Chase Elliott Tops in Bowman-Gray Practice-Qualifying Sessions

Chase Elliott set the top time in the final session at Bowman-Gray Stadium

(WINSTON-SALEM, NC – FEB 1, 2025 – RIS) Chase Elliott waited until the final session of practice to set the quickest time of the final round in practice for the season-opening Cook Out Clash at Bowman-Gray Stadium (the Madhouse) on the quarter-mile flat oval surrounding the Winston-Salem State University football field.

NASCAR returned to Bowman Gray Coliseum for the first Cup Series event there since Bobby Allison’s win in August of 1971. Of the 29 races held, Rex White captured six, with Richard Petty, Glen Wood and Junior Johnson all winning four times. 

Practice began with Ty Gibbs setting the quickest time in the first eight-minute session at 14.019 seconds, followed by Modifieds star Ryan Preece, Ty Dillon, Kyle Larson and Riley Herbst the rest of the top five. Carson Hocevar pitted after 12 laps. Hocevar returned to the track after his window net got reattached. The first practice group ended with Gibbs setting 34 lap times, along with Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman and William Byron.

Austin Cindric headed the second group’s times, at 14.228 seconds, ahead of Ryan Blaney and John Hunter Nemechek with Justin Haley a thin hundredth of a second behind Nemechek’s best time.

The third group had Chase Elliott at the top of the table briefly, but Joey Logano took the top position briefly, with Elliott Moving up to twelfth overall with his lap of 14.235 seconds. Chase Briscoe grabbed the thirteenth spot at 14.251 seconds

Group One’s second session saw everyone slower than their first eight-minute attempt on the track. 

Group B’s second session saw Austin Cindric leap to tenth overall at 14.228, with Shane Van Gisbergen next, but only 27th in the overall standings.

Qualifying (timed practice according to NASCAR) sessions for tonight’s heat races were only four minutes, with the groups halved to allow cleaner run. Ty Dillon had brake lockups, with Carson Hocevar leading the group at 14.274 seconds and 63.052 mph followed by Ryan Preece and Noah Gragson with Preece 13 thousandths back and Gragson another five thousandth back.

The next group on the track had William Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman leading onto the track with their Hendrick team cars. Byron moved to the top of the sheet, with Bowman displacing him almost immediately. Bubba Wallace’s third lap beat out Byron, then Byron bumped Wallace back to third place before moving to the top of the field on his seventh lap with a time of 14.226 seconds and 63.2264 mph. 

Group Two’s first half went out with Kyle Busch in front of the group with Cole Custer and Todd Gilliland at the top before Custer set the third-best time of the evening, then Haley moved to second behind Byron. Burt Myers’ car has not been quick all evening and Gilliland actually bumped him out of the way. 

The second half of Group Two saw the Joe Gibbs pair of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell occupying the top of the chart until Chris Buescher leaped to the top of the scoreboard, setting a lap of 14.146 seconds at 63.622 mph with Ryan Blaney fourth and Shane Van Gisbergen fifth, knocking Byron all the way back to fifth in just a couple of minutes.

AJ Allmendinger and Ricky Stenhouse led the next group briefly, until Zane Smith broke into the top ten with his 14.245-second lap setting the ninth-quickest time so far. Ross Chastain set the twelfth-quick time, just three thousandths behind Smith.

The final group to qualify for the heat races saw Joey Logano, then Elliott, then Keselowski jump into the top group before Chase Elliott fired off a lap of 14.115 seconds to move to the top of the sheet, with Reddick fourth, Keselowski fifth, Chase Briscoe sixth and Logano seventh. This session set the starting positions for the heat races later this evening.

