The future of the Clash, a surprisingly good run at Bowman Gray Stadium and more chatter from Sunday's exhibition race.

Chase Elliott claimed NASCAR's first checkered flag of 2025 on Sunday night in Winston-Salem, winning the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium for his first victory in the Cup Series' preseason event.

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro, took home the win in the first Cup event at Bowman Gray in the modern era. This marks the fourth season the Clash has been held outside Daytona International Speedway, where it was traditionally raced on the famed high banks through the 2020 season.

The Clash got a jolt of energy at the North Carolina short track. Will it return in 2026, or will NASCAR look elsewhere?

Bowman Gray, on the other hand, is a traditional NASCAR short track that has featured weekly racing throughout its history. Nevertheless, both the debut event at the Coliseum in 2022 and the return of NASCAR Cup racing to Bowman Gray this past weekend produced electric atmospheres on both sides of the country.

Ryan Blaney was a little kid the first time he raced at Bowman Gray Stadium and remembers it being the coolest thing he’d ever done in motorsports.

Known for bold and often-controversial hot takes, Moody made sure his opinion on the future of the exhibition event was heard loud and clear on X, expressing his approval for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in response to a question on the future of the event.

NASCAR viewership numbers for Bowman Gray Stadium The first race of the 2025 NASCAR season is in the books. On Sunday, Bowman Gray Stadium hosted The Clash featuring the NASCAR Cup Series. See NASCAR TV ratings below.