Josh Berry secured his entry into Wednesday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium by winning the NASCAR Cup Series Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) event. The race took place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and featured drivers competing for the final spots in the upcoming season-opening exhibition. Berry’s triumph marked his second consecutive year advancing via the LCQ, driving the No. 21 Ford.
Austin Cindric also earned his place in the main event by holding off AJ Allmendinger’s late challenge despite a collision on the final lap. Cindric’s qualification marks his third career appearance in the Cook Out Clash, all at the historic quarter-mile flat track. Berry dominated most of the race, leading 29 of the first 40 laps, showcasing strong control throughout.
Details of the Last Chance Qualifier and Main Event Lineup
The top two finishers of the LCQ, in addition to Alex Bowman—the highest points finisher from last season—secured their spots for the Cook Out Clash, which had been postponed due to snow. The 200-lap exhibition race is planned to start at 6 p.m. ET.
Kyle Larson, the defending champion of the circuit, earned the pole position after clocking the fastest practice lap at 63.663 mph. Last year, Larson had to qualify through the intense 75-lap LCQ, a pressure-filled experience he acknowledged in remarks to Fox Sports.
“It’ll be fun to be a fan and actually watch it,”
Larson said. “That’s a real stressful race. At least it was for me last year.”
“I was not expecting to get the pole. Good to be back in a stock car here.”
Complete Rankings from the Last Chance Qualifier Race
The official results from Wednesday’s Last Chance Qualifier race at Bowman Gray Stadium are as follows:
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- Corey LaJoie, No. 6 Ford
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet
- Chad Finchum, No. 66 Ford
- Burt Myers, No. 50 Chevrolet
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
Anticipation Builds for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
The Last Chance Qualifier race set the stage for an exciting Cook Out Clash event, one of NASCAR’s notable early-season exhibitions. With Kyle Larson starting on pole and competitors like Josh Berry and Austin Cindric advancing through the LCQ, the field promises a competitive race at the quarter-mile flat track in Winston-Salem.
The event is closely watched by fans and participants alike, given the intense battles for transfer spots and the prestige attached to the Bowman Gray Stadium race. Drivers’ performances here often set the tone for the NASCAR Cup Series season ahead.
https://twitter.com/nascarclash/status/2019173446983328242
https://twitter.com/nascarclash/status/2019146503063826691
