CONCORD, N.C. - The wait is finally over.
The NASCAR Cup Series will run its first event of the 2025 season, albeit of the exhibition variety, tonight at 8 p.m. for the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. The quarter-mile short track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will host its first Cup Series event since 1971.
Four heat races were held on Saturday night with the top five in each advancing to Sunday's main event. Chase Elliott will start the main event on the pole while William Byron (11th) and Alex Bowman (19th) both earned spots in the starting grid via Saturday night's heat races. Kyle Larson will try to join them via last chance qualifier on Sunday night.
The Clash has kicked off the NASCAR season since 1979. From its inception until 2020, the event was held at Daytona International Speedway as part of Speedweeks. In 2021, the Clash took place on the Daytona Road Course and in each of the last three years, it was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Here's everything you need to know for the Clash on Sunday:
Is there a NASCAR race today?
Yes, the NASCAR Cup Series is slated for its first race of the season, the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
What time is NASCAR on today?
The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is set to start at 8 p.m. on Sunday night.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
Both the Clash and a last chance qualifier, scheduled to start at 6 p.m., will air on Fox.
How does the NASCAR Clash work?
The Clash is a preseason exhibition race in the NASCAR Cup Series that will feature 23 drivers in a 200-lap race at Bowman Gray Stadium. To qualify, a driver had to finish in the top five of one of four heat races on Saturday night. The remaining drivers will all compete in a last chance qualifier on Sunday evening, before the main event, with the top two also earning entry into the field. Finally, a 23rd spot will be given to the driver that finished highest in the 2024 Cup Series points standings that didn't otherwise qualify.
Starting lineup for the Clash
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet (Heat one winner)
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 (Heat two winner)
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Heat three winner)
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (Heat four winner)
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19
- Joey Logano, No. 22
- Christopher Bell, No. 20
- Noah Gragson, No. 4
- Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 88
- William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet
- Ryan Preece, No. 60
- Kyle Busch, No. 8
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77
- Austin Cindric, No. 2
- Ross Chastain, No. 1
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Racing Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34
- (LCQ winner)
- (LCQ runner-up)
- (Points provisional)
Starting grid for last chance qualifier
- Ty Dillon, No. 10
- Zane Smith, No. 38
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54
- Michael McDowell, No. 71
- Austin Dillon, No. 3
- Erik Jones, No. 43
- Riley Herbst, No. 35
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16
- Justin Haley, No. 7
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42
- Josh Berry, No. 21
- Cody Ware, No. 51
- Burt Myers, No. 50
- Cole Custer, No. 41
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12
- Garrett Smithley, No. 66
- Tim Brown, No. 15
Where is Bowman Gray Stadium?
Bowman Gray Stadium is located in Winston Salem, North Carolina
How big is Bowman Gray Stadium?
Bowman Gray Stadium is a quarter-mile, asphalt short track.
Weather forecast for Bowman Gray Stadium
The weather is supposed to be cool and cloudy in Winston-Salem on Sunday night with temperatures in the low 40s.