Editor’s note: Today’s Joe Gibbs Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2026 Cup Series season.
JOE GIBBS RACING
Manufacturer: Toyota Engine: Toyota Racing Development Driver-crew chief pairings: Denny Hamlin-Chris Gayle (No. 11); Chase Briscoe-James Small (No. 19); Christopher Bell-Adam Stevens (No. 20); Ty Gibbs-Tyler Allen (No. 54)
Team outlook: A near return to championship glory in 2025 for the storied JGR program positions the four-car outfit for a bright future in 2026. The team amassed 13 points-paying victories a season ago and returns all four of its driver and crew-chief pairings in the new year. The Toyota powerhouse is poised to remain a top title contender, particularly with three proven veterans in Hamlin, Bell and Briscoe and an up-and-coming talent in Ty Gibbs that seems set for a breakout season.
DENNY HAMLIN, NO. 11 TOYOTA
Experience: 20 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 721 starts 2025 stats: 2nd in final Cup Series standings; 6 wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s, 5 poles, 1,024 laps led
Driver outlook: Denny Hamlin is back for what could be his penultimate season in the NASCAR Cup Series after two decades. A dominant performance at Phoenix last fall nearly led him to that ever-elusive first Cup championship, but an argument could be made that his chances to break through are greater as NASCAR returns to The Chase championship format. Hamlin won a whopping 17.1% of his Cup starts in 2025 (missing Mexico City due to the birth of his son, Jameson), and wins are worth more points now than a season ago. Coupled with a format that rewards week-after-week consistency through points, Hamlin may be back in the title hunt again come November.
Experience: 5 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 180 starts 2025 stats: 3rd in final Cup Series standings; 3 wins, 15 top fives, 19 top 10s, 7 poles, 884 laps led
Driver outlook: Chase Briscoe made his first season with JGR count in 2025, qualifying for the Championship 4 amid a three-win campaign that forged the No. 19 team as a weekly contender. He and crew chief James Small got off to a slow start last season as the pairing learned each other’s tendencies, but once they clicked, they became a consistent threat at the front of the field. Without growing pains in 2026, Briscoe should be fighting for race wins all over again in no time.
Experience: 6 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 216 starts 2025 stats: 5th in final Cup Series standings; 4 wins, 13 top fives, 22 top 10s, 1 pole, 282 laps led
Driver outlook: Christopher Bell scored the second-most wins for JGR in 2025 while also netting the team’s most top 10s. Bell and crew chief Adam Stevens have become one of the Cup Series’ elite pairings in recent years, scoring Championship 4 appearances in 2022 and 2023 with fifth-place points finishes in each of the last two seasons. The No. 20 team is another that may benefit from pursuing The Chase championship rather than the previous elimination-style format.
Experience: 3 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 123 starts 2025 stats: 19th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 5 top fives, 10 top 10s, 0 poles, 304 laps led
Driver outlook: Ty Gibbs is still searching for the first Cup win of his career, but the 2022 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion is making strides to contend in the new year. Crew chief Tyler Allen is back atop the box for his sophomore season, calling the shots on the No. 54 team after the group earned five top fives a season ago. What should be encouraging is that all five came on a variety of race tracks — the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway (third); the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway oval (third); the Chicago Street Course (second), the 1-mile Dover Motor Speedway (fifth); and Talladega Superspeedway (third). Stringing results like that consistently will put Gibbs in position to strike for that first victory.
The World Series of Asphalt encompasses nine consecutive nights of on-track action featuring a variety of divisions headlined by features for Super Late Models, Pro Late Models and Modifieds. This year’s World Series of Asphalt marks the 60th edition of the legendary event.
The Modified division will headline three nights of racing, beginning Saturday, Feb. 7 with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season opener. The Modified class will also receive top billing Wednesday, Feb. 11 for the running of the Blewett Memorial 76 and again Friday, Feb. 13 for the running of the Richie Evans Memorial 100.
Super Late Models take center stage Tuesday, Feb. 10 for the ASA STARS National Tour Clyde Hart Memorial 200, and the Pro Late Model class headlines the action on Thursday, Feb. 12 with the annual Hart to Heart Pro Late Model 100.
Tickets for the 2026 edition of the World Series of Asphalt can be purchased here. Below is everything to know about the festivities, including the schedule and entry lists.
Cars in action during the 2025 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
What channel is the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway on in 2026?
Live coverage of the 2026 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway will begin each night at 7 p.m. ET on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Regional properties.
The World Series of Asphalt will not broadcast on a traditional television network.
Below is the complete schedule for World Series of Asphalt coverage on FloRacing.
Every division scheduled to race on a given evening during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing gets two individual practice sessions that day. Depending on the race-day schedule, some divisions will have their second group practice determine the starting lineup for the corresponding feature.
Below is the complete on-track schedule for the 2026 World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway.
Friday, Feb. 6
Time
Event
9 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
10 a.m.
Registration/Tire/Fuel Station Opens
12 p.m.
Grandstands Open
12:15 p.m.
Drivers Meeting
1 p.m.
Practice Begins
3:45 p.m.
Super Late Model Tires Released
4 p.m.
Super Late Model pre-qualifying inspection
4:40 p.m.
Sportsman Qualifying
5 p.m.
Pro Late Model Tires Released
5 p.m.
Bomber A Final Practice/Qualifying
5:15 p.m.
Pro Late Model pre-qualifying inspection
5:20 p.m.
Bomber B Final Practice/Qualifying
6 p.m.
Super Late Model Qualifying
6:30 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying
7:15 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: Super Late Models (60 Laps), Sportsman (35 Laps), Pro Late Models (60 Laps), Bomber A (50 Laps), Bomber B (50 Laps)
Saturday, Feb. 7
Time
Event
7:30 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
11 a.m.
Registration/Tires/Fuel Opens
11:30 a.m.
Super Late Model Inspection Begins
12 p.m.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Drivers Meeting (Series Trailer)
12:30 p.m.
Super Late Model Drivers Meeting
1 p.m.
Grandstands Open
1 p.m.
Practice Begins
4:15 p.m.
Super Late Model Tires Released
5 p.m.
Super Late Model Qualifying
5:30 p.m.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Qualifying
6:20 – 7:10 p.m.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Autograph Session (On Track)
7:15 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (150 Laps), Super Late Models (60 Laps)
Sunday, Feb. 8
Time
Event
10 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
10:30 a.m.
