2026 Cook Out Clash: Qualifying format, setting lineup, practice groups explained

Editor’s note: Updated times and day for on-track action.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season will kick off in exhibition fashion as 23 drivers will battle at Bowman Gray Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 4 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the annual Cook Out Clash.

The format to decide the full field at the iconic Winston-Salem, North Carolina, track — from practice groups, qualifying and setting the lineup — has been adjusted following the postponement of Saturday’s and Sunday’s on-track events due to winter weather. Let’s break down the updated format here.

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RELATED: 2026 Cook Out Clash schedule | Full 2026 Cup Series schedule

FINAL PRACTICE/QUALIFYING GROUPS

Wednesday will be the day for all on-track action. There will be two 8-minute practice sessions followed by a qualifying session that will be split into groups. Each car will have four minutes to record a qualifying time over as many laps as desired within the time window. The top 20 cars from qualifying will lock into the main event. NASCAR indicated that single-lap speed during Wednesday’s sessions will play a key role in setting the 23-car starting field for the main event.

Practice and qualifying are at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the FOX Sports App. People can watch in the FOX Sports App if they have FS1 and sign in through their provider.

The Last Chance Qualifier, meanwhile, will see the top two cars from the event advance to the main race. The Last Chance Qualifier will air at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

The 23rd and final position in the Cook Out Clash will be awarded to the driver who finished highest in the 2025 driver points standings and did not already transfer into the main event.

NASCAR RaceDay on FOX will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Cook Out Clash at 6 p.m. ET.

NASCAR said it will continue to work closely with the City of Winston-Salem to monitor weather conditions. Any further adjustments to the competition format will be communicated as they are finalized.

BUY TICKETS TO THE CLASH

The 2026 Cook Out Clash marks the second consecutive season in which the exhibition has occurred at the quarter-mile venue. Chase Elliott won the 2025 event.

Practice Groups:

Qualifying Groups: