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Bowman Gray Stadium, NC – The unforgiving confines of Bowman Gray Stadium’s quarter-mile oval proved to be the ultimate proving ground for drivers vying for a spot in the prestigious Cookout Clash, with Josh Berry and Austin Cindric emerging victorious from a chaotic and fiercely contested Last-Chance Qualifier (LCQ). A field of 18 determined competitors battled for the two coveted transfer positions, with Alex Bowman securing the third available slot via the series points provisional.
Bowman, the highest-ranked driver in the 2025 championship standings not yet locked into the main event, opted to utilize his provisional, a strategic decision that placed his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at the tail end of the LCQ grid. This move allowed him to preserve his equipment and avoid the inherent risks of a high-stakes qualifying race.
Josh Berry, piloting the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, demonstrated a masterclass in short-track racing, crossing the finish line first to secure his second consecutive berth in the Clash via the LCQ. "I definitely think it’s going to look a little bit different than last year," Berry commented to Motorsport.com, reflecting on the challenging track conditions. "Obviously, the colder temperatures are making it pretty sketchy on the restarts, just getting to temperature, and it just feels like the pace car is going 15 miles per hour. It felt like the tires are falling off more too. So I think you’re gonna have to be mindful keeping the rear tires under you and staying out of trouble as always." Berry’s consistent performance in crucial moments has become a hallmark of his recent Cup Series endeavors.
Joining Berry in the main event will be fellow Ford driver Austin Cindric, who engaged in a dramatic and physically demanding duel for the runner-up position. Cindric, in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford, navigated a multi-car battle that evolved into a "bumper cars" scenario, ultimately outlasting Corey LaJoie and AJ Allmendinger. "That was about as fair as I think that could have gotten for an LCQ," Cindric stated. "I appreciate Corey racing hard, and obviously, we advanced in, but long road ahead starting last with some scuffs for the final here." Cindric further elaborated on the unique challenges of the track and the increased horsepower, noting, "I don’t think I got full throttle for the entire race there, except for when emotions got high. Pretty interesting to try and manage. Hopefully, we didn’t get too much damage there, and we’ll try to have a good final."
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The starting grid for the main event will see Berry positioned 21st, Cindric 22nd, and Bowman 23rd. Pole position for the Clash was secured by Kyle Larson, who set the fastest lap in qualifying, edging out Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron.
Corey LaJoie, whose No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet was a prominent contender in the battle for second, expressed his frustration but maintained a sportsmanlike demeanor. "I’m pissed off but not at Austin," LaJoie said. "I think everything out there was fair and above board for where we’re at Bowman Gray Stadium. I just wish I could have held him on the outside and been in the position he had me in. I just hadn’t been in a Cup car at a short track on this tire, with this horsepower, so to jump into the deep end and against these guys, they are the best at driving Stock Cars." LaJoie’s candid assessment highlighted the steep learning curve associated with the current Cup Series machinery on tight circuits.
The intense competition also involved AJ Allmendinger, a seasoned veteran known for his prowess on road courses and his adaptability to oval racing. LaJoie acknowledged Allmendinger’s presence, stating, "You know (Allmendinger) is waiting and just biding his time. His stuff is starting to give up and get tight. So, I didn’t know how close he was because I was stuck on the wrong side of that." Allmendinger’s ability to remain a factor throughout the latter stages of the race underscored his experience and racecraft.
A notable incident at the outset of the LCQ involved Michael McDowell, who was penalized for a perceived jump start. McDowell, driving the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford, had led the initial six laps before being flagged. He contested the call, asserting that Berry, the polesitter, had initiated the launch first but spun his tires. "The 21 (Berry) spun his tires," McDowell stated. "He launched in first gear. I launched in second, so he went first, but he spun his tires and so I was ahead obviously that that part was fairly clear at the start-finish line. I was ahead of him, but he launched first. He just spun his tires, so, I mean, they are going to undo it. It’s over now. I knew the start was going to be important. I knew getting a lead was going to be important, and so I tried to maximize as much as I could. Obviously, they thought I maximized it too much." The timing of the penalty, issued after a caution, raised questions about NASCAR’s officiating protocol. McDowell expressed his frustration, remarking, "This is where you could get disgruntled. It was fine until the caution came out. It’s frustrating, but I knew I needed to execute a perfect start, otherwise the 2 and the 21 weren’t going to let me in at any point. Obviously, like I said, they thought I got too much."
The 75-lap LCQ, held under the lights at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium, lived up to its "Madhouse" moniker early on. Just six laps into the race, a tangle involving Riley Herbst and John-Hunter Nemechek triggered the first caution. Cody Ware also spun, with several other cars sustaining minor cosmetic damage.
Following the initial caution, the restart saw AJ Allmendinger surge to the lead from the outside lane. Berry, however, quickly reclaimed the top spot, establishing a slight advantage over Allmendinger. Despite another spin involving Riley Herbst after contact with Cole Custer, the race remained under green flag conditions.
LaJoie advanced to third, overtaking John-Hunter Nemechek, and began to close the gap to the leaders. Todd Gilliland’s No. 77 Spire Motorsports Ford experienced a sudden loss of pace, forcing him to pit road and later retire from the race, but the competitive flow was not significantly disrupted.
With 14 laps remaining, LaJoie made a bold maneuver, moving Allmendinger aside for the final transfer position. However, his triumph was short-lived as Cindric mounted an immediate challenge. The ensuing laps featured an intense, door-to-door battle between LaJoie and Cindric, with multiple lead changes and aggressive contact. On the final circuit, Cindric positioned his car on the inside, while LaJoie occupied the outside. Allmendinger, attempting to capitalize on their duel, drove deep into the corner, pushing both drivers wide. Cindric, however, managed to maintain momentum and secure the second transfer spot.
The final order saw Berry take the checkered flag, followed by Cindric in second. LaJoie finished third, Allmendinger fourth, and Nemechek fifth.
Reflecting on the intense battle, LaJoie described it as "a game of chess at like 50mph." He added, "He wanted to be the guy on the inside, obviously, but you didn’t want to pass the guy either because then he had the opportunity to get back to you. Came up a little short, but it was exciting, it was fun to be in the fight. Hadn’t been in the fight like that in a long time. Kudos to the #6 team man, they had a lot to deal with during the offseason. I know Brad [Keselowski] is watching from home, and he’ll be ready to go next week. It was really cool to get in this car and knock the rust off. Unfortunately, we’ll be watching from the couch, but I feel really good about next week (at Daytona)."
The Cookout Clash is scheduled to commence with the qualified field, setting the stage for another chapter in NASCAR’s short-track tradition.
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