Buckle up, NASCAR fans—because the 2025 season is about to get wild! As the Cup Series gears up for the much-anticipated Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
While the Clash is technically an exhibition race, Alex Bowman and the Hendrick Motorsports camp aren’t treating it as just another warm-up. Instead, they’re bringing the same intensity they would for a championship-deciding event.
🗣️ “You know, it’s still a race. Somebody’s still gotta go win,” Bowman declared. “We’re definitely working as hard as we would be for a normal race.”
💪 The HMS Game Plan:
✅ Treat the Clash like a points-paying race
✅ Dominate early and set the tone for 2025
✅ Prove Bowman belongs after a tough 2024 season
But it won’t be easy. Bowman knows the bullring at Bowman Gray is no joke. The historic 0.25-mile track is back on the NASCAR schedule for the first time in over five decades—and it promises a high-contact, no-holds-barred battle.
🚨 Is Bowman the Underdog or a Silent Threat?
While Chase Elliott stole the spotlight with his pole-winning heat race victory, Bowman quietly punched his ticket to the main event—advancing through a stacked Heat 3 that featured:
- Defending Clash winner Denny Hamlin
- 2024 Cup Champion Joey Logano
- Past Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar
Bowman’s performance in the heat race was a much-needed confidence boost, especially after rumors swirled in 2024 about his future at HMS. But now, the No. 48 team is here to prove a point.
🔮 Bowman’s Prediction: The racing is going to get “super physical.”
🏁 “You might see guys doing different things, maybe carrying a little bit less in those situations and just maybe racing a little differently,” he admitted. “The good guys are still going to be really good.”
🏆 Can Bowman Join the Elite Club of Clash & Championship Winners?
Winning the Clash doesn’t guarantee a Cup Series title. Only five drivers in history have won both in the same season:
🏅 Dale Earnhardt (Multiple Times)
🏅 Darrell Waltrip
🏅 Jeff Gordon
🏅 Tony Stewart (2002)
🏅 Joey Logano (2022)
However, none of these legends had to win it at Bowman Gray. This is uncharted territory, and if Bowman can take the checkered flag, he’ll make history.
🔥 So, the million-dollar question: Can Bowman go from underdog to top dog in 2025? Or will his HMS teammate Chase Elliott steal the show?
One thing’s for sure: The Madhouse is about to deliver some chaos—and Bowman is ready for the ride. 🚀