Clash at Bowman Gray: Chase Elliott on Pole, Big Names Facing Elimination in LCQ

The stage is set for NASCAR’s return to “The Madhouse” as Bowman Gray Stadium hosts the 2025 NASCAR Clash. Following a night of heated qualifying heats, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott has secured the pole position, leading a stacked 23-car field to the green flag on Sunday night.

While Elliott and Chris Buescher will command the front row, some major stars face a high-stakes battle in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)—including Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell, A.J. Allmendinger, and Cole Custer.

With only two transfer spots available, NASCAR’s LCQ is shaping up to be a war zone.

🔥 Starting Lineup: 2025 Clash at Bowman Gray

Front Row:
🏁 1. Chase Elliott (No. 9) – Hendrick Motorsports
🏁 2. Chris Buescher (No. 17) – RFK Racing

Row 2:
🚀 3. Denny Hamlin (No. 11) – Joe Gibbs Racing
🚀 4. Tyler Reddick (No. 45) – 23XI Racing

Row 3:
⚡️ 5. Brad Keselowski (No. 6) – RFK Racing
⚡️ 6. Chase Briscoe (No. 19) – Joe Gibbs Racing

Row 4:
🔥 7. Joey Logano (No. 22) – Team Penske
🔥 8. Christopher Bell (No. 20) – Joe Gibbs Racing

Row 5:
⚔️ 9. Noah Gragson (No. 4) – Stewart-Haas Racing
⚔️ 10. Shane van Gisbergen (No. 88) – Kaulig Racing

Row 6:
🏁 11. William Byron (No. 24) – Hendrick Motorsports
🏁 12. Ryan Preece (No. 60) – RFK Racing

Row 7:
🚨 13. Kyle Busch (No. 8) – Richard Childress Racing
🚨 14. Bubba Wallace (No. 23) – 23XI Racing

Row 8:
🔨 15. Carson Hocevar (No. 77) – Spire Motorsports
🔨 16. Austin Cindric (No. 2) – Team Penske

Row 9:
🛞 17. Ross Chastain (No. 1) – Trackhouse Racing
🛞 18. Daniel Suarez (No. 99) – Trackhouse Racing

Row 10:
💥 19. Alex Bowman (No. 48) – Hendrick Motorsports
💥 20. Todd Gilliland (No. 34) – Front Row Motorsports

Final 3 Spots:
🚦 21. LCQ Winner
🚦 22. LCQ Second-Place Finisher
🚦 23. Ryan Blaney (No. 12) – Points Provisional

⚡️ Last Chance Qualifier Lineup (Only Top 2 Advance)

1️⃣ Ty Dillon (No. 10) – Legacy Motor Club
2️⃣ Zane Smith (No. 38) – Spire Motorsports
3️⃣ Ty Gibbs (No. 54) – Joe Gibbs Racing
4️⃣ Michael McDowell (No. 34) – Front Row Motorsports
5️⃣ Austin Dillon (No. 3) – Richard Childress Racing
6️⃣ Erik Jones (No. 43) – Legacy Motor Club
7️⃣ Riley Herbst (No. 35) – Stewart-Haas Racing
8️⃣ A.J. Allmendinger (No. 16) – Kaulig Racing
9️⃣ Justin Haley (No. 7) – Spire Motorsports
🔟 Kyle Larson (No. 5) – Hendrick Motorsports
1️⃣1️⃣ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47) – JTG Daugherty Racing
1️⃣2️⃣ John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42) – Legacy Motor Club
1️⃣3️⃣ Josh Berry (No. 21) – Wood Brothers Racing
1️⃣4️⃣ Cody Ware (No. 51) – Rick Ware Racing
1️⃣5️⃣ Burt Myers (No. 50) – Independent Entry
1️⃣6️⃣ Cole Custer (No. 41) – Stewart-Haas Racing
1️⃣7️⃣ Ryan Blaney (No. 12) – LOCKED IN (Points Provisional)
1️⃣8️⃣ Garrett Smithley (No. 66) – MBM Motorsports
1️⃣9️⃣ Tim Brown (No. 15) – Independent Entry

💥 LCQ Battle: Who’s at Risk of Missing the Clash?

With only TWO spots available, at least 15 full-time drivers will miss Sunday’s main event.

Kyle Larson, a former champion, is in serious jeopardy after struggling in his heat race.
Ty Gibbs, considered one of Toyota’s top young stars, will need to fight his way into the field.
Austin Dillon, a past Daytona 500 champion, faces a must-win scenario.
A.J. Allmendinger & Michael McDowell, two veteran road-course warriors, will need to battle on this quarter-mile bullring.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., known for his aggressive driving, could shake things up.
Cole Custer, a former Xfinity Series champion, might miss the big show.