First RFK Racing win since 2024
By Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
The Cookout at the Clash grilled snow burgers… literally. You have to give NASCAR credit for trying. Bowman Gray is an iconic racetrack that is at the heart of the sport and fans in this part of the country love the sport. A historic cold spell and several bushels of snow per square foot of race track is not the usual in North Carolina at the end of January. But then again, why race in North Carolina in the 30’s when Daytona is usually in the 70’s in the Florida winter just a week later? NASCAR will learn from this scheduling snafu and will correct this problem going forward. No professional sports organization is better at fixing problems fast from one weekly event to the next.
My opinion comes later in this story.
Drop the Green Flag
LAP 1-100
Bumping and grinding was the operative word, and 2025 defending champion Kyle Larson leads the first 67 laps of the race. Four drivers lead in total, including Chase Briscoe, and William Byron (14 laps each) and Ty Gibbs with four. Rain fellin the second half of laps 50-100. NASCAR goes to the slicks before running the second half of the laps 101-200.
LAP 101-200
Ty Gibbs leads the field after putting add slicks, but the field leaves the track as a wet track turned to standing water. With the cell leaving the Winston-Salem area, Gibbs leads the field to green but Briscoe takes the lead early. Josh Berry hits thewall on lap 120 to bring the 6th caution of the race. Briscoe leads less than a lap when turn four calamity takes out more machines. Carson Hocevar leads a four-wide charge and takes the lead on lap 125. Briscoe and Ty Gibbs are 2-3. Speeds are picking up and the outside line isthe quickest way around the racetrack. Three wide with SVG, Chase Elliott and William Byron put Ty Gibbs into the wall. By lap 143 finds SVG on top as Hocevar spins his tires, and the 97 is a master of car control. Ryan Preece takes over on lap 144 with yet another caution. This racing pattern continues. SVG takes the lead on 145 and Kyle Larsons Hendrick cars machine runs out of Sunoco Fuelon lap 153. Ryan Preece puts a power move on SVG on lap 157 and takes the lead. Wet tires, a cold track and a ever changing track made for an abundance of cautions.
The Checkered Flag goes to…
On wet-weather tires, on a track peppered with a wintry mix during the 100-lap break, Preece navigated the glazed asphalt at the historic quarter-mile track to win the second Cook Out. In all, Preece led 46 laps and gave RFK Racing its first win since the 2024 season.
Preece on the race
“No. I think that’s just 34 degrees. Honestly, there’s just a lot of passion behind me. Anybody who works with me knows I come across, I’m extremely focused to the point that sometimes it can look like arrogance.”
If you know me, I’m probably — if I have a lot of respect for you, I’m going to be one of the nicest people to you. For me, tonight starting 18th, like coming into this race it was going to be a big hill to climb.”
Tale of the Tape
In My Opinion
In my opinion, NASCAR needs to start the season where it is warm whether it’s at Daytona, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix or even Mexico. Run at Bowman Gray in April or later. The stands were empty, the vendors want business and racing whether is meant to be experienced in the warm weather. Taking your family of four to a show in the snow and being miserable is NOT racing weather. I would love to see all three series combine to race one series for an exhibition later in the season and give the teams an option to race or take the week off. Show off the sport. Please. No more announcing teams mentioning of ‘wintery mix” or an ‘abundance of caution.” North Carolina in the Winston-Salem area rarely gets 1-2″ of snow every couple of years. Snow plows are as rare as unicorns. This area is not prepared for this weather because they rarely need to be.
They Said It…
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 20th
“It was a good bit of fun. There were moments of brilliance and moments that weren’t. It was cool to get to the front. We were just trying to search for the grip. The wet weather conditions were very different than what I’ve raced in Supercars, just with the way the corners are and the way the rubber lays down. But then it started to come back up again and dry up. It was pretty wild.
But all-in-all, happy with our run and it’s a good way to start the season for this No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet team.”
Factoids that may only interest me
With top speeds reaching just over 62 mph, car control on a wet track was more important than the speed.
Of the 23 drivers earning starting spots in the race, constant cautions allowed all but one driver (Bubba Wallace)to finish on the lead lap.
Live Leaderboard
Bonus:RFK Racing Crew Chief Scott Graves
Fantasy NASCAR starts next week at Daytona
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