NASCAR Cook Out Clash 2025 Results: Winner, Times and Reaction

The NASCAR Cup Series got off to an exciting start with the Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray on Sunday.

A battle between Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin ultimately saw Elliott come out victorious in the short-track race. Blaney was in striking distance in the final laps but didn't have enough time to mount the comeback to get the win.

Elliott started in the top position thanks to a tremendous showing in the qualifying heats, and getting that kind of start is always important in a race that features a track as small as the one at Bowman Gray.

Elliott led for 171 of 200 laps and had the fastest lap of the race. Hamlin was in the mix for much of the race, leading for 28 laps, but it was mostly between Elliott and Blaney towards the end.

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Cookout Clash Race Results

1. Chase Elliott
2. Ryan Blaney
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Joey Logano 
5. Bubba Wallace
6. Ross Chastain
7. Austin Cindric
8. Tyler Reddick
9. Chris Buescher
10. Shane van Gisbergen

Full race results can be found here.

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Elliott dominated the race through and through and held off a late comeback from Blaney, leading to high praise for the driver on social media afterward.

Elliott had a decent year last season, finishing seventh in the Cup Series standings, but he's hoping for a better finish this time around. The Clash at Bowman Gray won't give him any points in the Cup Series as it was just an exhibition, and his first chance to pick up points will come at the Dayton 500 on Feb. 16.

Still, he has to feel good about himself heading into the Great American Race later this month.