NASCAR will open its 2026 season where it first laid its roots—Bowman Gray Stadium. Following a sold-out return to the legendary short track in 2025, the Cook Out Clash will once again launch the NASCAR Cup Series schedule at ‘The Madhouse’ on January 31 and February 1, NASCAR announced today.

FOX Sports will broadcast the event, which marks the second consecutive year the quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina plays host to NASCAR’s preseason exhibition. The 2025 race saw Chase Elliott capture a hard-fought victory in the first Cup Series appearance at Bowman Gray since 1971.

“We wrote a new chapter in the storied history of motorsports at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Cook Out Clash this year,” said Joey Dennewitz, NASCAR Regional Managing Director. “As NASCAR’s first weekly racetrack, we are proud to bring the 2026 Cook Out Clash back to the original home of grassroots racing.”

The event is a homecoming for Cook Out, the fast-growing restaurant chain founded in the Winston-Salem area. The company will once again serve as the entitlement partner, continuing a strong NASCAR presence that includes title sponsorship of races at Martinsville, Richmond, and Darlington. Cook Out is also deeply invested at the grassroots level, including its support of the NASCAR Youth Series.

“We are proud to support the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in our backyard in Winston-Salem,” said Jeremy and Morris Reaves, CEO and Founder of Cook Out. “Last year was so amazing and we can’t wait to do it again!”

Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR’s longest-running weekly racetrack and was the first paved track and weekly venue sanctioned by the organization. Its return to the Cup Series spotlight in 2025 marked a symbolic and strategic reconnection with the sport’s grassroots foundation.

Over its storied history, Bowman Gray has seen NASCAR legends like Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, and David Pearson compete on its flat bullring. Petty’s 100th career win came at the track in the 1969 Myers Brothers 250.

“Last year’s race was an immensely successful event for all parties involved,” said Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. “We will work hard to ensure that the 2026 Cook Out Clash is even more successful.”

This year’s race is expected to be another sell-out, reaffirming the track’s nickname as ‘The Madhouse’ and its reputation as one of NASCAR’s most electric venues.

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“We are proud to support the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in our backyard in Winston-Salem,” said Jeremy and Morris Reaves, CEO and Founder of Cook Out. “We look forward to bringing our NASCAR racing family together in our community once again with the Cook Out Clash. Last year was so amazing and we can’t wait to do it again.”

Cook Out maintains a strong presence in NASCAR, from the grassroots level to the premier series. Along with the Cook Out Clash, Cook Out is the entitlement sponsor for the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway, as well as the crown jewel Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Cook Out also sponsors the NASCAR Youth Series, among other sponsorships throughout the grassroots level of racing.

“Cook Out is an amazing partner that continues to have a positive impact across NASCAR,” said Justin Swilling, Project Lead for the Cook Out Clash. “Their support continues to take our events to the next level, and we look forward to working together to make this year’s Cook Out Clash another memorable sold-out event.”

After two decades at the helm, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been sacked. This news comes after weeks of speculation about Max Verstappen’s future at Milton Keynes – which has had repercussions for Horner’s leadership.

Horner replaced after failure to address key issues at Red Bull

It was roughly eighteen months ago that Christian Horner found himself surrounded in controversy.

The 51-year-old was faced with allegations that, beyond generating plenty of discussion in F1 news cycles, created rifts within the team.

At the height of this controversy, Jos Verstappen (father of Max) passionately argued that Horner should resign from his position.

Jos Verstappen argued that the British team principal was negatively impacting the team and having a detrimental impact.

“There is tension here while he remains in this position,” he claimed.

“The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explore – he is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

When Max Verstappen was asked about his father’s comments, he refused to distance himself from them.

As 2024 progressed, these early-season tensions at Red Bull de-escalated, at least on the surface.

However, this does not mean the team recovered from the words exchanged at the beginning of the year.

Over the last few weeks, LWOS has been among several outfits to report on talks between Verstappen and Mercedes.

One report on this saga, however, is particularly relevant to Christian Horner’s reported dismissal.

It was German outlet AMuS who wrote that Max Verstappen’s camp wanted Horner to have less influence on Red Bull’s decision-making.

This demand is understood to have been part of discussions for Verstappen to continue with Red Bull team – amidst their declining performance.

Whilst Horner’s departure is unlikely to guarantee that Verstappen will stay, it certainly represents a clear and intentional shift.

This move is unlikely to have happened without the Dutchman being informed beforehand.

Not only does Horner’s exit mark the end of an era at Red Bull, but it demonstrates a recognition of the team’s shortcomings.

Rectifying the situation at Red Bull

Of course, Christian Horner being fired does not necessarily mean that Red Bull’s performance in 2025 will improve.

There aren’t many upgrades scheduled for the RB21, with Red Bull shifting their focus to next year’s regulations.

