Watch: Drivers crash in final Cook Out Clash heat race

NASCAR Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Watch: Multiple drivers crash in final Cook Out Clash heat race

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Feb 1, 2025 9:49 PM ET

Before Sunday's main event even started, Bowman Gray Stadium proved why it's earned the nickname of "The Madhouse."

After a series of chaotic events in the first heat race of the evening, Cole Custer, A.J. Allmendinger, John Hunter Nemechek and Ryan Preece found themselves at the center of calamity in the fourth and final heat race of the night.

"Drove him straight in the fence." pic.twitter.com/tUuJREoNNU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 2, 2025

After Custer and Allmendinger exchanged pleasantries, Allmendinger decided he'd had enough of Custer's aggressive driving. Allmendinger gave Custer no room on the exit of Turn 4, which forced Custer's Ford to hit the wall hard, subsequently turning Allmendinger's Chevrolet into the wall as well.

Both cars, while severely damaged, were able to continue.

A few short laps later, Nemechek found himself to be a victim of Bowman Gray shenanigans. Ryan Preece dove into Turn 3 vigorously, hitting the rear end of Nemechek's Toyota and turning the No. 42 around. Nemechek hit the turn three wall hard, which forced him to pull off the track temporarily in order for his crew to make repairs.

Just Bowman Gray things. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/5oaOpB94kp
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 2, 2025

Nemechek was also able to continue the race, albeit with a wounded car.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

More must-reads: