The 2026 NASCAR season begins unofficially on February 1 with the Cook Out Clash in its return to the quarter mile track at Bowman Gray Stadium.
This year 23 Cup Series drivers will participate in the annual exhibition event for a cash prize.
The weekend’s events begin on January 31 with a practice session. The drivers will be divided into three groups for practice – determined by owner points from last season. There will be three practice sessions for each group. The lap times from the final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the heat races.
There will be four 25 lap heat races featuring six or seven cars. The top four fastest drivers during the last lap of practice will sit on the pole for the four heat races.
Only green flag laps will count during the heat races with no overtime finishes.
The top five drivers in each heat will move on to the 200 lap main race on Sunday night.
However, the drivers that do not make the main race on their heat finish will get one last chance to make the race with a 75 lap Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) race prior to the main event on Sunday. Once again, only green flag laps will count with no overtime. The top two drivers in the race will advance to the main event and start the race from the back of the field.
The final starting spot will go to the remaining driver who had the highest finish in the point standings.
Heat finishes will determine the lineup for the 200 lap main event.
Only green flag laps will count in the 200 lap race with a break at the halfway point. The race must end on a green flag.