Ryan Preece delivered a remarkable performance Wednesday night at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, overcoming rain, sleet, and a wintry track to win the second Cook Out Clash. The historic quarter-mile venue had already forced multiple postponements of the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series exhibition due to heavy snow, but Preece, 35, seized the opportunity, claiming victory in the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford.
He led the final 45 laps after taking the top spot on Lap 156, overtaking Shane van Gisbergen following a restart four laps earlier. The win capped years of persistence, as Preece had nearly lost his Cup ride before securing a seat with RFK Racing after Stewart-Haas Racing closed in 2024.
Preece Wins From 18th Amid Chaos While Larson Struggles In Rain
Starting 18th, Preece steadily moved forward before and after the halfway break, showcasing patience, skill, and composure on the slippery surface. The race was chaotic, featuring a record 17 cautions, forcing drivers to adapt constantly to changing conditions. Preece ultimately pulled away after the final restart on Lap 182 of 200, finishing 1.752 seconds ahead of runner-up William Byron.
Ryan Preece (NASCAR)This victory made him the third driver in history to win The Clash before claiming a NASCAR Cup Series points race win, joining NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. He also became the first driver to win from outside the first two rows since The Clash adopted a quarter-mile format at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022, extending the streak of nine consecutive different winners.
Kyle Larson, the pole winner and reigning Cup champion, led a race-high 67 laps, but rain and sleet caused his performance to collapse after switching to wet-weather tires, and he finished 16th. Ryan Blaney claimed third, followed by Daniel Suárez and Denny Hamlin. Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, and Alex Bowman rounded out the top ten.
Josh Berry Shines in LCQ While Preece Triumphs Amid Rainy Chaos
Josh Berry impressed again from the Last Chance Qualifier, starting 21st and leading all 75 laps of his heat to finish 7.419 seconds ahead of Austin Cindric. Cindric’s path to the main event was dramatic, requiring a last-lap pass on Corey LaJoie to secure the final available spot. LaJoie, substituting for the injured Brad Keselowski, played a crucial role in the tense LCQ battle, highlighting the intensity of even the preliminary rounds. AJ Allmendinger finished fourth in the main event, remaining a factor until the final lap despite aggressive maneuvers that ultimately fell short.
The Clash emphasized the extreme difficulty of racing on a short track under wet conditions, demanding precise control, strategy on restarts, and split-second decision-making. Preece’s focus and ability to capitalize on opportunities were critical to his success. His win reinforces his reputation as a formidable competitor in both modified and Cup racing, showing that experience and composure can overcome adverse circumstances.
Celebrating after exiting his car, Preece displayed tears of relief and joy, reflecting the personal journey and the long road of perseverance that led to this moment. The 2026 Bowman Gray Clash will be remembered as a thrilling, rain-soaked contest that highlighted Preece’s skill, determination, and ability to seize victory under challenging conditions, providing fans with an action-packed spectacle.
