NASCAR’s first day at Bowman Gray: Four qualifying heat races recapped

Written by Sean McKean

Credit - Alejandro Alvarez / NASCAR Digital Media

After a long time waiting, NASCAR makes their grand return to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since 1971. An evening of practice and qualifiers has now passed, and here’s all you need to know about the occurrences of the “Madhouse” on Saturday night.

Heat No.1 

Chase Elliott led the field to the green flag in the first of four 25-lap heats. Ryan Blaney managed to clear Brad Keselowski to move into second. Further behind, Noah Gragson and Justin Haley traded paint whilst battling for fifth.

The first caution, however, came out by Lap 3 – with Austin Dillon going for a spin all by himself off Turn 2. 

With caution laps not counting, the race restarted on Lap 4. Elliott maintained his lead whilst chaos broke loose behind by Lap 6. Justin Haley – trying to get payback for previous contact – tried moving low to hit Gragson around, but he didn’t see Kyle Busch below him. Gragson went for a spin while Busch and Haley received minimal damage.

Elliott again led the way on the restart, albeit with more challenge from Keselowski. Behind, Josh Berry and Busch went for separate spins but both off the bumper of Justin Haley. The caution came out yet again.

In this sequence, FRM’s Gragson made great ground, now sitting as the second car on the high line.

Elliott led the way again on Lap 8. Keselowski managed to finally move into second whilst Haley and Busch battled again for the final transfer spot in fifth. By Lap 13, Busch pipped Blaney for fourth as Ross Chastain quietly filled the final transfer spot in fifth.

As Blaney continued to fall down the order, he went for a spin off the front bumper of Ty Dillon on Lap 19. The caution did not come out.

But through leading every lap, Chase Elliott won the first heat. The other four drivers advancing to the main show were Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain

Heat No.1 Results (bold denotes drivers who successfully transferred):

1. No.9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

2. No.6 - Brad Keselowski (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)

3. No.4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports)

4. No.8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)

5. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

6. No.10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing)

7. No.3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

8. No.21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)

9. No.7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)

10. No.12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

As the first driver outside the transfer bubble, Ty Dillon secured pole position for tomorrow evening’s last chance qualifier.

Heat No.2

Chris Buescher and Chase Briscoe headed the front row at the beginning of Heat No.2. Buescher pulled out to a lead whilst Shane van Gisbergen and Zane Smith traded paint.

Further behind, Kyle Larson and Smith lost many positions after clipping the apron of the track. Daniel Suarez held the final transfer spot decisively ahead of Erik Jones.

Buescher won a quiet heat despite pressure from Briscoe behind. Other advances included Shane van Gisbergen, Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez.

Heat No.2 Results:

1. No.17 - Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)

2. No.19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No.88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

4. No.23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

5. No.99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)

6. No.38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

7. No.43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

8. No.5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

9. No.51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)

10. No.66 - Garrett Smithley (MBM Motorsports)

With a sixth-placed result, Zane Smith secured the outside front row in the last chance qualifier.

Heat No.3

Denny Hamlin led the field to the green for the penultimate heat. Behind him, William Byron and Joey Logano aggressively battled for second.

Hamlin won this third heat with little competition. Rest of the top five included Joey Logano, William Byron, Carson Hocevar and Alex Bowman.

Heat No.3 Results:

1. No.11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

2. No.22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

3. No.24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

4. No.77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

5. No.48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

6. No.54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

7. No.35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

8. No.47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Hyak Motorsports)

9. No.50 - Burt Myers (Team AmeriVet)

10. No.15 - Tim Brown (Rick Ware Racing) +1 lap

Ty Gibbs will start third in the last chance qualifier tomorrow.

Heat No.4

The final heat of the night was led to the start by Tyler Reddick, who got off to a commanding lead immediately.

Further behind, AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer got too scrappy. As Allmendinger squeezed Custer, he put the Xfinity champion into the wall – sending both into a spin and bringing the caution out.

Reddick led once more on Lap 6. 

After receiving a punt by John Hunter Nemechek into Turn 1, Ryan Preece did not take kindly to that. As a result, Nemechek was sent into the outside wall by Preece in Turn 3 on Lap 7. The damage on Nemechek’s car was terminal.

Reddick retained his lead on the next restart. Behind, Preece made his way into third.

Tyler Reddick won the final heat of the night uncontested. The rest of the top five included Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric and Todd Gilliland.

Heat No.4 Results:

1. No.45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

2. No.20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No.60 - Ryan Preece (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)

4. No.2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

5. No.34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

6. No.71 - Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports)

7. No.16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

8. No.42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)

9. No.41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)

Michael McDowell will start in fourth for the last chance qualifier. 

Despite not racing his way into the main event, Ryan Blaney secured a spot through the championship result in 2024 provisional. The last chance qualifier will see two more drivers make the show.