Thursday, February 5, 2026-In a dramatic season‑opening NASCAR exhibition filled with adversity, Ryan Preece powered through snow, sleet and rain to win the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina on Wednesday night. The race had already been postponed twice because of heavy winter weather sweeping through the region, but once it finally went green, Preece navigated the treacherous conditions and emerged victorious in the 200‑lap event — marking his first top‑level NASCAR triumph and a major confidence boost ahead of the 2026 season.
From near‑freezing temperatures to a chaotic series of record‑setting caution periods and multiple weather delays, the Clash turned into a grueling test of driver skill and equipment resilience on the short quarter‑mile track. Preece, 35, overcame intense competition and constantly changing track conditions to cross the line just ahead of William Byron, with Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suárez and Denny Hamlin rounding out the top five. The race’s relentless pace — with frequent yellow flags and strategic tire changes to wet‑weather rubber — made every lap a challenge and showcased Preece’s grit.
Despite the rough conditions and multiple schedule shifts, the win gives Preece and RFK Racing valuable momentum as the NASCAR Cup Series gears up for the Daytona 500 later this month. His ability to persevere through the weather chaos at Bowman Gray also places him among a select group of drivers who’ve won The Clash before capturing a points‑paying victory, joining the likes of Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin.
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