Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott topped the leaderboard in a combined practice and qualifying session on Saturday ahead of Sunday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (8 ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet set the pace at 63.762 mph over Chris Buescher (63.622 mph), Denny Hamlin (63.600 mph) and Tyler Reddick (63.546 mph).
Those four drivers started on the pole in their respective 25-lap heat races later in the evening at the “Madhouse.”
RELATED: Live lineup updates | 2025 Clash schedule
Brad Keselowski (63.515 mph) rounded out the top five.
Chase Briscoe (63.501 mph), Christopher Bell (63.407 mph), Joey Logano (63.407 mph), Ryan Blaney (63.313 mph) and Shane van Gisbergen (63.305 mph) completed the top 10.
In this practice session, the field was broken up into separate groups and each group got to take the track three times. In each driver’s third and final time on track, their fastest lap time determined the starting lineup for the heat races.
MORE: 2025 Clash format | At-track photos: Bowman Gray
Ty Gibbs set the quickest overall time at 64.199 mph in Group 1 of practice but ended up 24th fastest (62.994 mph) after 39 drivers set a qualifying time in the final practice session.