Modified Inspection Begins
10:30 a.m.
Registration/Tire/Fuel/Inspection Opens
11:15 a.m.
Drivers Meeting
12 – 1 p.m.
ASA Credentials (Pit Gate)
12 p.m.
Grandstand Opens
12 p.m.
Practice Begins
3:45 p.m.
Pro Late Model Tires Released
4 p.m.
Pro Late Model pre-qualifying inspection
4:15 p.m.
602 Modified Group Qualifying
4:40 – 5 p.m.
E-Modified Final Practice/Qualifying
5:30 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying
6:10 p.m.
Sportsman Qualifying
6:50 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7 p.m.
Racing starts: Pro Late Models (60 Laps), 602 Modifieds (25 Laps), Sportsman (60 Laps), E-Modified (35 Laps)
Monday, Feb. 9
Time
Event
8 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
8:45 a.m.
ASA Crew Chief Meeting
To Follow
ASA Inspection & Tire Mounting Begins
10 a.m.
Registration/Tires/Fuel Opens
11:45 a.m.
Drivers Meeting
12:30 p.m.
Grandstands Open
12:30 p.m.
Practice Begins
1 p.m.
Pro Late Model Inspection Begins (Optional)
4:30 p.m.
Modified pre-qualifying inspection
4:55 – 5:15 p.m.
602 Modified Final Practice/Qualifying
5 p.m.
ASA Qualifying Tires Released
5:15 p.m.
ASA pre-qualifying inspection
5:30 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying Tires Released
5:30 p.m.
Modified Qualifying
6:10 p.m.
Pro Late Model Group Qualifying
6:55 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7 p.m.
ASA STARS National Tour Qualifying
Followed by
Racing starts: Modified (60 Laps), ASA STARS LCQ (20 Laps), Pro Late Model (60 Laps), 602 Modifieds (25 Laps)
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Time
Event
10 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
11 a.m.
Registration/Tire/Fuel/Inspection Opens
12:15 p.m.
Drivers Meeting
1 p.m.
Grandstand Opens
1 p.m.
Practice Begins
2 p.m.
ASA Drivers Meeting (Series Trailer)
3 p.m.
ASA pre-race inspection begins
3:30 p.m.
Modified pre-race inspection begins
4:25 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying Tires Released
4:30 p.m.
Modified Qualifying
5 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying
6 – 6:45 p.m.
ASA Autograph Session (On Track)
6:50 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: ASA STARS Clyde Hart Memorial 200 (200 Laps), Modifieds (60 Laps), Pro Late Models (60 Laps)
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Time
Event
10 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
11 a.m.
Registration/Tires/Fuel Opens
11:30 a.m.
Tech Inspection Open
12:15 p.m.
Drivers Meeting
1 p.m.
Grandstand Opens
1 p.m.
Practice Begins
4:15 p.m.
Super Late Model Qualifying Tires Released
4:30 p.m.
Modified/Pro Late Model/Super Late Model pre-qualifying inspection
4:45 – 5:05 p.m.
602 Modified Final Practice/Qualifying
5:10 p.m.
Pro Late Model Group Qualifying
5:30 p.m.
Modified Qualifying
6 p.m.
Super Late Model Qualifying
6:30 p.m.
Florida Modified Qualifying
7:15 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: Modified John Blewett Memorial 76 (76 Laps), Super Late Models (60 Laps), Florida Modifieds (60 Laps), Pro Late Models (60 Laps), 602 Modified (25 Laps)
Thursday, Feb. 12
Time
Event
10 a.m.
Pit Area Open
11 a.m.
Registration/Tires/Fuel Opens
11:30 a.m.
Tech Inspection Opens
12:15 p.m.
Drivers Meeting
1 p.m.
Grandstand Opens
1 p.m.
Practice Begins
4:15 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying Tires Released
4:30 p.m.
Pro Late Model pre-qualifying inspection
4:45 – 5:05 p.m.
Florida Modified Final Practice/Qualifying
5 p.m.
Super Late Model Qualifying Tires Released
5:10 p.m.
602 Modified Group Qualifying
5:30 p.m.
Modified pre-qualifying inspection
5:30 p.m.
Super Late Model Qualifying
6 p.m.
Pro Late Model Qualifying
6:30 p.m.
Modified Qualifying
7:10 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: Pro Late Model Hart to Heart 100 (100 Laps), 602 Modifieds (66 Laps), Super Late Models (60 Laps), Modifieds (60 Laps), Florida Modifieds (60 Laps)
Friday, Feb. 13
Time
Event
10 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
12 p.m.
Registration/Tires/Fuel Opens
12:15 p.m.
Inspection Open
1:15 p.m.
Drivers Meeting
2 p.m.
Grandstand Opens
2 p.m.
Practice Begins
5 p.m.
Modified pre-qualifying inspection
5:30 p.m.
Pro Truck Group Qualifying
6 p.m.
Modified Qualifying
6:30 p.m.
Florida Modified Qualifying
Followed by…
Vintage Car Exhibition Race
7:15 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: Modified Richie Evans Memorial 100 (100 Laps), Pro Trucks (35 Laps), Florida Modifieds (60 Laps), Ground Pounders (20 Laps)
Saturday, Feb. 14
Time
Event
10 a.m.
Pit Area Opens
12 p.m.
Registration/Tires/Fuel Opens
12:15 p.m.
Inspection Opens
1:15 p.m.
Drivers Meeting
2 p.m.
Grandstand Opens
2 p.m.
Practice Begins
5 p.m.
Super Stock Final Practice/Qualifying
5:15 p.m.
Modifieds of Mayhem pre-qualifying inspection
6 p.m.
Modifieds of Mayhem Qualifying
6:30 p.m.
Pro Truck Group Qualifying
6:45 p.m.
Sprint Car Qualifying Heats (8 Laps)
7:20 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m.
Racing starts: Modifieds of Mayhem (60 Laps), Super Stock (35 Laps), Pro Trucks (60 Laps), Sprint Cars (25 Laps)
Multiple divisions of Modifieds are scheduled to compete during the 60th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
Entry lists
The World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway attracts a talented and wide-ranging group of drivers from across the United States and the world.
In 2026, a stacked Modified division includes defending World Series champion Patrick Emerling. Bowman Gray Stadium star Burt Myers, reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Austin Beers, NASCAR Cup Series competitor Ryan Preece and two-time Modified Tour champ Ron Silk are among the other Modified entrants.
