Kyle Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, earned the pole position for the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium by posting a fastest qualifying speed of 63.663 mph. Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson will start at the front when the event goes green at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Top Qualifiers and Notable Competitors
William Byron, also racing for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 24 Chevrolet, closely followed Larson with a qualifying speed of 63.645 mph. Joining them among the top five starters were Ty Gibbs in the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Briscoe in the No. 19 JGR Toyota, and Christopher Bell in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Rookie Connor Zilisch secured his spot in the main event driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, qualifying 19th. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman, currently holding the points provisional in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, still has the opportunity to earn his place through the Last Chance Qualifier.
Qualifying Format and Practice Overview
The main event’s field consists of the top 20 cars from qualifying, with the remaining spots to be decided in the Last Chance Qualifier scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET. The qualifier will also be broadcast across FOX, HBO Max, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Before qualifying, Christopher Bell recorded the fastest lap during combined practice sessions, reaching 63.411 mph, with Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney close behind at 63.295 mph. These sessions marked the first official on-track activities since the 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Impact of Weather and Community Efforts
Originally planned for February 1, the race was postponed due to a historic snowfall in North Carolina. Crews and drivers contributed to snow removal efforts at Bowman Gray, helping prepare the track for the upcoming event. This collaboration highlighted the resilience of the NASCAR community amid challenging conditions.
