The 2021 Busch Clash was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on February 9, 2021 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 35 laps, it was the first exhibition race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
| Race details[1][2][3][4][5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 of 2 exhibition races in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | February 9, 2021 | ||
| Location | Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 3.570 mi (5.745 km) | ||
| Distance | 35 laps, 126.35 mi (203.35 km) | ||
| Average speed | 83.845 miles per hour (134.935 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Team Penske | ||
| Time | N/A | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Laps | 21 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FS1 | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Booth Announcers | Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace | ||
| Turn Announcers |
| ||
Format and eligibility
editThe race is 35 laps in length, and is divided into two segments, with the first 15 laps and the second 20 laps. Fifteen laps is one fewer than the length of the first stage and three fewer than the second stage of the ensuing Daytona 400 km two weeks later on the same circuit.
Criteria for qualification the 2021 clash will be different as the race is open to drivers who won the Daytona 500, won a previous Busch Clash, or won a pole for a Daytona 500, all of these criteria require the driver to compete full time in the 2020 Cup Series season. The race is also open to the five 2020 Cup Series pole winners, 2020 Cup Series playoff drivers, 2020 Cup series race winners, and 2020 Cup Series stage winners, all drivers under those criteria do not need to compete full time in the 2020 Cup Series season to the eligible for the race. NASCAR has said the changed criteria for the clash was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to most races in the 2020 Cup Series season to held without qualifying.[6]
Entry list
editStarting lineup
editThe lineup was determined by random draw, with Ryan Blaney drawing the top spot.
Race
editUnder a clear night sky, the race began at 7:15 p.m., with Ryan Blaney on pole. The caution soon fell for dirt and debris compiling at the bus stop chicane. The competition caution came out on lap 15, with all 21 cars pitting for fuel and tires. Martin Truex Jr., who was leading when the competition caution came out, missed the last chicane and was sent to the rear of the field. By lap 28, he had retaken the lead, with a caution coming out shortly after for Cole Custer’s car catching fire after an engine issue. After the restart, Truex spun in a similar fashion to Kevin Harvick earlier in the race, bringing out the caution once more. The race restarted with Chase Elliott staying out and holding the lead. Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher collided, sending the latter into Alex Bowman’s No. 48 car, however the race remained green. With a couple laps to go, Blaney caught up to and passed Elliott. Entering the frontstretch chicane on the final lap, Elliott dove inside Blaney, but they collided. Blaney spun while third-place Kyle Busch passed a slowed Elliott win the race, despite not having led any laps beforehand.
Race results
edit| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 35 |
| 2 | 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 3 | 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 35 |
| 4 | 6 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 5 | 5 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 6 | 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 35 |
| 7 | 2 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 8 | 9 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 9 | 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 10 | 12 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 35 |
| 11 | 19 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 12 | 21 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 35 |
| 13 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 35 |
| 14 | 11 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 35 |
| 15 | 17 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 35 |
| 16 | 13 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 35 |
| 17 | 4 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 35 |
| 18 | 14 | 23 | Ty Dillon (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 35 |
| 19 | 15 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 35 |
| 20 | 8 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 32 |
| 21 | 18 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 27 |
| Official race results | ||||||
Media
editFS1 covered the race on the television side; Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer handled the call in the booth for the race; Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.
Television
edit| FS1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | In-race analyst |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer |
Jamie Little Regan Smith |
Larry McReynolds |
Radio
edit| MRN Radio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace |
Turns 2–6 (Infield section): Dave Moody Turns 7–10: Mike Bagley Turns 11–14: Kyle Rickey |
Steve Post Kim Coon |
References
edit- ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Daytona International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Entry List" (PDF). MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Busch Clash Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ "Criteria set for 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2021-01-11.