mentioned above.
Bowman Gray legend Tim Brown will be behind the wheel of the #15 for Rick Ware Racing while NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Champion Burt Myers pilots the #50 for Team AmeriVet.
Bowman Gray Stadium Track History
The track known as “The Madhouse” has an incredible history. The Stadium built in 1937 originally served as only a home for collegiate football, with the first event a football game between Wake Forest College and Duke.
A little crossover content???
— The Get Back Coach (@TheGBCoach) February 1, 2025
The @NASCAR Cup Series returns to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since 1971!
“The Madhouse” is the home of D2 HBCU Winston-Salem State and hosts several different racing series weekly.
It was also the home of Wake Forest from 1956 to 1968! pic.twitter.com/4dgzTMmYe1
Auto racing first graced the track in 1939, with the addition of a dirt quarter-mile track. Paving of the track happened in 1947 and NASCAR sanctioned their first event at Bowman Gray in 1949. The stadium was the home of Wake Forest football from 1956 to 1968 and hosted it’s last NASCAR Cup series event in 1971.
Present-day Bowman Gray hosts Winston-Salem State football games and several different racing series from NASCAR Weekly to Bandeleros. The quarter-mile circuit is known for chaos no matter what series runs there.
Cook Out Clash Race Predictions
I do expect a healthy dose of beating and banging in the close confines. However, we saw last season that the NASCAR Cup Series still needs work on the short-track package. I’m cautiously optimistic about the dawn of a new season but it’s tough to expect anything to change dramatically.
On the other hand, fans can expect the environment surrounding the race to be absolutely electric. North Carolina remains the heart of NASCAR country and with the series returning to this venue for the first time in decades, I expect a dynamic crowd.
Allow us to introduce…
— Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (@nascarclash) February 1, 2025
The Bobby Allison Memorial Trophy. pic.twitter.com/Nscwd5qqjd
As for my race winner prediction, the Penske cars ran well on short tracks last season and I’ll take Ryan Blaney as the winner come Sunday.
Be sure to check out the schedule below so you don’t miss any on-track action from the weekend.
Saturday 02/01
Madhouse Classic at Bowman Gray Stadium (NASCAR Weekly Series) – 12:45 p.m. CT on FloRacing
NASCAR Cup Series Practice and Qualifying – 5:10 p.m. CT on FS1
NASCAR Cup Series Heat Races – 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1
Sunday 02/02
Last Chance Qualifier (NASCAR Cup Series) – 5:00 p.m. CT on FOX
Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (NASCAR Cup Series) – 7:00 p.m. CT on FOX and Max
Stay locked into Apollo for more NASCAR and F1 Coverage throughout the racing season! Follow @CoachJayArnold and @ApolloHOU on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest and check out our Instagram – Apollo NASCAR!
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