Practice: Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray, Bowman Gray Stadium
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, On Lap, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 14.019 sec, 64.199 mph, 7, 72, ---, ---
2) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Fastenal Ford, 14.133, 63.681, 7, 45, -0.114 sec, -0.114 sec
3) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet, 14.172, 63.506, 7, 67, -0.153, -0.039
4) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 14.173, 63.501, 6, 64, -0.154, -0.001
5) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota, 14.173, 63.501, 7, 68, -0.154, -0.000
6) Noah Gragson, No. 4 TrueTimber Ford, 14.175, 63.492, 6, 69, -0.156, -0.002
7) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Leidos Toyota, 14.180, 63.470, 5, 71, -0.161, -0.005
8) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 14.220, 63.291, 9, 72, -0.201, -0.040
9) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 14.221, 63.287, 7, 69, -0.202, -0.001
10) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 14.228, 63.256, 11, 73, -0.209, -0.007
11) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty Univeristy Chevrolet, 14.232, 63.238, 6, 73, -0.213, -0.004
12) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 14.235, 63.224, 13, 76, -0.216, -0.003
13) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 14.251, 63.154, 11, 76, -0.232, -0.016
14) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 14.252, 63.149, 16, 69, -0.233, -0.001
15) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet, 14.256, 63.131, 4, 59, -0.237, -0.004
16) John H. Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 14.262, 63.105, 12, 75, -0.243, -0.006
17) Justin Haley, No. 7 The Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet, 14.272, 63.061, 9, 65, -0.253, -0.010
18) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Long John Silver's Ford, 14.275, 63.047, 15, 64, -0.256, -0.003
19) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 14.280, 63.025, 12, 77, -0.261, -0.005
20) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 14.300, 62.937, 1, 39, -0.281, -0.020
21) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 14.304, 62.920, 16, 52, -0.285, -0.004
22) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 14.306, 62.911, 15, 63, -0.287, -0.002
23) Kyle Busch, No. 8 zone Chevrolet, 14.313, 62.880, 13, 74, -0.294, -0.007
24) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 14.319, 62.854, 15, 76, -0.300, -0.006
25) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet, 14.321, 62.845, 11, 53, -0.302, -0.002
26) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 14.329, 62.810, 12, 75, -0.310, -0.008
27) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 14.341, 62.757, 5, 62, -0.322, -0.012
28) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 14.341, 62.757, 14, 76, -0.322, -0.000
29) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 14.345, 62.740, 10, 64, -0.326, -0.004
30) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top Ford, 14.352, 62.709, 8, 60, -0.333, -0.007
31) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 14.373, 62.617, 12, 53, -0.354, -0.021
32) Erik Jones, No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, 14.395, 62.522, 11, 73, -0.376, -0.022
33) Zane Smith, No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford, 14.395, 62.522, 11, 76, -0.376, -0.000
34) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Workforce Chevrolet, 14.396, 62.517, 12, 68, -0.377, -0.001
35) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 14.411, 62.452, 11, 76, -0.392, -0.015
36) Tim Brown*, No. 15 Dairi-O/Jerry Hunt/Hayes Ford, 14.413, 62.444, 4, 69, -0.394, -0.002
37) Cody Ware, No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker/Red Cross Ford, 14.517, 61.996, 12, 64, -0.498, -0.104
38) Burt Myers*, No. 50 Citrusafe Cleaners Chevrolet, 14.737, 61.071, 12, 70, -0.718, -0.220
39) Garrett Smithley*(i), No. 66 Veterans Ranch Ford, 14.756, 60.992, 8, 46, -0.737, -0.019
(*) Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 3, 12, 63.384
2) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 4, 13, 63.229
3) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Leidos Toyota, 3, 12, 63.044
4) Noah Gragson, No. 4 TrueTimber Ford, 5, 14, 62.942
5) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 11, 20, 62.931
6) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 11, 20, 62.850
7) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 9, 18, 62.812
8) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota, 2, 11, 62.803
9) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty Univeristy Chevrolet, 5, 14, 62.777
10) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 11, 20, 62.762
11) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 8, 17, 62.699
12) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Long John Silver's Ford, 9, 18, 62.657
13) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 3, 12, 62.642
14) Kyle Busch, No. 8 zone Chevrolet, 7, 16, 62.638
15) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 9, 18, 62.579
16) Justin Haley, No. 7 The Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet, 8, 17, 62.548
17) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Fastenal Ford, 6, 15, 62.546
18) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet, 2, 11, 62.533
19) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 15, 24, 62.484
20) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 6, 15, 62.441
21) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet, 9, 18, 62.434
22) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet, 4, 13, 62.387
23) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 13, 22, 62.361
24) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 8, 17, 62.355
25) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 10, 19, 62.351
26) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 10, 19, 62.350
27) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 9, 18, 62.268
28) Erik Jones, No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, 7, 16, 62.251
29) Zane Smith, No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford, 10, 19, 62.116
30) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Workforce Chevrolet, 8, 17, 62.093
31) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 9, 18, 62.088
32) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top Ford, 7, 16, 62.073
33) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 9, 18, 61.998
34) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 2, 11, 61.667
35) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 9, 18, 61.415
36) Cody Ware, No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker/Red Cross Ford, 8, 17, 61.393
37) Tim Brown*, No. 15 Dairi-O/Jerry Hunt/Hayes Ford, 2, 11, 61.042
38) Burt Myers*, No. 50 Citrusafe Cleaners Chevrolet, 49, 58, 60.038
39) Garrett Smithley*(i), No. 66 Veterans Ranch Ford, 6, 15, 59.893
Must run 10 consecutive laps.