The Super Late Model class also features a stacked lineup. The field includes drivers like Derek Griffith, a two-time World Series Super Late Model champion, New Smyrna Speedway regular Brad May, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series regular William Sawalich and Preece, who is entered in the Super Late Model and Modified divisions at the World Series.
The Pro Late Model class is the most unique of the three major divisions, with drivers from multiple Canadian provinces, Brazil and Greece scheduled to compete at New Smyrna. Among those entered are NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race winner Raphael Lessard, two-time and defending World Series Pro Late Model champion Hunter Wright, Greece’s Thomas Krasonis and Brazil’s Gabriel Cassagrande.
Below is the full list of drivers entered for this year’s World Series of Asphalt.
Modifieds
1 Patrick Emerling. Orchard Park NY
1 Stephen Kopcik. Newtown CT
2 J.R Bertuccio. Centerreach NY
3 Steve Zaleski. N. Palm Beach FL
7 Jon Puleo. Branford CT
7 Rich Parker. Forked River NJ
8 Cam McDermott. Canterbury CT
11 Norman Newman. Kincardine ON
16 Ron Silk. Norwalk CT
17 Burt Myers. Walnut Cove NC
19 Jeffrey Battle. Dunstable MA
20 Jerry Gradl. Buffalo NY
21 Tommy Wanick. Zion Grove PA
21 TBA (Gershow Motorsports)
24 Andrew Krause. East Brunswick NJ
32 Tyler Rypkema. Owego NY
39 Conner Jones. Fredericksburg VA
40 Ryan Preece. Berlin CT
42 Steve Wonick. Mountain Top PA
46 Jeffrey Goodale. Riverhead NY
50 Ronnie Williams. Lebanon CT
54 Tommy Catalano. Ontario NY
56 Trevor Catalano. Ontario NY
64 Amy Catalano. Ontario NY
66 Timmy Solomito. Islip NY
71 Jimmy Zacharias. Owego NY
73 Paulie Hartwig III. Galloway NJ
73 Paul Hartwig Jr. Galloway NJ
73 Paul Hartwig Sr. Galloway NJ
76 James Blewett. Howell NJ
81 Mark Stewart. Wading River NY
84 Tyler Catalano. Ontario NY
92 Anthony Nocella. Woburn MA
95 Cory Plummer. Swanzey NH
09 Christopher Hatton Jr. New Smyrna Beach FL
179 Austin Beers. Northampton PA
Super Late Models
3 Jeff Brown. Hamburg NY
6 Brandon Lopez. Woodstock GA
9 Derek Kraus. Stratford WI
9 Brad May. Oviedo FL
12 Derek Griffith. Hudson NH
17 Billy Braun. Wales WI
17 Hudson Bulger. Fort Valley GA
22 George Phillips. Charlotte NC
22 Kyle Steckly. Milverton ON
24 Jade Avedisian. Clovis CA
25 William Sawalich. Eden Prairie MN
26 Dawson Sutton. Lebanon TN
29 Cole Robie. Windham ME
29 Hunter Wright. Lebanon TN
36 Ty Fredrickson. Northfield MN
44 Conner Jones. Fredericksburg VA
51 Anthony Bello. Newtown CT
54 Joey Brainard. Bowmansville NY
54 Matt Craig. Mt. Pleasant NC
60 Ryan Preece. Berlin CT
69 Michael Hinde. Hernando FL
83 Cory Hall. Jolicure NB
92 RJ Braun. Wales WI
96 Spencer Davis. Dawsonville GA
05 Brandon Turbush. Manorville NY
08 Nicholas Naugle. Dartmouth NS
112 Steve Weaver Jr. Plantation FL
Pro Late Models
1 Dennis Wenner. Drums PA
2 John Bolen. Jasper AL
3 Evan McKnight. Windermere FL
6 Brandon Lopez. Woodstock GA
8 Jayden Johnson. Ixonia WI
9 Brad May. Oviedo FL
9 Wesley Slimp. Marietta GA
13 Ben Mack. Fisherville KY
15 Thomas Krasonis. Athens GR
17 Josh Stade. Chesley ON
17 Kevin Folan. North Attleboro MA
22 Todd Delisle. Courtice ON
24 Mia Lovell. Las Vegas NV
25 Gage Gilby. Enfield NS
27 Vito Cancilla. Martinez, CA
29 Cole Robie. Windham ME
29 Hunter Wright. Lebanon TN
31 JT Chastain. Punta Gorda FL
31 Brody Monahan. Waterford CT
35 John Weitz. Caldwell ID
35 Ron Wurtz. Caldwell ID
42 Eric St. Gelais. Charlevoix QC
44 Conner Jones. Fredericksburg VA
48 Raphael Lessard. Vallee Jonction QC
50 Ryan Pawloski. Lowell MI
54 Jarrett Butcher. Enfield NS
83 William Roberge. Beaumont QC
87 Chloe Mazzagatti. New Franklin OH
96 Gabriel Cassagrande. Curita, BR
00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr. Candia NH
08 Nicholas Naugle. Dartmouth NS
100 Weston Marthaler. Gleemwood MN
Florida Modifieds
2 Brad Bowman. Clearwater FL
9 Jarrett Korpi. Osteen FL
11 James Whittredge. Ashville OH
15 Matthew Green. Orlando FL
15 Tank Tucker. New Smyrna FL
18 Matthew Laprade. New Smyrna Beach FL
36 Gregg Campbell. South Lyon MI
37 Spencer Stineman. Lagrange OH
45 George Rangel. Columbus MI
57 Tim Moore. St Petersburgh FL
57 Tyler Nuckles. Canal Winchester OH
61 Brad Springer. Ashley IN
62 Buddy Anderson. Baileyton AL
66 Jerry Symons. New Smyrna Beach FL
72 LJ Grimm. Seffner FL
602 Modifieds
0 Steve Whitt. Forked River NJ
2 Hank Baker Jr. Oak Hill FL
2 Jerry Gradl. Buffalo NY
2 Tony Pettinelli. Rome NY
3 Joe Papin. Oswego NY
3 Christian LaCicero. Seaside Park NJ
4 RJ Surdell. Willington CT
5 Patrick Kayatta. Indian Harbour FL
8 Brian Schoch. Slatington PA
9 Matt Montineri. Ponte Vedra FL
12 Nick Baer. New Tripoli PA
12 Annabeth Barnes. Hiddenite. NC
12 Cody Norman. Lewisville NC
15 Michael Brennan. Old Bridge NJ
17 Joey Torchia. Galloway NJ
22 Tommy Sekulski. Nesconset NY
27 Adam LaCicero. Lavallette NJ
34 Eric Zeh. Huntersville NC
