Chase Elliott claimed victory at the unofficial kickoff event for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season Sunday night at Bowman Gray Stadium. Elliott showcased his dominance by initiating key moves in the race and pulling away from Ryan Branny during the final 20 laps. Out of the 23 starters, 12 finished on the lead lap, but Elliott led an impressive 171 of the 200 laps, including both the opening 97 and closing 75 laps.
Ryan Blaney delivered a strong performance compared to his previous outing but couldn’t overtake Elliott in the later stages. Denny Hamlin secured third place, having led 28 laps, while Tyler Reddick led briefly for a single lap, underscoring the dominance of Elliott and Chevrolet’s No. 9 team.
This preseason exhibition was held at the Winston Salem Quarter Mile Truck track for the first time, moving from the Los Angeles Coliseum where it had been for three years. Despite the track’s reputation for crashes, the main event saw relatively few incidents, with the last crash occurring on lap 120 after a relatively calm race.
The official start of the Cup Series season is set for February 16 with the Daytona 500, where 2020 champion Elliott is considered a favorite. Despite multiple appearances in the prestigious race, Elliott has yet to secure a win there.
Final results from the Clash at Bowman Gray:
1. Chase Elliott
2. Ryan Branny
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Joey Rogano
5. Baba Wallace
6. Ross Chastain
7. Austin Sindrick
8. Tyler Reddick
9. Shane van Gisbergen
10. Chris Busture
11. Ryan Place
12. Christopher Bell
13. Josh Berry
14. Todd Gilliland
15. Kyle Bush
16. But Carson
17. Kyle Larson
18. William Byron
19. Alex Bowman
20. Noah Grugson
21. Brad Keselowski
22. Daniel Suarez
23. Chase Brisco
Fan Take: This early-season exhibition win is a strong statement by Chase Elliott and sets the tone for what fans can expect in 2025—an intense battle among top drivers. Elliott’s performance and Chevrolet’s strength could signal a thrilling and competitive NASCAR season ahead, full of rivalries and high-stakes racing.
