By Helen Wilson
Editor-in-Chief
“Shakey,” the mascot of Cook Out.
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when the sun goes down over the “Madhouse.” The roar of engines at Bowman Gray Stadium is a sound that has defined Winston-Salem for generations. But for the modern North Carolina teenager, that roar is often followed by a different local tradition: the late-night pilgrimage to Cook Out. For a second year in a row, the two legacies are merging as Cook Out officially renews its sponsorship of the NASCAR Clash. It will stay front and center at the city’s most historic track.
“Cook Out was born in North Carolina; we were founded in Greensboro,” Cook Out’s Director of Marketing Taylor Barr said. “The NASCAR Clash is in the same vicinity as our birthplace. Bowman Gray is the neighboring track.”
This local connection is what separates the Clash from other stops on the racing circuit. While massive superspeedways in other states draw crowds of tourists, Bowman Gray holds a legendary status within NASCAR as the longest-running track in the sport’s history. It is the actual birthplace of the racing we see today, a quarter-mile flat track where the sport’s biggest stars were “trading paint” long before NASCAR became a billion-dollar industry.
“Bowman Gray is an if you know, you know, situation,” Barr said.
While larger tracks might draw tourists from across the country, the stadium pulls a specific, local demographic. The “Madhouse” is famous for its rough, chaotic style of racing that has made Bowman Gray famous for nearly 80 years. By returning to this historic track, Cook Out isn’t merely placing a logo on a car; they are proving they haven’t forgotten where they started.
“We are showing our commitment to North Carolina,” Barr said. “We are from here, we are staying here, and we are still involved here.”
By staying trackside for another year, the brand is signaling long-term commitment to its home state. For students at R.J. Reynolds High School, that commitment is felt every weekend at the drive-thru or walk-up window.
“It is almost guaranteed to see somebody that you know at Cook Out,” student Landon Suber said. “Whether it’s a group or a person, planned or not.”
For anyone at RJR, Cook Out is basically a second campus. It’s the unofficial finish line for a Friday night. Whether you’re heading there after a game or looking for a post-party snack. Every RJR student knows the line at the Reynolda Road Cook Out on a Friday night is basically a parking lot party. The brand has become a staple for students in the Piedmont, and even if they aren’t only targeting high schoolers, they definitely know they’ve created a cult following in college towns and high schools across the state.
“We understand that Winston Salem is a great college community,” Barr said. “Even throughout all eleven states Cook Out is in, the college towns are where Cook Out thrives. We’re open, and we’re there for you.”
That same energy—the late nights, the family-oriented excitement, and the down-to-earth atmosphere—is what Cook Out hopes to bring to the track. In an era where sports sponsorships can feel corporate and distant, Cook Out wants to remain the brand, as Taylor Barr describes, “just down the road.” For many, it is the only place that offers a networking opportunity alongside a double cheeseburger.
“Cook Out is my favorite place to order past 1:00 am,” student Chris Lemons said. “It’s a good place to network late at night.”
The “Cook Out Tray” itself is a masterpiece of fast-food engineering, offering over 54,000 possible combinations. Where else can a customer order a burger with a side of a chicken quesadilla and a corn dog? With a menu that includes over 40 milkshake flavors, ranging from fresh watermelon in the summer to banana pudding, Cook Out has set the bar high for fast food.
“[Cook Out] is my go-to spot, ” Suber said. “I love to enjoy some cookout-style food with the best Cheerwine in the 336.”
“My favorite thing to get at Cook Out is the chicken tender tray with a side of Cajun fries and a chicken quesadilla,” student William Martin said. “Their milkshakes are also fire.”
Despite its massive growth to over 360 locations and its recent expansion into Florida, the company remains surprisingly tight-knit. Since Morris Reaves opened the first location in Greensboro in 1989, the brand has remained family-owned and operated. It isn’t a franchise guaranteeing its “Always Fresh, Never Frozen” promise.
“We just hope that others will see that behind the brand,” Barr said. “We are still people, and we still care.”
The partnership between Cook Out and the NASCAR Clash serves as a bridge between the city’s past and its future. It is a reminder that while the city evolves, the core of the community remains unchanged. As long as there are engines roaring at the “Madhouse,” there will be a line at the Cook Out window.