The countdown is almost over—NASCAR is about to unleash chaos as the 2025 season roars to life at the legendary ‘Madhouse.’ On February 2nd, the Cook Out Clash will mark the sport’s return to one of its wildest, most unforgiving battlegrounds—Bowman Gray Stadium.
Drivers? On edge.
Fans? Foaming at the mouth.
The atmosphere? Pure, unfiltered madness.
And Bubba Wallace knows exactly what’s coming.
“Chaotic.”
That’s the one-word preview the 23XI Racing driver gave ahead of the high-stakes exhibition race. Wallace has been here before—but nothing can truly prepare any driver for the hurricane of chaos that awaits in Winston-Salem.
What Makes Bowman Gray So Insane?
It’s been a staple of grassroots stock car racing for nearly 80 years, hosting NASCAR’s first-ever race in 1949. But this isn’t just any short track—it’s a gladiator pit, and the fans?
They don’t just watch the action, they live it.
🚨 A Quarter-Mile Bullring – This track is so tight and brutal, drivers will be trading paint every single lap.
🚨 Rowdy, No-Holds-Barred Fans – At Bowman Gray, the fans don’t hold back. Slaps, middle fingers, and fights in the grandstands? All part of the experience.
🚨 Intense Rivalries & Wrecks – If there’s a track built for NASCAR’s biggest grudges to boil over, this is it.
Hendrick Motorsports stars Kyle Larson and William Byron are no strangers to the madhouse energy, but even they admit this won’t be like the L.A. Coliseum. Unlike those neutral crowds, Bowman Gray’s fanbase is NASCAR to the bone. They know exactly what’s happening—and they’ll let drivers know how they feel about it.
Bubba Wallace Is Bracing for Impact
For Bubba Wallace, this isn’t his first rodeo at Bowman Gray—but that doesn’t make it any less nerve-wracking.
“Hope it all works out.”
Not exactly words of confidence. But who could blame him? This place is pure, unhinged NASCAR brutality.
With a freshly repaved track and new track lighting, the race is shaping up to be a wild mix of high-speed action and unpredictable chaos.
“It’s going to be interesting to see the racing surface – it’s two-and-a-half car-lengths wide. We’ll see how it works out. But it’s going to be entertaining, I think that’s what they’re going for.”
Wallace isn’t alone in his uneasy anticipation. Ryan Blaney—his Cup Series rival and close friend—first experienced Bowman Gray as a 10-year-old.
His takeaway? A 7-year-old flipped him off from the grandstands.
That, in a nutshell, is the Bowman Gray experience.
NASCAR’s 2025 Season Is Set for an Explosive Start
As the clock ticks down, the stage is set for one of the most unpredictable, no-holds-barred races in recent NASCAR history.
Will Bowman Gray’s raw energy push drivers to their breaking point?
Who will survive the ‘Madhouse’ and emerge victorious?
There’s no telling what’s going to happen—and that’s exactly why you can’t afford to miss it.
🚨 The chaos begins February 2nd. Get ready for the wildest season opener NASCAR has seen in years.