46 Vinny Delaney. Islip Terrace NY
48 Tovia Grynewicz. Clyde TX
49 Jack Handley Jr. Medford NY
57 Justin Beecher. Billerica MA
57 Michael Leone. Toms River NJ
57 Wayne Skinner Whiting NJ
66 James Storace. Kingston NH
66 Mike Albasini. Calverton NY
71 Chris Hettinger. Hunterville NC
73 Paulie Hartwig III. Galloway NJ
73 Paul Hartwig Jr. Galloway NJ
94 Paul Flye. Ontario NY
99 James Williams. The Villages FL
06 Chris Hatton Sr. Deltona FL
09 Christopher Hatton Jr. New Smyrna Beach FL
124 Ron D’Alessandro. Palm Bay FL
Sprint Cars
5 Joe Liguori. Lebanon TN.
10 LJ Grimm. Seffner FL
14 Davey Hamilton Jr. Lutz FL
20 Alby Ovitt. Raymond NH
22 Bobby Santos. McCordsville IN
24 Dylan Reynolds. Lady Lake FL
61 Colton Bettis. Lutz FL
67 Scotty Adema. Ft. Myers FL
85 Steven Hollinger. Titusville FL
92 Anthony Nocella. Woburn MA
Pro Trucks
11 Niko Garrano. Davenport FL
18 Matthew Laprade. New Smyrna Beach FL
23 Christopher Hunter. Century FL
25 Timmy Todd Jr. St. Cloud FL
28 Nolan Mesa. Jupiter FL
31 JT Chastain. Punta Gorda FL
51 Garrett Thompson. North Port FL
05 Greyson Greaves. Port Charlotte. FL
192 Anthony Lessard. Sainte Claire. QC
Sportsman
15 Matthew Laprade. New Smyrna Beach FL
15 TBA. Boydtech
19 Cody Struble. Inverness FL
44 Matthew Green. Orlando FL
51 Rice Robinson. Wilson WY
61 Kyle Case. North Point FL
71 Earl Beckner. Apopka FL
88 Dylan LeBeau. Daytona Beach FL
112 Dave Werning. Palm Coast FL
151 Sean Fitzgerald. Tangerine FL
E-Mod
10 Carson May. Oviedo FL
12 Dylan Saile. Deland FL
14 Dalton Symons. New Smyrna Beach FL
16 Jonathan Mennenga. Ocala FL
17 Curtis Robinson. Saint Augustine FL
45 Michael Seay. Longwood FL
53 Michael Mark. Deland FL
91 Timothy Rushing. Bradenton FL
98 Max Wheeler. New Smyrna Beach FL
Super Stocks
15 Tyler Prenesti. Key Largo FL
58 Gage Spears. New Smyrna Beach FL
66 Chase Symons. New Smyrna Beach FL
Bomber A
2 Steven Davilla. Port Orange FL
7 Aaron Foye. Cocoa FL
14 Brandon Monroe. Orlando FL
16 Zechariah Cartledge. Winter Springs FL
17 Michael Austin. Palm Bay FL
18 Ben Wolff. Jacksonville FL
76 Richard Monroe. Belleview FL
88 Stephen Brown. Port Orange FL
Bomber B
3 Spencer Dean. Port Orange FL
5 Jason Lang. Byron GA
10g Shawn Bailey. Bushnell FL
11 Niko Garrano. Davenport FL
11x Brandon “Bones” Duchscherer. Winter Haven FL
12 Justin Phillips. Waldo FL
23 Calli Duchscherer. Winter Haven FL
23 Tim Nicholas. Melbourne FL
24 Randy Strehle. Deland FL
26 Lucas Johnson. Orange Park FL
45 Travis Soukup. Deltona FL
58 Gage Spears. New Smyrna Beach FL
66 Chase Symons. New Smyrna Beach FL
77 Ty Ottinger. Cross City FL
80 Kenny Roth. Deltona FL
88 Don Brayton. Deltona FL
89 William Hindman. Cocoa FL
K9 Chuck Rush. Sanford FL
Ground Pounders
0 Scott Cutter. Titusville FL.
2 Richard Brayton. Silver Spring FL
2 Scott Fobes. Titusville FL
4D Frank Pelkey. Melbourne FL
11 Danny Massa. North Dighton MA
52 Hank Baker. Oak Hill FL
Gavan Boshele is the defending Super Late Model champion at the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
World Series of Asphalt winners
For nearly six decades, the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing has attracted many of the best drivers in the history of United States motorsports.
The list of Super Late Model champions alone is comprised of drivers who have won the Daytona 500, short track titles and NASCAR titles. Dick Trickle, Mark Martin, Joe Ruttman, Pete Hamilton, Ty Majeski, Bubba Pollard and David Rogers are a part of the exclusive group that has claimed at least on World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model title. Gavan Boschele is the most recent World Series Super Late Model champion after securing the crown one season ago.
Plenty of renowned Modified competitors also have excelled at New Smyrna during the World Series of Asphalt. Richie Evans won the Modified title six times in his illustrious career, with other notable champions including Reggie Ruggiero, Ted Christopher, Tom Baldwin, Steve Park and Ron Silk. Last year, Patrick Emerling secured his maiden World Series Modified championship.
Below is a complete list of World Series of Asphalt champions in the Modified and Super Late Model classes.
SOPHIA, N.C. — Caraway Speedway returns to NASCAR’s Weekly Series in 2026. The announcement was made to competitors at the annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 17th.
Track officials met with many drivers at the speedway rules meeting on Jan. 10 to discuss the possibility of a NASCAR sanction returning.
“I wanted to hear the thoughts of the drivers directly, so we passed out a Q&A form with space for rules suggestions and a yes or no line concerning the sanction,” said track owner Darren Hackett. “The results were extremely positive from the teams represented. That cemented in my mind the decision to ask NASCAR to return.
“They said yes, and the rest is history. We are happy to be part of the NASCAR family again.”
