At Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wednesday night’s NASCAR preseason exhibition race, “The Clash,” faced delays due to rain, sleet, and snow, leading to intense driver battles and a rain tire causing a spinout. It was fitting that Ryan Preece, a Northeast short-track modified racer who had yet to win a Cup points race, emerged victorious in the grueling 2-hour and 20-minute event on the historic quarter-mile track.
“I’m a quarter-mile killer,” Preece remarked. “This style of racing is what I grew up with… It may not be a points race, but winning means everything. I’m just speechless.”
1. Preece’s Breakthrough Victory
Known for his emotional nature, Preece’s joy after the win was clear. Having competed in 223 Cup races with seven top-five finishes, he’s entering his second year with RFK Racing, holding his best shot yet at Cup success. Remarkably, after his win, Preece planned to celebrate by driving seven hours to Florida for short-track events at New Smyrna Speedway, just south of Daytona, before returning to Cup racing the following Wednesday. He owns and races both late models and modified cars with his family. Although he expected more time to reach New Smyrna, the original Sunday race was postponed due to a weekend snowstorm. “We’re celebrating at New Smyrna,” Preece said. “I race—that’s why I’m here. This win makes the seven-hour drive worthwhile. I’ll be there by 7 a.m.” As he dominated the final 45 laps, his team’s motto was clear: “We just crush it.”
2. Denny Hamlin’s Resilience
Hamlin battled hard to finish fifth, trailing Preece, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez. Throughout the race, he was involved in numerous cautions and made several directional adjustments. Given the recent turbulent months—losing the Cup title at Phoenix on the final lap, nearly winning an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR with his 23XI Racing team, and suffering his father’s tragic death and mother’s serious injuries in a house fire—Hamlin was looking for some normalcy behind the wheel. “It was a good preseason race,” Hamlin said. “But things will get more serious at Daytona; the stakes are higher in the Daytona 500 in 10 days.”
3. Fuel and Caution Controversy
Since caution laps didn’t count in the exhibition, after 17 cautions, NASCAR mandated all cars to pit for refueling when several drivers ran dry. However, Chase Briscoe’s team believed they had filled their tank adequately before the race. Briscoe, who led 35 laps and finished sixth, noted his crew chief James Small was unhappy with the situation. “I didn’t know everything, but James wasn’t thrilled,” Briscoe said. “It was frustrating because many teams made adjustments they shouldn’t have.” NASCAR also allowed William Byron, who ran out of fuel, to regain position and cause a caution so everyone could refuel. As an exhibition, this sparked debate but tensions are expected to ease.
4. Daniel Suarez’s Strong Showing
In his first race with Spire Motorsports after five years at Trackhouse Racing, Suarez delivered a solid performance. He was fiercely competitive, at times challenging his former teammates especially hard. “I compete with people as much as they compete with me,” Suarez stated. “If you show me love, I give love; if you give me hate, I give hate.”
4 ½. Looking Ahead
The Cup Series now moves to Daytona, but questions remain whether the Clash will continue at Bowman Gray Stadium. This historic venue, owned by Winston-Salem and also home to Winston-Salem State University football, has hosted the Clash for two years to revive NASCAR’s roots. Racing in February proved challenging as the area experienced a rare snowstorm dropping over eight inches on Saturday. The race faced freezing temperatures and even icy precipitation, forcing rain tire use in the latter half, and NASCAR called 13 cautions for spins and crashes. “You can’t judge the race or course fairly given these odd weather conditions,” 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney said. “By the first half, it was a good show. But racing in rain here was a disaster like anywhere else. Thanks to the fans who stayed through the cold in the aluminum stands.”
Fan Take:
Ryan Preece’s step up to victory lane is a thrilling moment, showcasing how talent from grassroots short tracks can rise to the Cup level, inspiring fans and drivers alike. This race also highlights NASCAR’s ongoing challenge of preserving tradition while managing extreme weather and modern complexities—a balancing act that will shape the sport’s future appeal.
