NASCAR 'explored all scenarios' before moving Clash to Wednesday

NASCAR on Sunday made the decision to postpone the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium from its rescheduled Monday date to Wednesday after a major winter storm hit North Carolina this weekend. 

On Saturday, NASCAR announced that the race would be postponed to Monday due to the winter weather, but with travel conditions iffy across the Tar Heel state, the sanctioning body ultimately made the decision to push the event back. 

"After seeking additional perspective and guidance from the state of North Carolina following the past two weekends of historic and unprecedented winter weather for this area, we collectively came to the decision that it was best to go ahead and postpone the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium to Wednesday, February 4," NASCAR's Justin Swilling said on Sunday via NASCAR media. 

Swilling noted that the decision was made with "an abundance of caution" for competitors and fans in regard to travel.

NASCAR considered all options before announcement

The one-day show NASCAR will host at Bowman Gray on Wednesday will harken back to the COVID-era when teams simply showed up, unloaded their haulers and raced.

Another aspect of NASCAR racing during COVID was the absence of fans in the stands. Swilling was asked on Sunday if NASCAR considered racing at Bowman Gray on Monday or Tuesday without fans in attendance. 

"We explored all scenarios, but at the end of the day, we're here for the fans," Swilling said. "Anytime anyone's come to 'The Madhouse' for an event, you know that it's just as much the fans as it is the competitors that make it a show."

The fans that are able to make it to Winston-Salem on Wednesday will be treated to a full day of Cup Series activity, beginning with practice and qualifying at 11 a.m. ET, the last-chance qualifier at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the 200-lap Clash at 6 p.m. ET.

Coverage of Wednesday's race will be provided by Fox, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.