The NASCAR sanction opens the door to drivers to participate in National, Regional, State and Local programs based on their performance over the course of the season. It features a standardized points structure that rewards consistency as well as bonus opportunities as drivers race for a $15,000 point fund at each track with Regional and National point funds posted, as well.
There are Regional and National “Rookie of the Year” Bonus Awards for newcomers to a track.
(Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR)
Caraway Speedway begins the 2026 season Sunday, March 8th with an eight-race program and the first of 10 events for the featured Limited Late Models. The Chargers, Mini Stocks, UCARS, 602 Modifieds, Crown Vics, Legends and Bandoleros fill the slate for the 2 p.m. ET start.
On Saturday, March 14, the first of four 2026 Tour Type Modified events features a 75 lap “open” competition event with a $5,000 to win purse. The Chargers, Mini Stocks, UCARS, 602 Modifieds, Crown Vics, Legends and Bandoleros round out the show.
The SMART Tour returns July 4 for the “Rusty Harpe Memorial” presented by Daggett Shuler Attorneys and again on Sept. 12 for the annual 911 Remembrance Night. The North-South Shootout in November is the final Modified event of the season.
The offseason at Caraway saw paving work in Turns 3-4 with a new racing surface in place along with more paving in the pit area. Some lighting and speaker upgrades are ongoing. New restrooms in the trackside area are nearing competition, and the Turn 4 suites should be finished for opening day, weather permitting.
The 2026 Cup Series season will put a heavy emphasis on points, which aligns with the ultimate prize in NASCAR Fantasy Live. Speedweeks is quickly approaching, so it’s time to reflect on which drivers excelled, surprised and disappointed at the primary style of race tracks in 2025: intermediates, short tracks, superspeedway-style drafting tracks and road courses.
Must-start: With how many laps each driver led in 2025, this could be a tie between Hendrick Motorsports powerhouses Kyle Larson and William Byron. The tie, in this case, would favor Larson, who led the league in a plethora of categories last year: points (314), stage points (105), laps led (555), average start (5.7) and average finish (8.6). Of his 16 Next Gen triumphs, six have come at 1.5-mile venues.
Avoid: Up is about the only direction Ty Gibbs can move the needle at intermediates in 2026. Only Carson Hocevar and Cody Ware scored fewer points than Gibbs in seven 1.5-mile starts in 2025 (87). With a best finish of 22nd, the No. 54 team barely sniffed the front portion of the field, totaling nine stage points in those events.
Sleeper: RFK Racing was led by Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher on intermediates in 2025, earning 179 points each, tying for 11th-most in Cup. The slight advantage favors Preece, who earned five top-10 finishes with an average finish of 13.1.
Short tracks
Must-start: With a seventh short-track race added to the 2026 schedule that will award points, Ryan Blaney should be ecstatic. It’s unbelievable to think the No. 12 car didn’t reach Victory Lane at a short track last year, despite earning the most points (256). He had an astounding 4.8 average finish in six starts; nearly double that of Byron in second (9.0).
Avoid: Putting more of an emphasis on points should aid Buescher overall, who finished 10th and 11th in each of the last two regular seasons, but failed to make the postseason. Just don’t gamble on those points coming at short tracks. Sure, he’s won at Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond Raceway in the Next Gen car, but he ranked 27th in points scored last year at such venues, with an average finish of 23.5.
Sleeper: Gibbs’ bread and butter are short tracks, historically, and his 190 points earned slotted him in fifth last season. An average finish of 12.8 was tied with Larson for eighth best in Cup.
Drafting
Must-start: While the results don’t always show it, Team Penske has been the organization to beat at superspeedways in recent seasons. You could list any of the three — Blaney, Joey Logano or Austin Cindric, but let’s stick with the No. 2 car. Cindric ranked 17th in points earned at superspeedways in 2025 but was one of two drivers (Logano) to lead more than 100 laps (127). He did, however, have the fifth-most stage points (48) and won at Talladega Superspeedway.
Avoid: “Feast or famine” describes Logano’s history at superspeedways, as he can also be a driver to avoid. The No. 22 team collects stage points in bunches at drafting tracks — led the way with five top 10s in stages in 2025 and most laps led at 263 — but it tends to fall apart late, tallying a 27.5 average finish, tied with Noah Gragson for the worst in Cup last year.
Sleeper: You could list two dozen drivers here, but Todd Gilliland leaps off the page. Ford has always beefed up its emphasis on superspeedways, and Front Row Motorsports is among the beneficiaries. His lone top 10 was a career-best runner-up finish at Talladega in October, but banked the ninth-most points in the series (151).
Logan Riely | Getty Images
Road Courses
Must-start: There is no correct answer other than Shane van Gisbergen. The New Zealander nearly aced all six road courses in 2025 and enters the new season on a five-race heater when turning left and right, earning 73 more points than any other driver (293). His 1.8 average finish was nearly four-and-a-half positions better than Christopher Bell in second (6.2)
Avoid: While Brad Keselowski intends on being near 100% from his broken leg by the Daytona 500, Circuit of The Americas looms as the third race on the schedule and road courses aren’t his specialty. Keselowski has failed to crack the top 10 in 21 straight road course starts.
Sleeper: Blaney doesn’t consider himself a road-course expert, and the No. 12 team’s 16.7 average finish at road courses in 2025 is nothing to boast about. But he did score the most stage points of all drivers (64). He even outpaced van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen International to win the pole.
Josh Berry’s offseason has felt prolonged yet revitalizing — both in very good ways.
Heading into his third full-time season at the NASCAR Cup Series level, Berry, who won his first race at the premier level and qualified for the playoffs a year ago, returns to the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford looking to develop into a bona fide contender. The 35-year-old Hendersonville, Tennessee, native banked eight top 10s in his first year with the organization, but feels he has plenty of room to grow into one of stock-car racing’s best.
But one of the advantages he has entering 2026, Berry explained, is continuity.
Save for a hauler driver, the family-owned organization retained its entire road crew — from the top down — for Berry’s third season driving a blue oval, and second with the Woods. That starts with crew chief Samuel “Miles” Stanley and spotter Jason Jarrett, and includes engineers and mechanics on the No. 21 team last year. While the pit crew hasn’t been finalized, the team said, Berry believes the cohesion is a confidence booster and something he’s yet to see since making the switch to national-series racing in 2021.
