NASACR IS BACK!

Finally after a long offseason, we officially have cars back on the track as NASCAR returns this weekend for the Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray stadium, otherwise known as #themadhouse. This is the first Cup race to be held at the stadium since 1971. 39 drivers are set to compete in heat races for 20 spots on Saturday, with a last chance qualifier on Sunday that will lock in 2 more drivers for the big show. There will then be one more spot given to the highest finishing driver in 2024 points that was not locked in via heats or LCQ. This race gives us the opportunity to see some faces in new places as well as the first chance to see cars on track in a competitive environment for the 2025 season. Let’s take a dive into the weekend ahead.

First of all let’s talk about the track itself. Bowman gray is a quarter mile asphalt flat oval track, that has a football field in the middle of it. The track is located in Winston- Salem North Carolina, and is the home of Winston-Salem university. It currently is one of stock car racing’s most historic venues, and holds the title of NASCARs longest weekly series race track. NASCAR sanctioned races started at the track in 1949, and the NASCAR Cup Series held races at the track from 1958 up until 1971. After the Cup Series left, the quarter mile track still hosted weekly races in the modified, sportsman, and other stock car divisions. Now after a 54 year hiatus from Cup Series racing at the Madhouse, the relationship will finally be rekindled this weekend. With the hiatus being that long NASCAR did have to make some updates to the facility such as adding a catch fence around the track and adding safer barriers to what was just guardrail. This drew mixed reactions from the fans as some believed this was necessary and were surprised that the modifications weren’t added sooner, while others believe that adding barriers and catch fences to the long standing track messes with its tradition, or believe that the modifications aren’t necessary for the low speeds that the cars will be driving. I do believe that the modifications were necessary though.

Now that we got the track out the way, let’s talk about the race itself. The Cookout Clash will be a 200 lap race with a race break at lap 100. Only green flag laps will count for the entire race as well as the heats. The field will be made up of the top 5 finishing drivers from each heat, and the two highest drivers in the LCQ, as well as the highest finishing driver in 2024 points that didn’t transfer in via heat race or LCQ. The heat race starting lineups will be done via final practice speeds. For practice, the field will be spread into 3 groups and each group will get 3 8 minute practice sessions and the last session will grid the heats. For example the fastest will get pole in heat 1, 2nd fastest will get pole in heat 2, 3rd fastest will get pole in heat 3, and 4th fastest will get pole in heat 4, and that’s how the lineup will go. The drivers who don’t advance through the heat will lineup for the LCQ based on where they finished in their respective heat. For example, 6th place in heat 1 would start on pole for the LCQ, 6th place in heat 2 will start 2nd in the LCQ and so on. The LCQ will be 75 laps with only green flag laps counting and no overtime. The heat races will be on Saturday, and the LCQ and the main event will be on Sunday. The action will be live on Fox.

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