NASCAR’s preseason exhibition race, the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, faces another weather nightmare heading into the weekend. Racing analysts and insiders have dropped the latest news on the non-scoring races as the governing body revamps the schedule.

The new storm is disrupting plans for the two-day event, with four to eight inches of snow expected to fall over the weekend. After that, temperatures will drop into the mid-20s, with temperatures feeling like single digits. This led the sanctioning body to cancel all events scheduled for Saturday.

The two-day NASCAR event will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, with different time slots for each event. Practice and qualifying will air on FOX Sports 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. ET, with last-chance qualifying airing at 6 p.m. ET on FOX. The main Clash event will air on FOX, HBO Max and MRN at 8pm ET.

In this regard, racing industry insider Jeff Gluck said:

“Update: NASCAR is trying to hold the clash on Sunday night, but now it will be a one-day race. Saturday was canceled due to expected snow and they will have practice/qualifying/LCQ on Sunday. Hopefully they can clear it out in time.”

Nazca Modification and Athlete Support races have also been rescheduled for a later date due to adverse weather conditions. While adhering to the Clash’s new schedule with no heat races, the top 20 riders will advance to the main event.

The remaining competitors will then compete in the 75-lap LCQ to secure the final two starting spots. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson is the only driver with a guaranteed spot in Sunday’s 200-lap main event. Last year, Larson’s teammate Chase Elliott pole position.

Complete field list for NASCAR Cup Series drivers unofficially starting at Bowman Gray Stadium

2026 NASCAR Cup Series The season kicks off this weekend with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, scheduled for February 1, 2026. Thirty-eight drivers will compete in the qualifying round to fill 22 spots for the main event scheduled to take place that day at 8 p.m. ET.

This is list The list of drivers vying for a spot in the 200-lap main event:

  1. #1 – Ross Chastain
  2. #2 – Austin Cindric
  3. #3 – Austin Dillon
  4. #4 – Noah Gragson
  5. #5 – Kyle Larson
  6. #6 – Corey LaJoie (6)
  7. #7 – Daniel Suarez
  8. #8 – Kyle Busch
  9. #9 – Chase Elliott
  10. #10 – Ty Dillon
  11. #11 – Denny Hamlin
  12. #12 – Ryan Blaney
  13. #16 – AJ Almendinger
  14. #17 – Chris Bushell
  15. #19 – Chase Briscoe
  16. #20 – Christopher Bell
  17. #21 – Josh Berry
  18. #22 – Joey Logano
  19. #23 – Bubba Wallace
  20. #24 – William Byron
  21. #34 – Todd Gilliland
  22. #35 – Riley Herbst
  23. #38 – Zane Smith
  24. #41 – Cole Custer
  25. #42 – John Hunter Nemechek
  26. #43 – Erik Jones
  27. #45 – Tyler Reddick
  28. #47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  29. #48 – Alex Bowman
  30. #50 – Burt Myers
  31. #51 – Cody Well
  32. #54 – You Gibbs
  33. #60 – Ryan Preece
  34. #66 – Chad Fincham
  35. #71 – Michael McDowell
  36. #77 – Carson Hochevar
  37. “#88”-Connor Zilish(R)
  38. #97 – Sean van Gisbergen

last year, hendrick motorsports Driver Chase Elliott was on the front row with Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick. However, Elliott outperformed everyone, leading 171 of the 200-lap race. Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney finished second and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin finished third.