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NASCAR Clash 2026 Postponed to Monday Amid Heavy Snow
The season-opening exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium will now be a one-day event due to winter weather conditions.
Jan. 31, 2026 at 11:55am
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NASCAR has postponed the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium to Monday, February 2, after heavy snow and bitter cold swept through central North Carolina. The delay gives crews time to clear snow and ice from the racing surface and surrounding areas. Under the revised schedule, practice and qualifying will begin at 11 a.m. ET on FS2, followed by the Last Chance Qualifier at 4:30 p.m. ET and the Clash main event at 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
Why it matters
NASCAR chose the historic Bowman Gray Stadium to highlight grassroots racing and reconnect the Cup Series with its short-track heritage, but winter weather quickly disrupted those plans. The postponement raises concerns about the impact of extreme weather on the start of the 2026 NASCAR season.
The details
Snow blanketed the quarter-mile track late Friday and continued into Saturday, while freezing temperatures created hazardous conditions for racing and travel. To protect drivers, teams, track workers, and fans, NASCAR canceled all on-track activity for the weekend. The delay gives crews time to clear snow and ice from the racing surface and surrounding areas.
- On Saturday, NASCAR announced the postponement as winter weather continued to impact the Winston-Salem area.
- The Cook Out Clash is now scheduled for Monday, February 2, with practice and qualifying beginning at 11 a.m. ET on FS2, followed by the Last Chance Qualifier at 4:30 p.m. ET and the Clash main event at 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
The players
NASCAR
The sanctioning body that oversees professional stock car racing in the United States.
Bowman Gray Stadium
A historic quarter-mile short track located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that has hosted NASCAR events since 1949.
Ben Kennedy
NASCAR's senior vice president of racing development and strategy, who stated that safety was the driving factor behind the postponement.
What they’re saying
“Due to the impacts of winter weather near Bowman Gray Stadium, the Cook Out Clash has been postponed to Monday, February 2.”
— NASCAR
“Nothing matters more than the safety of our fans, even when the weather doesn't cooperate. We were ready to fight the weather and appreciate the collaboration with Winston-Salem and NC officials to make the best decision. Our operations team is hard at work for a Monday race.”
— Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy
What’s next
NASCAR and local officials will continue to monitor the weather through Sunday. If crews clear the track and temperatures rise, the Clash will proceed Monday evening.
The takeaway
The postponement of the NASCAR Clash 2026 at Bowman Gray Stadium due to heavy snow and extreme cold highlights the challenges that extreme weather can pose to the start of the racing season, and the importance of prioritizing the safety of drivers, teams, and fans when faced with such conditions.
