Josh Berry and Austin Cindric secured the final two transfer spots into the main event of the NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, while Kyle Larson earned his way in via a separate qualifying race. The event, held at the .25-mile short track, saw a chaotic Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) filled with aggressive racing and contact.
Berry, driving the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, cruised to victory in the LCQ, marking his second consecutive lock-in from the qualifier. “I definitely think it’s going to look a little bit different than last year,” Berry told Motorsport.com, acknowledging the challenging 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.”
Cindric, piloting a Ford, claimed the second transfer spot after a hard-fought battle with Corey LaJoie and AJ Allmendinger. The race for the final position was described as “bumper cars” and “about as fair as I think that could have gotten for an LCQ” by Cindric. He added, “I appreciate Corey racing hard…long road ahead starting last with some scuffs for the final here.” Cindric noted that the increased horsepower made it difficult to maintain full throttle throughout the race, and he hoped his car hadn’t sustained too much damage during the intense competition.
Alex Bowman initially held a provisional transfer spot as the highest-ranked driver from the 2025 championship not already locked into the main event. However, Bowman strategically dropped his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to the back of the LCQ grid, opting to take the provisional spot rather than risk damage to his car in the qualifying race.
The LCQ wasn’t without its drama. On lap six, Riley Herbst was spun out, leading to a multi-car incident involving John-Hunter Nemechek and Cody Ware. Earlier in the race, Michael McDowell was penalized for jumping the start after leading the first six laps. McDowell defended his aggressive start, stating that Berry spun his tires first, but NASCAR officials ultimately upheld the penalty.
The battle for the final transfer spots intensified in the closing laps. LaJoie initially moved into third, challenging Allmendinger, but Cindric quickly closed in. The final laps saw a physical exchange between LaJoie and Cindric, with Cindric ultimately securing the second transfer position on the last lap. LaJoie, while disappointed, acknowledged the intensity of the competition. “It was like a game of chess at like 50mph,” LaJoie said. “Came up a little short, but it was exciting, it was fun to be in the fight.”
The final results of the LCQ saw Berry finish first, followed by Cindric in second, LaJoie in third, Allmendinger in fourth, and Nemechek in fifth. These drivers will join the field for the main Cook Out Clash event, starting 21st, 22nd, and 23rd respectively. Kyle Larson had already secured the pole position for the feature race in qualifying, beating William Byron.
The race highlighted the challenges of racing at Bowman Gray Stadium, with Berry emphasizing the importance of tire management and avoiding trouble. The aggressive racing and close competition in the LCQ set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling main event.
