Kyle Larson Masters the Madhouse, Tops Clash Qualifying at Bowman Gray
After a winter that felt twice as long as usual, capped off by a snowstorm that buried Bowman Gray Stadium and pushed the event to midweek, the engines finally returned to life in North Carolina. The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season officially shook off the frost Wednesday night, and when the noise settled, Kyle Larson stood alone at the top.
The anticipation in the garage was obvious, and the tension in the air felt more like a playoff race than a preseason exhibition. Drivers had been waiting weeks to shake off the rust, and Larson wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s the defending champion.
In a qualifying session where a blink cost a tenth, Larson muscled the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to the pole with a lap averaging 63.663 mph around the tight quarter‑mile. It wasn’t a runaway, but at Bowman Gray, “just enough” can be everything.
The margin between first and fifth was barely a whisper, and the slightest slip would have dropped Larson several rows deep. Instead, he delivered when it mattered most, putting himself in the best possible position for tonight’s main event.
Hendrick Motorsports Locks Out the Front Row
If Wednesday qualifying proved anything, it’s that Hendrick Motorsports didn’t lose a step over the winter. Larson grabbed the pole, but William Byron was right there with him, clocking in at 63.645 mph, a difference so small it barely registers on a stopwatch.
The two teammates looked locked in from the moment they unloaded, and their cars rotated through the corners with a level of stability most of the field couldn’t match. Starting 1‑2 at Bowman Gray is a massive advantage. Track position is everything here. Passing usually requires a bumper, a shove, and a willingness to make enemies.
With both Hendrick cars controlling the front row, they can dictate the pace and protect the inside line into Turn 1, the most valuable real estate on the property. If they manage the opening laps cleanly, they could control the entire race.
Toyota Brings the Heat
Chevrolet may have swept the front row during qualifying, but Toyota came ready for a fight. Joe Gibbs Racing stacked the top five with three entries, signaling they brought the right setups for the flat, abrasive surface. Their cars looked planted, aggressive, and confident, exactly what you need at a track that punishes hesitation.
- Ty Gibbs put the No. 54 Toyota third with a composed, mature lap that showed how quickly he’s growing into a weekly contender.
- Chase Briscoe slotted into fourth, showing immediate chemistry with his new JGR ride and proving he’s adapting quickly to the team’s style.
- Christopher Bell, fastest in practice earlier in the day, rounded out the top five and looked every bit as sharp as Larson in raw speed.
If Larson or Byron slips even slightly, those three Toyotas are close enough to capitalize and aggressive enough to take advantage.
Full Top‑20 Qualifying Results
These drivers are locked into the main event after qualifying.
- Kyle Larson — 63.663 mph
- William Byron — 63.645 mph
- Ty Gibbs — 63.628 mph
- Chase Briscoe — 63.615 mph
- Christopher Bell — 63.602 mph
- Ryan Blaney — 63.590 mph
- Joey Logano — 63.577 mph
- Ross Chastain — 63.566 mph
- Martin Truex Jr. — 63.553 mph
- Denny Hamlin — 63.540 mph
- Kyle Busch — 63.528 mph
- Chase Elliott — 63.517 mph
- Brad Keselowski — 63.505 mph
- Tyler Reddick — 63.494 mph
- Chris Buescher — 63.482 mph
- Daniel Suárez — 63.470 mph
- Michael McDowell — 63.459 mph
- Erik Jones — 63.447 mph
- Connor Zilisch (R) — 63.436 mph
- Austin Cindric — 63.425 mph
These twenty drivers are safe. Everyone else now has to fight through the LCQ or hope a provisional saves them.
Rookies and Veterans Fight to Make the Show
One of the standout performances during qualifying came from rookie Connor Zilisch, who put the No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet in 19th. That was enough to avoid the LCQ and earn a spot in the big show on merit alone. For a young driver making his first Clash appearance, that’s a statement.
He handled the pressure with the composure of someone who’s been here for years. On the other end, Alex Bowman missed the top 20 and now sits in a dangerous spot. He has a provisional to fall back on, but relying on it is never ideal.
One mistake in the LCQ could turn his night upside down, and Bowman knows better than most how quickly Bowman Gray can chew up a race car. Several other veterans, including Stenhouse, Allmendinger, and Dillon, will also have to claw their way in, adding even more intensity to an already cutthroat LCQ.
From Snow Shovels to Slick Tires
This race was supposed to run on Sunday. Instead, a historic snowfall buried the stadium and forced NASCAR to push everything to Wednesday. Drivers were literally shoveling snow off the track earlier in the week, and it was a surreal sight for a preseason event and a reminder of how unpredictable this sport can be.
The cold, green surface made qualifying unpredictable. Grip was inconsistent, and the track changed lap by lap. Christopher Bell topped practice at 63.411 mph, with Ryan Blaney close behind, but qualifying demanded perfection.
Larson found that extra sliver of speed when it mattered most, while others struggled to adapt to the rapidly evolving conditions. The combination of cold weather, a tight schedule, and a track that hadn’t seen rubber in days created a qualifying session unlike anything we’ve seen at the Clash.
What This Means for Tonight’s Race
Earning the qualifying pole at Bowman Gray is significantly more valuable than winning the pole at a superspeedway or a wide intermediate track. Here’s why this lineup matters. This is the kind of front‑loaded grid that can turn the opening laps into a chess match or a demolition derby, depending on who gets impatient first.
- Larson controls the inside line, the safest place on the track and the only lane that consistently works on restarts.
- He avoids the mid‑pack chaos, where fenders bend, tempers flare, and patience evaporates in seconds.
- Byron starting second gives Hendrick a chance to control the early pace and potentially work together to hold off the Toyotas.
- Three JGR Toyotas inside the top five means Larson won’t get a moment to breathe. They will be aggressive, coordinated, and ready to strike.
- The LCQ will be a war, and whoever survives it will start the main event with a damaged car and a short fuse.
Implications For 6:00 P.M.
The snow is gone. The track is clear. The grid is set after qualifying. Kyle Larson proved once again why he’s one of the most complete drivers in the sport, but one fast lap doesn’t guarantee a trophy. Tonight’s race will test every part of a driver’s skill set: patience, aggression, timing, and the ability to survive 150 laps on a track that punishes even the smallest mistake.
Bowman Gray has a way of turning even the calmest drivers into brawlers, and with the field stacked tightly from top to bottom, the intensity will be high from the moment the green flag waves. Larson may have the best seat in the house, but the drivers behind him are hungry, confident, and close enough to make his night miserable if he slips even once.
What’s Next
The Cook Out Clash is as much about survival as it is about speed. With tempers likely to flare after a long winter qualifying session, sending several frustrated drivers into the main event, tonight has all the ingredients for a classic Bowman Gray brawl.
The fans will be loud, the bumpers will be used, and the winner will earn every inch of track he gets. The green flag drops at 6 p.m. ET, and if qualifying was any indication, we’re in for a wild one.
