It’s finally time to start your engines, NASCAR fans.
The 2026 season begins Monday night when Cup Series drivers take the green flag for the Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The race was originally scheduled for Sunday, but winter weather caused it to be postponed.
The 200-lap race will take place on the short track inside the stadium that hosts Winston-Salem State University football games. Twenty-three drivers will participate in the main event, following a Last Chance Qualifier immediately before the Cook Out Clash.
While no points will be awarded and the race has no effect on the 2026 season standings, there is prize money to be won (the total purse in 2025 was $3,002,500). The event also provides drivers a chance to get reacclimated to race conditions before the action shifts to Daytona International Speedway and the iconic Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.
Bubba Wallace suffers minor spin out lap 53
It’s been a tough go for most racers so far. In fact, for many of the drivers, positions haven’t changed from where we started. However, we finally got our first real shakeup as a small bump caused Bubba Wallace to suffer a minor spin out.
The setback was nothing serious as Wallace was back in the race just moments later, but it was the first major shakeup in the race since it started. Kyle Larson remains out in front with a solid lead more than a quarter of the way through the race.
Moment of silence for Greg Biffle prior to race
Prior to Wednesday’s race, the crowd at Winston-Salem in North Carolina had a moment of silence in honor of Greg Biffle who died in a plane crash on December 18, 2025 in North Carolina.
The moment of silence was followed up with motivational speeches and a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner from officers in the Winston-Salem police department.
The race begins next.
What time is the NASCAR Cook Out Clash?
The 2026 Cook Out Clash is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. ET.
It will be preceded by practice sessions and qualifying beginning at 11 a.m. ET, a Last Chance Qualifier at 4:30 p.m. ET and a pre-race show at 5:30 p.m. ET.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cook Out Clash on?
The 2026 Cook Out Clash will be televised nationally on FOX at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Practice and qualifying will be televised live on FS2 Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. The Last Chance Qualifier can be seen on FOX and HBO Max at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cook Out Clash?
The 2026 Cook Out Clash can be streamed on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app. All NASCAR races on Fox or FS1 can also be streamed on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.
Stream the Cook Out Clash on Fubo
How do drivers advance to the NASCAR Cook Out Clash
The 20 fastest drivers in qualifying will advance to the main event. The remaining 18 drivers will fight for two transfer spots in the Last Chance Qualifier. The top two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the main event, with a provisional reserved for the driver who finished highest in 2025 driver points that did not otherwise advance.
NASCAR Cook Out Clash: How to watch
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
Location: Bowman Gray Stadium (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV channel: Fox
Streaming: FoxSports.com, Fubo