With the NASCAR Cookout Clash set for February 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, worries over safety and track conditions are escalating due to an impending winter storm. Snow and ice have already delayed support series events, and now Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club driver, Erik Jones, is warning about serious challenges caused by freezing temperatures, emphasizing that the cold weather could compromise both vehicle performance and driver safety.
Erik Jones Highlights Risks of Cold Weather Racing
Erik Jones, aged 29, spoke candidly with Eric Estepp about the additional obstacles a snow-affected and icy track presents, especially since NASCAR vehicles are not equipped with antifreeze systems. Jones stressed the difficulties of maintaining operational temperatures in extreme cold, explaining,
“Well, I mean, not even taking the snow into account, there’s a lot of challenges with the cold. Number one, right, our cars don’t run antifreeze, so it’s going to be hard…It’s going to be well below freezing all day long and into the night, so you’re going to be doing that a lot. As far as like heat and components, I don’t know. I mean, rear ends and hubs and everything, it’s extremely cold for a lot of those components. Brakes going from that cold to that hot that quick,”
Erik Jones, NASCAR driver
This forecast of temperatures not rising above 30°F during the day, with nighttime plunging below freezing, presents a serious hazard. Racing on such a slippery quarter-mile track will be exceptionally difficult, increasing the risks of sliding, loss of traction, and accidents.
Impact of Freezing Temperatures on Car Performance and Track Safety
Subfreezing weather not only makes the track more treacherous but also worsens the mechanical challenges for NASCAR cars. Tires designed for warm, dry surfaces find it nearly impossible to heat up and grip an icy track, causing frequent spins and unstable handling. Engines struggle to reach and keep optimal temperatures, while fluids thicken, braking systems react sluggishly, and suspension components become less reliable.
Jones acknowledged these uncertainties, adding,
“So, there’s a lot of unknowns honestly going into it. It’s going to be hard to get the cars going, get the tires up to temp on a track like Bowman Gray, be sliding around like crazy, firing off, and the track’s going to be pretty slick to get going. So, yeah, a lot of questions, but we’ll see what happens,”
Erik Jones, NASCAR driver
Despite these risks, NASCAR and city officials have been working quickly to prepare the stadium for the race. They installed electronic timing systems, repainted walls and infield areas, and aimed to complete work before the storm worsened, prioritizing the safety and mobility of onsite crews.
Erik Jones Advocates for Returning Clash Event to Daytona
The relocation of the NASCAR Clash from its long-standing home at Daytona International Speedway to Bowman Gray Stadium has stirred debate among drivers and fans. Since its inception in 1979, the Clash was synonymous with Daytona, only moving venues recently—first to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum track in 2022, then to Bowman Gray in 2025.
Erik Jones, the 2020 Clash winner, expressed his preference for the event’s traditional Daytona setting during a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview. Regarding the debate over the event’s current location, he remarked,
“To be honest, I know everybody kind of ragged on the Clash (at Daytona) and what it came and the wrecks, but I don’t understand what’s a whole lot different going to Bowman Gray. There’s a lot of beating and banging and wrecking there. I don’t think that’s a real argument for it. At the end of the day, it is what it is. But I would like it to be in Daytona,”
Erik Jones, NASCAR driver
The forecast for cold, wintry weather in Winston-Salem only underscores the appeal for many—including Jones and NASCAR fans—to see the exhibition race return to its warmer, more predictable home at Daytona Beach. However, NASCAR’s recent strategy embraces showcasing the sport in diverse venues to engage new audiences and honor different racing cultures, with Bowman Gray being a storied short track that offers unique challenges for drivers and excitement for spectators.
Preparations Continue Amid Uncertain Weather
Despite the anxiety surrounding ice and snow, NASCAR crews and city workers have expedited preparations, understanding that race day logistics hinge on the weather holding as much as possible. The winter storm forecast threatens to hinder these efforts and potentially impact track conditions significantly.
This tension between tradition, safety, and innovation—the push to shake up the schedule with new venues against the backdrop of severe weather—frames the stakes for the Clash at Bowman Gray. As Jimmie Johnson’s driver and others voice their concerns, the event’s outcome will likely influence future decisions on venue selection, especially when weather risks come into play.
With a passionate fanbase eagerly watching, and safety paramount, the next few days will be critical to ensuring the event proceeds without incident or delay, and for determining whether drastic changes might be necessary for subsequent seasons.