“The last couple of years in the Cup Series have been with two different organizations, and now going back to this and having the same group, the same crew chief, the same engineers, really the same everybody, so it just kind of builds more fluidity,” Berry said during a media teleconference. “It doesn’t feel like you’re starting over and learning each other as much. It’s made the offseason maybe go a little bit longer, maybe a little bit more refreshing because you’re not doing as much random things that you have to check off in the offseason.
“This is really the first year since I’ve been in Cup or (O’Reilly) that I’ve really had the same group two years in a row. That made the offseason feel different since I’ve already been working with these guys and knowing them, and not establishing that communication, so I think that should be a positive. I feel like me and Miles (Stanley) have had a really good relationship, and now Miles is going into his second year as a crew chief as well, so I know he’s only gonna keep getting better, so I feel like we’re poised to have a really strong year.”
Logan Riely | Getty Images
Berry punched his playoff ticket early in 2025, winning the fifth race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He treaded water for much of the five-plus months but entered the postseason with consecutive top 10s to positively push wind in the team’s sails. However, three consecutive last-place finishes in the Round of 16 quickly derailed Berry’s playoff train, and the team finished 16th in points.
Berry explained that the team needs to improve at limiting mistakes, himself included, to succeed in the first year of the revitalized Chase postseason format. Recognizing that Wood Brothers benefitted from the playoff format, earning an automatic berth for his Vegas win, Berry believes the No. 21 team can succeed in The Chase and improve on a winning 2025 campaign.
“We sat down early in the offseason and kind of broke it down and looked at each race. It’s a number of things,” Berry said. “It’s issues on pit road. There were a couple of speeding penalties over the course of the year. Obviously, that stuff you have to clean up. The biggest thing is just looking at the decision-making towards getting to these races, maybe is the biggest thing. I think you’re better off to take a top 10 than maybe put yourself in a bad spot that could result in it, but honestly, the key to that is not something that I don’t think any of us really know.
“There were a lot of positives in our performance last year. There were plenty of races where the finish didn’t indicate the type of day we had, so that’s been our focus, is looking through some of that stuff and trying to figure out what we could do better and put ourselves in better positions to get the finishes we deserve.”
Editor’s note: Today’s Team Penske preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2026 Cup Series season.
TEAM PENSKE
Manufacturer: Ford Engine: Roush Yates Engines Driver-crew chief pairings: Austin Cindric-Brian Wilson (No. 2); Ryan Blaney-Jonathan Hassler (No. 12); Joey Logano-Paul Wolfe (No. 22)
Team outlook: For the first time since 2021, Team Penske was stifled from the Cup Series Championship as Kyle Larson went on to score his second Bill France Cup in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. None of the Penske Fords reached the Championship 4 as past champions Blaney and Logano were eliminated in the penultimate round, while Cindric bowed out in the Round of 12. With no more playoffs or eliminations thanks to the reintroduction of The Chase, the three-team stable will need to find consistency among all of their cars to get back to the top of the sport again. It should be no problem for Blaney, but both Cindric and Logano have had roller coaster stretches over the last few years that need to be curbed entering 2026.
AUSTIN CINDRIC, NO. 2 FORD
Experience: 4 full-time seasons in Cup Series; 151 starts 2025 stats: 14th in final Cup Series standings; 1 win, two top fives, five top 10s, 0 poles, 325 laps led
Driver outlook: Year No. 5 will be a “move it or lose it” type of campaign for Cindric. Since his first full-time season in 2022, Penske has won three championships, while the No. 2 Ford driver has been a handful of steps behind his teammates. Cindric has cemented himself as one of the elite talents on superspeedways, winning at Talladega Superspeedway last spring and leading 127 laps combined at Daytona Superspeedway, Talladega and EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) in 2025. This year, however, will be all about the full body of work as Cindric needs a top-16 regular season points finish to make the 10-race Chase. The young veteran has shown flashes of excellence, and if he can put it all together for a breakout year, he could be in the mix to make a title run.
Experience: 10 full-time seasons in Cup Series; 378 starts 2025 stats: 6th in final Cup Series standings; 4 wins, 15 top fives, 19 top 10s, 2 poles, 852 laps led
Driver outlook: Blaney was the closest Penske driver to making last year’s Championship 4, but William Byron slammed the door shut late to send the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team to the final round instead. Even without a second title, you could make the case that 2025 was Blaney’s best Cup campaign with career bests in wins (four), top fives (15) and laps led (852). It was a year that was all over the place for the No. 12 team, though, with eight DNFs across the season. If Blaney can avoid those in 2026, mark him down as the championship favorite in his first run at The Chase format.
Experience: 17 full-time seasons in Cup Series; 615 starts 2025 stats: 7th in final Cup Series standings; 1 win, seven top fives, 13 top 10s, 2 poles, 577 laps led
Driver outlook: All eyes will be on Logano as the notorious even-year superstar looks to make it three in a row and four of the last five in such years when it comes to hoisting the Bill France Cup. However, must do it with a much different championship format that includes just one points reset after the Daytona night race in August. All three of Logano’s championships came during the playoff era, and diving into the numbers, his last two seasons piloting the No. 22 Ford have been some of his worst since joining Penske in 2013. Logano’s average finish has been worse than 15th place each of the last two years, which wouldn’t put him in championship contention — and could risk missing the Chase — if a rebound season isn’t in the cards.
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium has been postponed to Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX due to historic snowfall in North Carolina over the weekend.
The National Weather Service reported Winston-Salem, North Carolina, received 8-10 inches of snow Saturday, while the Charlotte area — roughly 80 miles south of Bowman Gray and home base for most NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams — received 11 inches of snow, according to local television affiliate WCNC.
Out of an abundance of caution due to hazardous road conditions, NASCAR and the City of Winston-Salem agreed to move all on-track sessions for The Clash to Wednesday, allowing for safer travel.
“This event is for the fans, and the fans at The Madhouse are some of the most passionate fans in all of sports,” Justin Swilling, Project Lead, Cook Out Clash, said in a press release. “Moving the Cook Out Clash to Wednesday, Feb. 4, gives us the best opportunity to hold this event with fans at Bowman Gray Stadium while allowing the City of Winston-Salem to dedicate all of their resources to respond to the needs created by this historic weather event.”
NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on the FOX Sports App. The Last Chance Qualifier (75 laps) will take place at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX before the Cook Out Clash at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Twenty drivers will qualify into The Clash, with the top two finishers from the LCQ advancing to the main event, as well as the driver who finished highest in 2025 driver points that did not otherwise advance to create a 23-car field.
In a Sunday teleconference shortly after the postponement was announced, Swilling said the decision was made after multiple meetings with NASCAR’s senior leadership as well as officials from the City of Winston-Salem and the state of North Carolina.
“At the end of the day, this decision is made again in an abundance of caution for the fans and the competitors that are traveling to the venue,” Swilling said. “It’s mission critical that we get everyone here safely. And all of those different stakeholders — the race car drivers, the teams and, most importantly, the fans — all of those are perfect ingredients for an incredible event. We don’t feel we can have one without the other, of course. So it made a ton of sense for us to make this move and also give ourselves some additional time early in the week to ensure that all of the wintry mix between snow and ice and sleet and everything in between was cleared off all areas of the property.”
The weekend snowfall followed a storm the previous weekend that left Winston-Salem with icy conditions. NASCAR remains in communication with city officials and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, working closely to evaluate the ongoing impacts of the historic winter weather in the city and surrounding region to ensure a safe event may take place.
At Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR crews have worked around the clock to stay ahead of lingering snow and ice, including the removal of over 40 dump trucks’ worth of snow from the facility Saturday.
The work to maintain the racing surface will continue in the lead-up to Wednesday’s event. The pavement was almost completely dry before 3 p.m. ET Sunday, while Swilling estimated the football field was “70-80% there.” Once the track is best situated, the focus will shift to the site’s Cup Series garage area, with efforts already underway to remove snow and ice.
Most weather-impacted NASCAR events are due to lingering rain or standing water from storms. The unprecedented snowfall dealt to Winston-Salem has provided a unique circumstance as track teams best prepare the facility.
“It’s just the amount of water you’re moving, right, and the weight behind it and the mass behind it,” Swilling said. “And we’re not talking about just an inch of snow. We’re talking about eight to 12 inches of snow, depending on where you are at in the region. […] That’s a lot of snow, and that’s something that most NASCAR events don’t have to deal with. And again, a huge thanks to our operations team. They quickly informed leadership that like, ‘Hey, this is not like a rain-impacted race. This is much different, and we need to plan accordingly for such.’ And they’ve done a great job at that.”
Swilling emphasized the importance of having fans in attendance, especially at the historic quarter-mile at Bowman Gray known as “The Madhouse.”
“We explored all scenarios, but at the end of the day, we’re here for the fans,” Swilling said. “And we want to make sure that they’re a critical piece. Any time anybody’s come to ‘The Madhouse’ for an event, it’s just as much the fans as it is the competitors that makes it a show. So we explored all scenarios, but at the end of the day, we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time, wanted to give the community plenty of time as well to get over the most recent storms that we’ve had, and we felt that Wednesday was the safest time to have everybody ascend on Bowman Gray Stadium.”
Swilling also encouraged fans to dress warmly and appropriately for cold weather during Wednesday’s on-track action.
“Folks certainly need to come bundled up and warmed and dressed for the elements,” Swilling said. “We’ll certainly have some elements within our control that we can try to offer up to them if they seem to be struggling with cold weather. But I have a feeling that they’ll be quickly distracted when cars get on track and coldness won’t be a factor whatsoever. But if you are coming out, take a few layers with you.”
Parking lots will open on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. ET with off-site shuttle services beginning at noon. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.
Race fans unable to attend a winter-weather-impacted event day may choose to receive either a 120% credit equal to the value of their order or a 100% refund. More details and information are available for ticketholders at http://www.nascarclash.com/weather or by calling 855-525-7223.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The return of NASCAR Cup Series cars to the track from an extended offseason slumber will have to wait, this after winter weather that blanketed Bowman Gray Stadium forced a delay to the Cook Out Clash exhibition.
When the preseason event does get going, expect another wintry mix: anticipation and the unknown.
“I’m ready,” said Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell, who joined other Cup Series aces making the rounds at Friday’s Clash Preview fan fest. “Every time you get to this time of year, everybody’s anxious to get going. Certainly, we have a short break, but it feels really long whenever you get to the end of January and everybody’s anxious to get in the cars.”
With the NASCAR industry bracing to dig out from Saturday’s accumulated snow, the second running of The Clash on the historic quarter-mile track has been pushed back until Wednesday. The single-day show is set to culminate with a 6 p.m. ET main event on FOX, moved up two hours from its originally scheduled go time, and the preliminary on-track activity has been streamlined to accommodate the earlier start.
Practice and qualifying is still a go, set for a 1:30 p.m. ET Wednesday kickoff (FOX Sports App), but the four 25-lap heats that were scheduled to determine the 23-car field have been scrapped. Instead, qualifying will determine the top 20 starters, with two additional spots going to the first finishers in a 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier race (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX) and a final provisional berth to the top driver in 2025 Cup Series points who hasn’t otherwise locked into the field.
“Yeah, certainly it changes the format a little bit,” Bell said Friday, on the eve of the winter storm. “I read that we will not have heat races now, so probably makes qualifying a little bit more important, and it goes really fast. So we get two practice sessions and then you go right out for qualifying. You have to be really sharp on your changes that you make to your car, what you’re asking for, and the crew chief has to do their job to hit the qualifying balance right. So yeah, whenever you have that heat race, it adds essentially another practice session and if you qualify bad, you’re able to improve your starting position through those heat races. So it changes the format a little bit, but it’s the same for everybody, and everybody knows what the challenges will be.”
The other demand that teams will face is a new Goodyear tire combination, with left-side rubber that’s designed to promote wear making its debut. The new setup should bring tire management into greater focus, but there’s also uncertainty — not only about the tire, but in how it might react to racing in frigid weather conditions.
In theory, cooler track temperatures often equal more grip, but an extreme level of cold may alter that conventional wisdom.
“I mean, with the temperatures potentially below freezing, right, it’s definitely an unknown for us,” said Paul Wolfe, crew chief for Joey Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford. “I think we’d be kind of guessing a little bit if we really felt like we understood. It’s interesting, because we’ve seen these tires, this aggressive tire we’ve gotten to here over the last couple years with this car doesn’t always react like we’re expecting, so I think that’s what makes it even a bit more of an unknown. Typically, we’ve seen here lately, the acceleration of the wear go up with the colder temps, so I think that’s something to be mindful of. From the conversations I’ve had, I guess Goodyear feels from a durability standpoint, they feel fine with the cold temps, but like I said, it’s still an unknown because we’ve gone to different tracks, and it doesn’t turn out like what we’re expecting. So I think you know, just being fluid with it and being prepared to adapt is — from a racing standpoint, from my side — is all we can do.
