Ryan Preece won the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium last night (Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026).

Quick Scoop: What Happened

  • The race was the Cook Out Clash exhibition event that opens the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
  • Preece took control late, pulling away from William Byron over the final laps to secure the win.
  • The night was chaotic, with numerous cautions and changing track conditions, including rain and sleet that led to the use of wet-weather tires.

How Preece Sealed It

  • In the closing stretch, Preece out-dueled Shane van Gisbergen and then held off Ryan Blaney and William Byron on multiple restarts.
  • As the track dried, the preferred groove shifted, but Preece managed restarts and traffic better than the rest of the field.

Why Fans Are Talking

  • It’s the first on-track Cup race of 2026, so Preece’s win immediately puts him in the spotlight heading into the points-paying races.
  • The mix of short-track bumping, weather twists, and constant cautions made it a wild mid-week night show that fans are still debating today.

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