
Chase Elliott awaiting NASCAR Cup Series practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Chase Elliott, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is kicking off the 2025 season on a strong note. He qualified for the pole position and will lead a 23-car field to the green flag on Sunday night at the renowned bullring oval at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash.
The driver from Dawsonville, Georgia was the fastest during qualifying. He won his heat race, which earned him a front row position for the Clash in his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. Additionally, he recorded the quickest time among the Group A drivers in his eight-minute practice session.
Chase Elliott is no stranger to Bowman Gray Stadium, as he previously competed in two ARCA Menards Series East races at the venue in 2011 and 2012, claiming a sixth place run in the 2012 race, which current part-time NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey Lajoie won.
Before the Cup Series took to the track for the first time since 1971, Elliott spoke on his thoughts about the return to the track and reminisced about his days back in the ARCA Menards Series East when the series visited the historic quarter-mile oval. He also gave his insights on how he liked the idea of the Clash moving from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after three seasons.

Chase Elliott races down the frontstretch during practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah, I raced here in the K&N Series, which I’m sure is like a lot of the guys in the garage now. That was around 12 to 15 years ago, or something.” Elliott said in a team press release. “I remember the first time I came up here, I had a dead battery in our car and every time we would stop, I couldn’t get it started back up. So, I was ready to forget that night. I think I did successfully forget most of that one, and then I think the second trip went about just as good as that. So, I hope this one goes a little better this go around.
“I think having it out there in Los Angeles was a great thought. I commend them for the effort in doing it. But I think the shine wore off of it after the first year. I think that the [Bowman Gray] Stadium is a place that has some historical value from a NASCAR presence perspective.”
Despite finishing sixth in the 2012 ARCA East race at the track and having a rough race in 2011, Elliott is keeping his head held high ahead of this weekend’s race.
Elliott was asked about a new rule introduced in the offseason that allows world class drivers to secure a provisional starting spot in a NASCAR Cup Series race. This rule guarantees them a place in the race without needing to qualify. He was also questioned about whether he would like to see Formula One legends Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton compete in a NASCAR Cup Series race, and which of the two he would prefer to race against.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I can argue both sides of the fence, right? You’d hate to have a Helio Castroneves, a Max Verstappen, a Lewis Hamilton or someone come into run a race and then miss the show due to something silly,” Elliott stated. “So, I can certainly see that aspect of it from a promotor side of things, where you wouldn’t want to risk that because that’s obviously going to be a big deal for you. But I also think that with prestigious races, there should be some sort of integrity in making the show.
“I think you see that with the Indianapolis 500, or you see that at the Chili Bowl, right? It’s a hard race to make. It’s a big deal just to get into the show, so I can see both sides of the fence there.”

Chase Elliott leads the opening heat race for the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)
After last season’s NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which featured several controversial moments and resulted in a champion who sparked debate, Elliott discussed the changes that NASCAR’s leadership is implementing to evolve the sport daily and his perspective on the current state of NASCAR.
“I actually think things are in an OK place. When I look at just the state of the sport, generally speaking, I think that the leadership group at NASCAR right now has been open to more change over the past three or four years than I think it probably ever changed, you know, in the prior 30 years before that,” said Elliott.
“So, I think that there’s got to be some appreciation for the willingness that they’ve had to go and try new things. And also, with that being said, does that mean all of those things are going to be good? No, they’re not. And I think as long as we’re willing to say that some of the stuff hasn’t been good, then it’s fine.”
In connection with the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs format, NASCAR officials have revealed that they will thoroughly review the existing system throughout this season. This analysis may lead to significant changes for the 2026 NASCAR season, potentially reshaping the way championships are determined. It could also impact the traditional reliance on the “right place, right time” strategy, which has often influenced teams and drivers in their pursuit of the title, making the competition more dynamic and unpredictable.
“I’m not sure there’s a more important decision that we can make in just how we crown our champion every year and making sure that we’re not ever doing that the wrong way or taking away from what that means,” Elliott said. “I just think that, long-term, whatever decision that they want to make or whatever decision that they do make, I just want to make sure, kind of what we were eluding to early, that the sport is getting better and that these prestigious moments are always prestigious and we’re never taking away from that because that, to me, is what makes this deal special and so forth.”