Final Practice Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 14.115 sec, 63.762 mph, 10, 18, ---, ---
2) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top Ford, 14.146, 63.622, 10, 17, -0.031 sec, -0.031 sec
3) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 14.151, 63.600, 9, 18, -0.036, -0.005
4) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 14.163, 63.546, 9, 15, -0.048, -0.012
5) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 14.170, 63.515, 10, 12, -0.055, -0.007
6) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 14.173, 63.501, 13, 20, -0.058, -0.003
7) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 14.194, 63.407, 12, 15, -0.079, -0.021
8) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 14.194, 63.407, 11, 18, -0.079, -0.000
9) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 14.215, 63.313, 9, 17, -0.100, -0.021
10) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 14.217, 63.305, 11, 14, -0.102, -0.002
11) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 14.226, 63.264, 14, 17, -0.111, -0.009
12) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 14.232, 63.238, 8, 14, -0.117, -0.006
13) Justin Haley, No. 7 The Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet, 14.236, 63.220, 11, 17, -0.121, -0.004
14) Zane Smith, No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford, 14.245, 63.180, 12, 20, -0.130, -0.009
15) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 14.246, 63.176, 8, 17, -0.131, -0.001
16) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 14.247, 63.171, 10, 14, -0.132, -0.001
17) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 14.248, 63.167, 13, 20, -0.133, -0.001
18) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Leidos Toyota, 14.261, 63.109, 8, 16, -0.146, -0.013
19) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 14.274, 63.052, 5, 17, -0.159, -0.013
20) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Long John Silver's Ford, 14.281, 63.021, 12, 17, -0.166, -0.007
21) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 14.283, 63.012, 11, 16, -0.168, -0.002
22) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 14.285, 63.003, 11, 17, -0.170, -0.002
23) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Fastenal Ford, 14.287, 62.994, 4, 16, -0.172, -0.002
24) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 14.287, 62.994, 9, 14, -0.172, -0.000
25) Noah Gragson, No. 4 TrueTimber Ford, 14.292, 62.972, 5, 15, -0.177, -0.005
26) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 14.294, 62.964, 8, 20, -0.179, -0.002
27) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet, 14.318, 62.858, 9, 19, -0.203, -0.024
28) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 14.318, 62.858, 11, 20, -0.203, -0.000
29) Kyle Busch, No. 8 zone Chevrolet, 14.319, 62.854, 10, 16, -0.204, -0.001
30) Erik Jones, No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, 14.335, 62.783, 11, 20, -0.220, -0.016
31) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota, 14.338, 62.770, 6, 17, -0.223, -0.003
32) John H. Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 14.362, 62.665, 9, 19, -0.247, -0.024
33) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet, 14.382, 62.578, 3, 16, -0.267, -0.020
34) Cody Ware, No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker/Red Cross Ford, 14.401, 62.496, 12, 20, -0.286, -0.019
35) Tim Brown, No. *15 Dairi-O/Jerry Hunt/Hayes Ford, 14.446, 62.301, 4, 16, -0.331, -0.045
36) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Workforce Chevrolet, 14.468, 62.206, 10, 19, -0.353, -0.022
37) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet, 14.593, 61.673, 3, 16, -0.478, -0.125
