NASCAR’s Cook Out Clash pushed back to Wednesday

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem has been pushed back to Wednesday. It was originally scheduled for Sunday, then pushed back to Monday before being postponed again due to snow. 

“We felt that this was the right call on the right move, and we feel very confident in our ability to execute this event,” said Justin Swilling, project lead for the NASCAR Cook Out Clash.

The Cook Out Clash is being pushed back once more. NASCAR made a collaborative decision with the City of Winston-Salem, N.C. Department of Transportation and other community stakeholders to move the race to Wednesday due to safety and cleanup efforts.

On Sunday, crews spent the day cleaning up snow on the track, the stands and areas around the stadium after a winter storm dropped several inches of snow Saturday.  

“The condition of the facility now is continually improving while the temperatures remain below freezing,” Swilling said. “The sunlight has helped us tremendously.

Over 40 truck loads of snow and ice have since been removed from the property. Officials say, fortunately, a lot of ticket buyers for the nearly sold out event live nearby.

“Whoever shows up at Bowman Gray Stadium, we’re ready to find a seat for them and put on one heck of a show,” Swilling said.

“We got really lucky last year with the weather,” said Burt Myers, who will race in the No. 50, Team AmeriVet, Chevrolet. “I kept saying this time of year, we can handle the cold if we can just dodge the snow and the ice, and it bit us this year.”

Myers is one of the dozens of drivers waiting to compete in the Clash. Myers along with his family have made a name for themselves racing in the modified summer series at the historic track, where he’s won numerous titles. Myers is looking forward to another chance competing for a victory at the place known as “The Madhouse.”

“Typically we’re used to just getting ready for racing season [this time of the year],” Myers said. “To throw a race in, it gives us a chance to kick start a little early and it’s a Cup car, so who wouldn’t be excited about that, right?”

Parking lots are set to open at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Off-site shuttles will start running at noon with gates opening at 12:30 p.m.

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