CONCORD, N.C. - Heading into last year's Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, few knew what to expect as NASCAR returned to the famed quarter-mile short track for the first time since 1971.
What transpired was domination by Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team as the 30-year-old led 171 of 200 laps in giving Hendrick Motorsports its eighth victory in the NASCAR exhibition race. That's tied for second-most all time.
Starting in 1979, the Clash has served as a preseason kickoff of sorts, held from its first iteration up until 2021 at Daytona International Speedway as part of Speedweek. Then came a three-year stint at the LA Coliseum before last year's inaugural Clash at Bowman Gray.
Ken Schrader gave team owner Rick Hendrick his first Clash victory in 1989 and followed it up with another in 1990. Along with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, Schrader is one of just three drivers to win the Clash multiple times for Hendrick Motorsports.
Here's a look at all eight wins in the Clash by the organization:
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Ken Schrader, 1989
In terms of sheer speed, no one could seemingly match Schrader at Daytona in a three-year window from 1988-1990. He won the pole for the DAYTONA 500 in all three of those years and won the Clash in 1989 and 1990. In '89, he also won his Daytona Duel race and remains just one of two drivers to win the DAYTONA 500 pole, the Clash and a Duel in the same year (Buddy Baker, 1979). Schrader led 15 of the Clash's 20 laps in '89 and held off a pair of Fords in Davey Allison and Terry Labonte in getting to the checkered flag first.
Ken Schrader, 1990
Schrader took home all the money in 1990, winning $10,000 for leading lap 5, $15,000 for leading lap 10, $20,000 for leading lap 15 before then taking the grand prize in clinching his second straight victory in the Clash. Hounding him down the stretch was Greg Sacks, also running in a Hendrick Motorsports car that sported the No. 46 City Chevrolet paint scheme made famous in the movie, "Days of Thunder".
Jeff Gordon, 1994
Having finished off his first full season, coming home 14th in points the year prior, Gordon entered 1994 and would soon change the trajectory of his life and career with victories in the Coca-Cola 600 and the Brickyard 400 that year. But first, he claimed victory in the preseason event at Daytona, a Speedweek marred by the crash and death of Neil Bonnett. That year's race included two 10-lap segments with a halftime bonus and break. Dale Earnhardt claimed $25,000 for leading at lap 10 and then the field was inverted. Gordon finished the first segment fourth and restarted in 10th after the invert. After following Earnhardt through the field, Gordon pulled to the inside to make it three-wide on the backstretch with two laps to go, getting a crucial push from Brett Bodine and cruising to a victory at age 22.
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Jeff Gordon, 1997
Gordon started shotgun on the field, taking the green flag in 14th. Throughout stage one, he and Earnhardt hovered in the back, waiting for the field inversion after 10 laps. Gordon restarted the second segment in third and quickly charged to the front. Rusty Wallace, who finished second, never mounted a serious charge down the stretch and Gordon rolled to the win. It was a sign of better things to come as Gordon would lead a 1-2-3 finish in the DAYTONA 500 that week, becoming the youngest driver to win the Great American Race at the time.
Jimmie Johnson, 2005
By 2005, the Clash had long since ditched its 20-lap running distance for more robust 70-lap format. It began with a 20-lap sprint and was followed by a 10-minute intermission and then a final run to the checkers of 50 laps. The field was also expanded to 21 cars. Johnson finished the first segment in second place. For much of the first half of the second segment, Johnson ran second to Greg Biffle but the No. 48 came off of pit road first after green-flag stops. Johnson led 16 laps including the final one.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2008
Earnhardt Jr.'s first competitive run for Hendrick Motorsports was a winning one as he paced a race-record 46 circuits in cruising to a victory. It marked Earnhardt Jr.'s second victory in the 30th Clash ahead of the 50th running of the DAYTONA 500. After a late restart with three laps to go, Earnhardt Jr. got a key push on the high side from new teammate Johnson to clear Tony Stewart and he held the field off the rest of the way.
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Jimmie Johnson, 2019
A rain-plagued event was cut short by 16 laps and featured a red flag delay after 10 circuits. With 20 to go, Johnson took a shove from Kurt Busch and pulled to the inside of Paul Menard for the lead. Menard attempted to throw a block and made contact with Johnson, sending Menard spinning back through the field, collecting cars along the way. Johnson was shown as the leader at the time of the yellow flag and shortly after, the rains arrived, putting an end to the event. It would mark Johnson's last trip to victory lane in his illustrious career at Hendrick Motorsports.
Chase Elliott, 2025
In NASCAR's first trip back to Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971, Elliott dominated, leading 171 of 200 laps in marching to his first win in the Clash. Starting from the pole, Elliott showed the way throughout most of the night, leading the first 96 laps straight. He lost the lead just once under green flag conditions before snatching it back on lap 126.
“This environment is special,” Elliott said. “This is a place that has a deep history in NASCAR. I think they deserve this event, truthfully."