The NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its 2026 season this weekend with a visit to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. After an offseason full of changes, the roar of the engines is set to reignite the adrenaline once again. However, the weather could spoil the opening party.
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Ahead of the 48th edition of the Clash, the snow flurries that are forecast to hit the venue are casting a shadow of doubt on the Clash. The region in which the track is located received around an inch of snowfall last weekend.
Chris Weaver, a TV photographer, shared pictures of the snow-covered track on Monday and wrote that crews were working to remove it. Fox Sports broadcaster Mike Joy also expressed concern that the weather might impact the race. But Kenny Wallace remains unfazed.
The former driver firmly believes that reports of the storm are overhyped and that the race will proceed as planned. His confidence comes from close sources.
“I talked to my brother Mike [Wallace] and my mom last night. They live down in Concord, North Carolina. They said it was not a big deal. The storm was overhyped. It went North. They did get a little bit of something. But Mike said, last night at ten o’clock, it was 31 degrees. There was nothing,” said Wallace, who added that people in North Carolina are just looking for some drama.
“Coffee with Kenny”@NASCAR has started the 2026 year WINNING pic.twitter.com/049atanUgb
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) January 26, 2026
Schools and organizations shut down just for the sake of drama, believes Wallace. The situation doesn’t warrant such actions one bit, he felt.
“Will NASCAR cancel the Cook Out Clash?” Wallace asked, before answering it himself. “I don’t think they can. I will take a page from Ken Schrader. Hell, it was thirty degrees last year!”
NASCAR will take several steps to ensure that the track is warm and that the race can go on without any issues or breaks. But as far as postponing it, Wallace doesn’t think it is a possibility.
According to AccuWeather, there is a 30% chance of snow flurries on both Saturday and Sunday. But the good news is that the forecast for Monday looks far more promising. Should the race get pushed, it is almost a certainty that it will go by without hindrance on Monday. And fans can’t wait for the roar of the engines to begin.
