NASCAR Cook Out Clash preview: Favorite, underdog, top storylines

On Monday, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will race in a postponed Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (6 p.m. ET, Fox) to unofficially kick off the 2026 season. 

The quarter-mile track, affectionally dubbed "The Madhouse" for its inherently chaotic racing, will host a 200-lap exhibition event with 23 Cup Series drivers. 

Here's what you need to know before Cup Series cars hit the track for the first time in 2026.

Favorite: Ryan Blaney (+650, per FanDuel)

Blaney isn't the defending Clash winner, but he did put together the most impressive drive in the 2025 edition of the race. After starting last in the main event and using the points provisional to make the show, Blaney charged through the field, finishing just 1.3 seconds behind race winner Chase Elliott. 

Assuming Blaney makes the race and doesn't have to start in last, his penchant for long-run speed should come in handy as he looks to finish one spot better than he did a year ago. 

Underdog: Shane van Gisbergen (+10,000, per FanDuel)

It's slightly surprising that van Gisbergen is so far down on the odds sheet, given his impressive run at Bowman Gray a year ago. SVG finished ninth in 2025 Clash, and he's taken a liking to short tracks such as Bowman Gray that feature heavy braking and tight turns. 

The road course ace will only get better at oval tracks as he returns to them for a second time, so don't be surprised if van Gisbergen flirts with the top-five on Monday evening. 

Clash will be a one-day show

The Clash was already going to be a one-day event before it got postponed to Monday. Now, the workweek will start with a full day of NASCAR action. 

Practice and qualifying will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Monday (Fox Sports 2), while the last-chance qualifier will go green at 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox). The Clash itself is set to commence at 6 p.m. ET (Fox, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) to cap what will have been a long week for everyone in the NASCAR industry. 

What does Chase Elliott have for an encore? 

For a driver in Elliott and a No. 9 team that have struggled to find consistent winning pace in recent years, Monday's Clash could be a breath of fresh air. 

Elliott won two races and the Clash a season ago, but is still searching for the speed he had from 2020-22, when he made the Championship 4 in three consecutive seasons and won 12 races. 

A win on Monday would give Elliott some much-needed momentum as he chases a second title in 2026.