Ryan Preece won the most recent NASCAR Cup Series race, the 2026 Cook Out Clash exhibition event at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 4, 2026.

Quick Scoop

Who won the NASCAR race?

  • Winner: Ryan Preece (NASCAR Cup Series driver for Ford).
  • Race: 2026 Cook Out Clash (exhibition Cup Series opener).
  • Date & place: February 4, 2026, at Bowman Gray Stadium.

He took the lead in the final 15 laps, overtaking William Byron and hanging on through a caution-filled, weather-affected sprint to the finish.

What made this race special?

  • There were 17 caution periods, so restarts and track position were crucial.
  • Mid-race rain and sleet led NASCAR to put cars on wet-weather tires after a brief pause, adding strategy chaos.
  • Preece showed strong short-run speed and composure on those restarts, which proved decisive.

Quick forum-style takeaway

Fans are buzzing because this is the first on-track Cup Series action of 2026, and Preece kicking off the year with a win at tight, old-school Bowman Gray feels like a statement for both him and Ford.

If you meant a different NASCAR race

NASCAR runs multiple series and events, often on weekends. If you were asking about a different date, track, or series (Xfinity or Trucks), tell me:

  1. The date (or “this past Sunday,” etc.).
  2. The track or city, if you know it.
  3. Whether you mean Cup, Xfinity, or Truck.

I can then zero in on that exact race winner for you. TL;DR: Ryan Preece just won the latest NASCAR Cup event, the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, after a wild, rain-affected, caution-heavy race.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.