38) Garrett Smithley(i), No. *66 Veterans Ranch Ford, 14.602, 61.635, 10, 19, -0.487, -0.009
39) Burt Myers, No. *50 Citrusafe Cleaners Chevrolet, 14.604, 61.627, 8, 19, -0.489, -0.002
* Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed, , , , 
1) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 6, 15, 63.180, , , , 
2) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 7, 16, 63.095, , , , 
3) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 6, 15, 63.087, , , , 
4) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 6, 15, 63.023, , , , 
5) William Byron, No. 24 Liberty Univeristy Chevrolet, 7, 16, 62.967, , , , 
6) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 7, 16, 62.781, , , , 
7) Zane Smith, No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford, 9, 18, 62.684, , , , 
8) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 7, 16, 62.599, , , , 
9) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, 5, 14, 62.576, , , , 
10) Justin Haley, No. 7 The Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet, 7, 16, 62.517, , , , 
11) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota, 3, 12, 62.303, , , , 
12) Noah Gragson, No. 4 TrueTimber Ford, 3, 12, 62.288, , , , 
13) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Long John Silver's Ford, 7, 16, 62.274, , , , 
14) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Kroger/Tree Top Ford, 8, 17, 62.199, , , , 
15) Kyle Busch, No. 8 zone Chevrolet, 7, 16, 62.135, , , , 
16) Erik Jones, No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota, 7, 16, 62.098, , , , 
17) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet, 2, 11, 61.964, , , , 
18) Cody Ware, No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker/Red Cross Ford, 10, 19, 61.916, , , , 
19) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 6, 15, 61.847, , , , 
20) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet, 2, 11, 61.720, , , , 
21) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet, 7, 16, 61.702, , , , 
22) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Workforce Chevrolet, 7, 16, 61.617, , , , 
23) Josh Berry, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 6, 15, 61.570, , , , 
24) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Fastenal Ford, 2, 11, 61.508, , , , 
25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SUNNYD Chevrolet, 8, 17, 61.467, , , , 
26) Tim Brown*, No. *15 Dairi-O/Jerry Hunt/Hayes Ford, 3, 12, 61.451, , , , 
27) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 7, 16, 61.221, , , , 
28) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Leidos Toyota, 6, 15, 60.980, , , , 
29) Garrett Smithley*(i), No. *66 Veterans Ranch Ford, 8, 17, 60.976, , , , 
30) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 5, 14, 60.915, , , , 
31) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet, 2, 11, 60.906, , , , 
32) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 5, 14, 60.766, , , , 
33) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 5, 14, 60.463, , , , 
34) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, 6, 15, 60.407, , , , 
35) Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 5, 14, 60.375, , , , 
36) Burt Myers*, No. *50 Citrusafe Cleaners Chevrolet, 6, 15, 60.115, , , , 
37) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 7, 16, 59.467, , , , 
38) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 7, 16, 57.626, , , , 
39) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, 3, 12, 57.281, , , , 
Must run 10 consecutive laps

 

John Davison

Long-time RIS staffer, beginning in the mid-80s. Charlotte, NC area local contact.

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Volume 2025, Issue 2, Posted 9:01 PM, 02.01.2025