01/28/2025
RFK Advance | The Clash
Date: Sunday, February 2
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Format: See Below
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)
RFK Historically in the Clash
Cup Wins: 1 (Mark Martin, 1999)
- NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin has Jack Roush’s lone win in the Clash event, winning back in 1999. He started from the 13th position and went on to lead the final 16 laps, topping Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte on the podium for the victory.
- In addition, RFK co-owner Brad Keselowski led 43 laps and won the event from the 17th position in 2018 while driving for Penske.
Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 6:10 p.m. ET, Practice (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 8:30 p.m. ET, Heat Races Begin (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, Last Chance Race (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 8 p.m. ET, Clash (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Pace Laps:
- The 2025 season unofficially begins this weekend as the Clash at Bowman Gray takes place Sunday in Winston-Salem.
- This is the first year of the Clash taking place at Bowman Gray Stadium, marking the Cup Series’ first return to the historic Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971.
- The format for the Clash remains similar to the 2024 edition held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as 23 cars overall will make the main event.
- Saturday features three practice sessions with entrants split into three groups. The fastest lap time in each car’s final session will determine the starting lineup for the four heat races, meaning no separate qualifying session will take place.
- The 25-lap heat races will feature up to 10 cars per race, with only green-flag laps counting in each heat with no overtime allotment.
- The top five finishers in each heat will automatically advance to Sunday night’s main event, while the drivers that finish below fifth will advance to Sunday’s last chance qualifier (LCQ). Starting positions for that race will be determined by the finishing order in the heats. The top two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the Clash and start 21st and 22nd, respectively.
- The 23rd and final position in the Clash is reserved for the driver who finished highest in the 2024 season points standings that did not otherwise transfer via the heat races or LCQ.
- The Clash will be 200 laps and feature those 23 cars.
6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com
17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Kroger
60 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Fastenal
Keselowski in the Clash
Starts: 9
Wins: 1 (2018)
Top-10s: 5
Poles: 1
- Keselowski is aiming for his 10th appearance in the annual preseason, exhibition event. He is the 2018 winner of the Clash and has five top-10 finishes in the event. He ran fourth in his first-ever Clash in 2012 in his Championship season, and followed that up with a runner-up result in 2014.
Buescher in the Clash
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —
- Buescher has two starts in the annual Clash event with a best finish of ninth back in 2017. He finished 16th in 2021 in Daytona.
Preece in the Clash
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —
- Preece looks for his fourth straight appearance in the preseason main event after advancing in each of the past three seasons.
- He led 43 laps at the Clash at the Coliseum in 2023, recording his lone top-10 finish at the Clash in that race.