Horner’s departure is, however, relevant for how the team will handle its other problems. These include the growing risk of losing Verstappen, in addition to the recent ‘brain drain’ from Milton Keynes.

Over the last eighteen months, Red Bull’s driver situation has been extremely unstable.

Verstappen has seen three different teammates in less than a year – representative of the instability at the team.

Laurent Mekies, who will replace Horner, is tasked with bringing some calm to the uneasy waters at Red Bull.

Considering Mekies’ high appraisal for Yuki Tsunoda, no driver changes should be expected for the remainder of 2025.

In this sense, there should be some sense of continuity within the team.

On the Verstappen front, the Frenchman’s good relations with the Dutchman will be essential

Mekies, who joins from VCARB, is tasked with showing Verstappen that Milton Keynes are progressing ahead of 2026.

Considering the strained nature of Horner’s relationship with the Verstappen camp, Mekies has a chance to start fresh.

Beyond this, Red Bull’s new team principal must prevent the continued loss of top personnel from Milton Keynes.

Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall and Jonathan Wheatley are some of many senior figures to leave in the last year.

Marshall, who is often overlooked in discussions about the F1 engineering market, has been integral to McLaren’s success.

A new era begins

Moving forward, Red Bull will work to reverse this trend – which has seen them losing top talents to rivals.

Since Newey’s exit, Christian Horner has given more influence to Pierre Wache – who is currently the team’s technical director.

In fact, even before Newey left, Horner was responsible for making Wache a bigger voice in Red Bull’s development.

This likely contributed to Newey’s move to Aston Martin, who felt increasingly marginalised at Milton Keynes.

Although the 66-year-old’s exact motivations for leaving Red Bull have not been disclosed the polemics of early 2024 almost certainly played a role.

Regardless, after a second season of virtually zero progression, Wache’s position might be re-assessed under new team principal Laurent Mekies.

Red Bull’s Technical Director has enjoyed very limited success since spear-heading development.

The aftermath of Red Bull’s blockbuster decision remains to be seen – but whatever happens, it marks a new era.

Main photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images (via Red Bull content pool)

OWOSSO, Mich. (WJRT) – Retired NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick and his son Keelan are set to race at the Owosso Speedway next week.

Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion, will participate in the Master of the Pros 200 stock car race on July 16. Track owner Rex Wheeler said “the most prestigious pro late model race in America” draws drivers from across the country.

Gates open at 2 p.m., a driver autograph session is scheduled at 6 p.m. and racing action starting at 7 p.m. with a field of 26 drivers. Tickets for the event are $15 for adults and pit passes cost $35.

Kevin Harvick, 49, raced in the NASCAR Cup Series for most of 22 seasons starting in 2001, when he replaced the legendary Dale Earnhardt following his death in the season opening Daytona 500.

Harvick went on to race 12 seasons for Richard Childress Racing before switching to Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2014 season, when he won his only series championship. He retired from Cup Series races after the 2023 season.

Harvick then moved to the broadcast booth as part of the Fox Sports team. He has continued racing part time in lower series and began competing against his son, Keelan, earlier this year.

Keelan and Kevin Harvick have raced against each other several times this summer. Keelan, 13, earned his first late model stock car win last month in a CARS Tour West race in California.

Owosso Speedway is a 0.375-mile paved oval track west of Owosso on M-21. The track has expanded significantly in recent years and now boasts a seating capacity of more than 11,000 spectators.

The track announced plans last winter for an ambitious $180 million expansion to increase seating capacity to more than 20,000 while adding a number of other amenities. 

Red Bull boss exits the team after a stellar two decades that yielded eight Formula One Drivers’ World Championships.

Red Bull have sacked team principal Christian Horner and appointed Laurent Mekies as the Briton’s replacement, the Formula One team announced.

The 51-year-old Horner was the longest-serving team principal, having been in the position since Red Bull made its Formula One debut in 2005.

Frenchman Mekies joins from Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls. Alan Permane, currently racing director, will be promoted to team principal at Racing Bulls.

“Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday 9 July 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing,” the Milton Keynes-based team said in a statement on Wednesday.

Red Bull won eight Drivers’ World Championships and six Constructors’ Championships under Horner, but struggled this season, with the team sitting fourth with 172 points in the constructors’ standings. They trail leaders McLaren by 288 points.

Red Bull’s four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen has won two of 12 races and is third in the drivers’ championship. He is 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri at the midway stage of the 24-round season.

Horner’s position was questioned, with Verstappen’s father calling last year for him to go, after allegations of misconduct were made by a female employee. The Briton denied them and was cleared after an investigation.

“It has been an amazing adventure to contribute to the birth of Racing Bulls together with all our talented people. The spirit of the whole team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning,” Mekies said.

“Alan is the perfect man to take over now and continue our path. He knows the team inside out and has always been an important pillar of our early successes.”