“We know we push the limits from a durability standpoint with these cars, and I think being mindful of that with the colder temps, does that look different, and where we’re at on air pressures and those types of things is really what we’ll be thinking about when we see exactly when we’re going to get on track. Once everything kind of comes up to temperature, I’m sure the grip level may be down some amount, but I don’t really know. It’s hard to say.”
Wolfe said there’s some allure to facing the unknown, bringing that search for speed to a relatively new Cup Series venue under challenging conditions. Defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson noted that drivers may not have to adjust quite so radically to the weather, once engines finally fire and the in-car temps rise.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever competed when it’s that cold, but thankfully for us, we’re inside of a stock car, which is basically like a oven, so that’ll help,” Larson said Saturday, before the schedule pushed back to midweek. “I think, honestly, I think it’ll feel fine for us inside the car. I wouldn’t be surprised if you still break somewhat of a sweat in there, just because all the temps from internally and it’s not windy in there because we’re going so slow. But yeah, I just feel for the crews and mechanics and fans and NASCAR officials, everybody who’s there outside in the cold. We love the sport, and we’ll compete in any conditions, I think. I honestly just look forward to the challenge, and seeing kind of how the race plays out and seeing what teams can step up.”
The Cook Out Clash has been postponed to Monday at 6 p.m. ET (FOX) due to the lingering effects of winter weather in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, NASCAR announced Saturday.
Snow covered the Piedmont region of the state Saturday, creating difficult travel conditions throughout the area. The postponement comes out of an abundance of caution for race fans scheduled to visit Bowman Gray Stadium, the Winston-Salem community and the North Carolina region.
NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying are set for Monday at 11 a.m. ET with live coverage on FS2. The 20 fastest drivers in qualifying will advance to the main event. The remaining 18 drivers will fight for two transfer spots in the Last Chance Qualifier, which will run at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The top two finishers will advance to the main event, with a provisional spot reserved for the driver who finished highest in 2025 driver points that did not otherwise advance. Twenty-three drivers will take the starting grid for the Cook Out Clash, the 200-lap feature set for 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
The weekend schedule had already been altered by Thursday, when officials deemed the forecast too stark to permit any on-track activity on Saturday. Officials remain in close contact with the City of Winston-Salem as well as North Carolina officials to determine the impacts of the weather and ensure conditions permit hosting a safe event.
Justin Swilling, NASCAR’s senior director of marketing services and overseer of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, met with media members Saturday via teleconference from the track’s fieldhouse, explaining what led to Saturday’s postponement of Sunday’s events.
“The number one concern is always the safety of our competitors and our fans getting to and from the track,” Swilling said. “And in consulting with the North Carolina Department of Transportation this morning and the City of Winston-Salem, we didn’t feel that that a Sunday schedule was best suited anymore, just given what the storm had developed thus far this morning, which is the reason for our decision. And we wanted to do our best to try to keep people off the road and let them know sooner rather than later.”
Work had already begun to clear snow from the surface of both the track and the infield grass before noon on Saturday as snow continued to fall at Bowman Gray — all with a goal of expediting the process of creating a safe racing surface for what is now scheduled for Monday.
“We have a tremendous amount of equipment here,” Swilling said, “and we have already started to mobilize that to see how we can best clear the property as soon as the winter weather dissipates, hopefully later this afternoon or into the evening. And as soon as that happens, we are going to go to work. And we have an incredible staff here that’s helping to manage all the equipment and helping to prioritize what needs to be taken care of first versus second versus third. And I feel very confident in our game plan.”
NASCAR has been meeting daily with leaders from the 0.25-mile track, competition officials, and city officials since Jan. 26, following another winter storm that left Winston-Salem with icy conditions.
“I feel very confident telling you if you spoke with any city official, they would feel very good about how we’ve continued to communicate and align and collaborate as best we can,” Swilling said. “And I feel really good about the decisions we’ve made. And they’re supportive of us getting this event in in the best way, shape or form possible. I think one thing we always have to keep in mind too is we’ve just got a venue to look after, right? They’ve got an entire community, and a community that’s reeling still in some ways from this past weekend’s storm and the current storm that we’re facing here. So we always want to be very responsible and prudent.”
Because Bowman Gray Stadium sits in a more suburban area within Winston-Salem than most other tracks in their locales, the track team is more tightly confined to find appropriate lots of land to accommodate any necessary changes in cases of piled snow, ice or standing water.
“When you have storms roll up like this, it actually makes it more difficult than maybe other venues that we may visit,” Swilling said. “Primarily because if a parking lot here is snowed out or iced out or flooded or anything like that, at any other venue, we may just be able to shift efforts from one side of the property the other. Here, we don’t have that luxury, and we’ve got to get very, very creative, and we’ve really got to prioritize the real estate that we have in terms of the essential elements of the property. We always try to do that with the fan in mind. We always try to do that with the competitor and our broadcast partners in mind. But it certainly does make it more challenging, probably more challenging than any other other venue that I can think of.”
Parking lots for the Cook Out Clash will open Monday at 9 a.m. ET with off-site shuttle services beginning at 9:30 a.m. Gates will open at 10 a.m.
The NASCAR Cup Series is set to kick off the 2026 season in exhibition style, doing so at the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium in the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday (6 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
This year’s Clash will see 23 cars out of 38 entrants do battle at the quarter-mile facility. Drivers will be split into practice groups, with the final session acting as qualifying. The top 20 in speed will lock into the 200-lap feature. Unlike 2025, due to Saturday’s and Sunday’s cancelations of on-track activities, there will be no qualifying heats.
Drivers qualifying outside the top 20 will be placed in the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier, where the top two finishers advance to the main. The 23rd and final starting position will be awarded to the driver who finished highest in the 2025 driver points standings and did not already transfer into the main event.
In total, 38 cars will enter the weekend events. Corey LaJoie will substitute in the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford as Brad Keselowski recovers from a broken right femur. Bowman Gray legend Burt Myers is in the No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet for the second consecutive Clash, while Chad Finchum will drive the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford.
