With the top 20 NASCAR Cup Series qualifiers settled into their spots for Wednesday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Josh Berry secured his invitation by claiming the Last Chance Qualifier event.
It marked the second straight season that the driver of the No. 21 Ford came out of a last-chance appearance.
Austin Cindric, who absorbed a shot from AJ Allmendinger on the final lap, remained in control to qualify for the main event for the third time in his career, including both times at the iconic quarter-mile flat track in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Berry dominated throughout, leading 29 of the opening 40 rotations.
The top two LCQ finishers and the highest points finisher from last season (Alex Bowman) advanced to Wednesday night’s Cook Out Clash, the snow-delayed main event.
Kyle Larson, the circuit’s defending champion, earned the pole position by turning the fastest practice lap at 63.663 mph. Last year, he was forced to compete in the “stressful” 75-lap LCQ.
“It’ll be fun to be a fan and actually watch it,” Larson told Fox Sports. “That’s a real stressful race. At least it was for me last year.
“I was not expecting to get the pole. Good to be back in a stock car here.”
The 200-lap, season-opening exhibition is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
HOW ABOUT THAT BATTLE FOR THE TRANSFER SPOT??? 😱#CookOutClash pic.twitter.com/XaTOhlELpe
— Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (@nascarclash) February 4, 2026
NASCAR Cup Series Last Chance Qualifier Results
Here is a look at the results of Wednesday’s Last Chance Qualifier race at Bowman Gray Stadium:
Position, Driver, Car No.
- 1, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
- 2, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- 3, Corey LaJoie, No. 6 Ford
- 4, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
- 5, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- 6, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
- 7, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
- 8, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
- 9, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- 10, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- 11, Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
- 12, Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet
- 13, Chad Finchum, No. 66 Ford
- 14, Burt Myers, No. 50 Chevrolet
- 15, Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet
- 16, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
- 17, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 18, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
Y'all think the No. 9 can go back-to-back in the #CookOutClash? 👀 pic.twitter.com/T0fNF5agbv
— Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (@nascarclash) February 4, 2026
