In a competitive lineup of 18 eager racers, only the top two finishers, alongside the points provisional holder (Alex Bowman), could advance from the last-chance qualifier (LCQ) to the main event of the Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Bowman opted to accept the points provisional, which was available to him as the highest-ranked driver from the 2025 championship not already qualified. Rather than risk his vehicle, he chose to start from the rear of the LCQ, dropping from fifth position on the grid.
Josh Berry dominated the race in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, marking his second straight LCQ success. “I definitely think it’s going to look a little bit different than last year,” Berry reflected in an interview. “The colder temperatures are creating a challenging situation during the restarts, making it feel like the pace car is barely moving.”
He continued, “It seems that the tires are degrading more quickly as well. You’ll need to be cautious about preserving your rear tires and avoiding trouble, as always.” Berry will be joined in the main event by fellow Ford driver and teammate Austin Cindric, who triumphed in a fierce contest for second place that resembled a game of bumper cars among himself, Corey LaJoie, and AJ Allmendinger.
Cindric expressed satisfaction with the fairness of the LCQ, stating, “That was about as fair as it could get for an LCQ. I appreciate Corey racing hard, and while we advanced, it’s a long road ahead starting from the back with some scuffed tires for the final race.” He added, “I don’t think I was able to go full throttle throughout the race due to the increased horsepower—except when emotions were running high. It was an interesting challenge to manage, and hopefully, we avoided too much damage for the final.”
In the main event, Berry will begin in 21st place, Cindric in 22nd, and Bowman in 23rd. Kyle Larson secured pole position for the feature race during qualifying, outpacing his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron.
LaJoie remarked on the nature of the battle, acknowledging that while he was frustrated, it was more directed towards himself than the actions on the track. “I’m upset but not at Austin. I believe everything that occurred was fair given the circumstances at Bowman Gray Stadium. I wish I could have maintained my position against him,” he stated.
LaJoie noted that he was still adapting to the Cup car’s handling at a short track with the current tire compound and horsepower. He recognized the challenge posed by Allmendinger behind him, saying, “You know AJ is just waiting for the right moment. His car was starting to struggle with grip, and I wasn’t sure how close he was since I was stuck in a difficult position.”
Another significant moment unfolded right at the race’s outset when Michael McDowell was penalized for jumping the start on Berry after leading the first six laps. McDowell admitted to being aggressive but insisted that Berry had launched first and spun his tires.
“The 21 (Berry) spun his tires,” McDowell explained. “He started in first gear, and I was in second, so he was ahead, but he lost traction. I was in front at the start-finish line, and they are going to reverse it. It’s over now. I knew getting a good start was crucial, and I aimed to maximize it. Clearly, they felt I went too far.”
McDowell expressed frustration over NASCAR’s timing of the penalty, questioning whether it would have been called had the race stayed green. “This is where you could feel disgruntled. Everything was fine until the caution came out. It’s frustrating, but I knew I had to execute a perfect start; otherwise, the 2 and the 21 wouldn’t let me in at any point. They clearly thought I took it too far,” he asserted.
The notorious reputation of the Madhouse quickly became evident in the 75-lap LCQ, with just six laps completed when Riley Herbst was spun out, leading to John-Hunter Nemechek colliding with his door. Cody Ware also spun out, and other vehicles sustained minor damages.
Additionally, race leader McDowell received a black flag for his early jump on the start against pole-sitter Berry. Following the restart, Allmendinger made contact as he surged into the lead, but Berry reclaimed it a few laps later, maintaining a comfortable gap over the competition.
Herbst’s race turned sour after the initial caution when he was spun sideways by Cole Custer, yet the race continued without interruption. LaJoie fought past Nemechek for third place but needed more ground to secure a transfer spot.
Todd Gilliland was forced to retire his vehicle after experiencing a sudden drop in speed, but the race remained uninterrupted as Berry climbed into the top ten. With 14 laps remaining, LaJoie caught up to Allmendinger and aggressively moved him out of the way for the final transfer slot. However, he quickly found himself under threat from Cindric.
The ensuing battle was a tense exchange as LaJoie and Cindric engaged in a full-contact duel. On the last lap, Cindric positioned himself on the inside while LaJoie held the outside line. Allmendinger made a deep dive, pushing both drivers up the track, yet Cindric managed to maintain his position.
As Berry crossed the finish line first, Cindric claimed second place, followed by LaJoie in third, Allmendinger in fourth, and Nemechek in fifth.
“It felt like a game of chess at around 50 mph,” LaJoie reflected. “He wanted the inside position, but passing him could allow him to retaliate. I came up just short, but it was thrilling to be part of such an exciting battle. I hadn’t experienced a fight like this in a long time. Kudos to the #6 team; they’ve faced many challenges during the offseason. I know Brad is watching from home and will be ready for next week. It was fantastic to be in this car and shake off the rust. Unfortunately, we’ll be watching the next race from the couch, but I feel optimistic about next week in Daytona.”
