CONCORD, N.C. - One of the biggest tasks for Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team entering this season was to find a way to carry over the momentum they built at the end of 2024.
One 200-lap, short-track shootout down and it's so far, so good.
After winning his heat race on Saturday night, Elliott dominated the majority of the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, leading 171 circuits including the 200th and final one in registering a victory in NASCAR's preseason, exhibition Cup Series opener.
The victory gave team owner Rick Hendrick his ninth victory in the Clash and the organization's first since Jimmie Johnson picked up a win at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.
Elliott led the first 96 laps before giving way to Denny Hamlin just before the break at the halfway mark. After a couple early cautions in the second half, Elliott slipped back into the lead and had to hold off hard-charging Ryan Blaney down the stretch. But after fading slightly at the end of the first run, the No. 9 car had plenty to finish it off in the final laps.
"We don't race in stadiums like this, so just really cool and I appreciate you all making that moment special for me and my team," Elliott said to a packed house at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, short track. "This is awesome. I know it's not a points race but it is nice to win, for sure.
"Great way to start the season. Huge thanks to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. A lot of hard work over the offseason."
Sunday marked the triumphant return of the NASCAR Cup Series to Bowman Gray, which held events in the sport's premier series from 1958-1971.
"This environment is special and this is a place that has a deep history in NASCAR and I think they deserved this event, truthfully," Elliott said. "I hope we didn't disappoint."
Hendrick Motorsports swept a pair of races on Sunday. Kyle Larson was victorious in a 75-lap last chance qualifier before Sunday's main event. Larson's victory ensured all four Hendrick Motorsports entries competed in the Clash. Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman finished 17th, 18th and 19th, respectively.
After a week off, NASCAR will officially open the 2025 season with points-paying events in all four national touring series at Daytona as part of Speedweek. It all concludes with the 67th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16.
NASCAR Clash results
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11
- Joey Logano, No. 22
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23
- Ross Chastain, No. 1
- Austin Cindric, No. 2
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88
- Chris Buescher, No. 17
- Ryan Preece, No. 60
- Christopher Bell, No. 20
- Josh Berry, No. 21
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34
- Kyle Busch, No. 8
- Carson Hoevar, No. 77
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
- William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet
- Noah Gragson, No. 4
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19