Three takeaways from NASCAR's Cook Out Clash

Here are three takeaways from NASCAR's Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium:

Elliott makes a statement with dominant showing

After winning the pole for Sunday night's exhibition race, Elliott held the top spot for most of the night, leading 171 laps. It is the first win in NASCAR's season-opening exhibition race for Elliott.

His burnout afterward was a fitting way to cap off his performance.

Aside from losing the lead to Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin prior to the halfway break, Elliott was able to stay in front throughout the night. Following a difficult three-year stretch at the Los Angeles Coliseum and only producing one win last season at Texas Motor Speedway, Sunday night was a great way to kick off the 2025 season for the 29-year-old.

Blaney's incredible drive ends one spot short

The weekend did not get off to a good start as soon as Blaney took to the track for practice on Saturday.

While Blaney posted the ninth-fastest time in practice, his heat race did not go smooth at all. Blaney spun in his heat race, which relegated him to the last-chance qualifier. Since he was guaranteed a spot in the 23-car field due to a better finish in points last season than the rest of the drivers in the LCQ, Blaney took the provisional and rolled off last in the main event.

It became clear about midway through the race how competitive Blaney's car was. After a rash of cautions continued to bunch the field up, Blaney positioned himself well and put some pressure on Elliott in the closing laps before settling for second.

He may have fallen one spot short, but Blaney's ability to overcome the adversity on Saturday and even be in contention for the win shows the resolve and determination of the 2023 Cup Series champion and why the rest of the field should already be put on notice.

The "Madhouse" somewhat lives up to its name

Although Elliott held Blaney at bay and there was no beating and banging for the win in the closing laps, Bowman Gray Stadium still managed to live up to its fitting nickname to a degree.

At a place where wrecks, fights and a rowdy fan base are to be expected, the Cup Series got to experience what Bowman Gray is all about on Sunday night.

The finish may have been anticlimactic. However, after the Clash appeared to have lost the excitement it had when it was first taken to the L.A. Coliseum, Sunday night at Bowman Gray was a return to NASCAR's roots at a place loaded with history. 

There were several bump-and-runs, cautions and the intensity certainly picked up after the midway break. The race just did not have that captivating finish in the end that most fans had hoped for.

While there is no guarantee the Clash will be back at Bowman Gray next year or somewhere else entirely, Sunday night's race was entertaining and should keep the track in the conversation for another Cup Series race.