Ryan Preece etched his name into NASCAR history on Wednesday night, winning the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and becoming just the third driver—joining Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin—to win the Clash before ever claiming a NASCAR Cup Series points victory.
Originally scheduled for Sunday night, the non-points exhibition event was postponed twice due to record snowfall in the region, ultimately landing under the lights on Wednesday.
While the delay wasn’t unexpected, the conditions that followed created one of the most unpredictable and entertaining Clash races in recent memory.
Persistent wet conditions plagued the racing surface throughout the night, forcing teams and drivers to adapt on the fly.
The opening portion of the race followed a familiar script, with proven stars like Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Briscoe controlling the pace—exactly the names expected to see up front in a short-track showdown.
Everything changed after the halfway break.
As rain and sleet continued to impact the track, teams bolted on wet weather tires, instantly scrambling the running order and turning the race on its head.
With grip at a premium and visibility constantly changing, a new cast of contenders emerged. Drivers with dirt, short-track, and road racing backgrounds began to shine, including Carson Hocevar, Ryan Preece, and wet-weather specialists Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch.
What followed was absolute chaos.
The race struggled to find a rhythm once wet conditions took over. Incident after incident unfolded behind the leaders, bringing out caution after caution.
By the time the checkered flag flew, the event had seen a record-breaking 17 cautions, the most in Cook Out Clash history.
Through the mayhem, Preece remained composed.
Driving for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Preece methodically worked his way to the front, mastering the slippery conditions while others faltered.
“I’m just very emotional,” Preece chirped. “I thought I’d be back in Connecticut.”
When it mattered most, he took control of the race and never looked back, crossing the line to secure his first victory in a NASCAR Cup Series car.
It may not count toward the championship standings, but the statement was loud and clear.
On a cold, wet, Wednesday night at one of NASCAR’s most iconic short tracks, Ryan Preece proved he belongs and put the rest of the garage on notice heading into the 2026 season.
