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Tag: The Clash

  • Paul Menard will start on pole for Clash at Daytona

    Paul Menard will start on pole for Clash at Daytona

    Paul Menard will start on the pole for the Advance Auto Parts Clash Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

    The pole was determined in a random draw Saturday night to select the starting position of each driver. This is Menard’s third pole in the annual exhibition race.

    Kyle Busch will start second, followed by Brad Keselowski in third, Ryan Newman in fourth with Alex Bowman rounding out the top five.

    This year’s Clash is comprised of 20 competitors who have met the following criteria.

    1. Drivers who won a pole in 2018
    2. Drivers who have previously won this event and competed full time in 2018
    3. Former Daytona 500 winners that competed full time in 2018
    4. Former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time in 2018
    5. Drivers who qualified for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

    The Clash will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. ET with the green flag set to wave at 3:14 p.m ET. It will consist of 75 laps with a competition caution on Lap 25.

    1.  Paul Menard – No. 21 Ford – Wood Brothers Racing
    2. Kyle Busch – No. 18 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing
    3.  Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Ford – Team Penske
    4.  Ryan Newman – No. 6 Ford – Roush Fenway Racing
    5. Alex Bowman – No. 88 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports
    6.  Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Ford – Stewart-Haas Racing
    7.  Joey Logano – No. 22 Ford – Team Penske
    8.  Ryan Blaney – No. 12 Ford – Team Penske
    9.  Austin Dillon – No. 3 Chevrolet – Richard Childress Racing
    10.  Daniel Suarez – No. 41 Ford – Stewart-Haas Racing
    11.  Jamie McMurray – No. 40 Chevrolet – Spire Motorsports
    12.  Martin Truex Jr. – No. 19 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing
    13.  Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports
    14.  Kyle Larson – No. 42 Chevrolet – Chip Ganassi Racing
    15.  Clint Bowyer – No. 14 Ford – Stewart-Haas Racing
    16.  Chase Elliott – No. 9 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports
    17.  Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing
    18.  Aric Almirola – No. 10 Ford – Stewart-Haas Racing
    19.  Kurt Busch – No. 1 Chevrolet – Chip Ganassi Racing
    20.  Erik Jones – No. 20 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing

    * Please Note: Elliott and Hamlin will start the race from the rear of the field after moving to backup cars as their primary cars were damaged during practice.


    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Alex Bowman Approaching Final Race as Substitute Driver

    Alex Bowman Approaching Final Race as Substitute Driver

    As Saturday night’s Advance Auto Parts Clash approaches, for many drivers, it’s the beginning of a new season. However,  the opposite is true for Alex Bowman who has one more shot to show that he belongs in a ride in one of NASCAR’s  top three series.

    Bowman, who is 23-years-old, scored his first ever pole in NASCAR’s top series last fall at Phoenix International Raceway. He also led over half of the race but, unfortunately, was involved in a late-race incident with Matt Kenseth in the closing laps.

    He spoke to the media at Daytona International Speedway Friday about his future.

    “I was kind of surprised that a winning XFINITY car or something like that didn’t open up,” Bowman said. “I feel like I want to be part of a winning organization whether I am driving, just working for the team, doing testing or doing the simulation stuff.”

    He has nine starts in the XFINITY series for JR Motorsports, along with five top-fives with 50 starts in his career. Former Cup driver Michael Annett will run for JRM in the No. 5 car full-time this season.

    Bowman filled in for 10 races during the 2016 season as Dale Earnhardt recuperated from concussion-like symptoms and won the pole for the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in November, making him eligible for The Clash.

    As a result, Earnhardt wanted to give him the chance to compete in the event by allowing Bowman to drive the No. 88 car.

    “Alex did such a great job in the car this year, and I felt like he deserved another opportunity,” Earnhardt said. “When I spoke with Rick and the team about him driving The Clash, everyone agreed that he more than earned it, and Nationwide was 100 percent on board.

    Earnhardt will sit out the race but will be a part of the television coverage of The Clash Saturday night, live on FOX Sports 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

    Bowman is ready for the challenge that Saturday night will bring.

    “I feel like we can be up front all night,” he said confidently. ”But it definitely adds some pressure to have probably the best speedway racer of our time in the booth calling the race.”

    Bowman will start eighth in The Clash. The exhibition race will consist of 75 laps which will be split into two segments with a competition caution on Lap 25.

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona Speedweeks

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona Speedweeks

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series will open the 2017 season at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.

    Analyzing The Advanced Auto Parts Clash At Daytona:
    Unlike previous years, the starting field for the 2017 Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona will not be a predetermined number of cars; rather, the field is limited to drivers who meet more exclusive criteria.  The 2017 Eligible Participants Include:

    2016 Coors Light Pole Winners: Greg Biffle, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Carl Edwards, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.

    Former Clash Winners: Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart

    Former Daytona 500 Pole Winners: Danica Patrick

    2016 Monster Energy Playoff Participants: Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray

    Breakdown of Clash at Daytona Winners:

    Year Driver Year Driver
     1979 Buddy Baker 1998 Rusty Wallace
    1980 Dale Earnhardt 1999 Mark Martin
    1981 Darrell Waltrip 2000 Dale Jarrett
    1982 Bobby Allison 2001 Tony Stewart
    1983 Neil Bonnett 2002 Tony Stewart
    1984 Neil Bonnett 2003 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    1985 Terry Labonte 2004 Dale Jarrett
    1986 Dale Earnhardt 2005 Jimmie Johnson
    1987 Bill Elliott 2006 Denny Hamlin
    1988 Dale Earnhardt 2007 Tony Stewart
    1989 Ken Schrader 2008 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    1990 Ken Schrader 2009 Kevin Harvick
    1991 Dale Earnhardt 2010 Kevin Harvick
    1992 Geoff Bodine 2011 Kurt Busch
    1993 Dale Earnhardt 2012 Kyle Busch
    1994 Jeff Gordon 2013 Kevin Harvick
    1995 Dale Earnhardt 2014 Denny Hamlin
    1996 Dale Jarrett 2015 Matt Kenseth
    1997 Jeff Gordon 2016 Denny Hamlin

     

    Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, Feb. 17:

    On Track:
    5-5:55 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice for The Clash at Daytona – FS1
    6:30-7:25 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice for The Clash at Daytona – FS1

    Saturday, Feb. 18:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-3:25 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice – FS1
    8 p.m.: Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona (75 laps, 187.5 miles) – FS1

    Sunday, Feb. 19:

    On Track:
    3:10 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) – FOX

    TV Schedule Feb. 13-19

     

     

     

    Thursday, Feb. 23:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    2-2:55 p.m.: Truck Series First Practice – FS1
    4-4:55 p.m.: Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    7 p.m.: First Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles) – FS1
    9 p.m.: Second Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles) – FS1 (time approx.)

    Friday, Feb. 24:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – FS1
    1-1:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice – FS1
    2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    3-3:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice – FS1
    4:30 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds), FS1
    7:30 p.m.: Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), FS1

    Saturday, Feb. 25:

    On Track:
    10:30 a.m.: XFINITY Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Final Practice – FS1
    3:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Powershares QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Sunday, Feb. 26:

    On Track:
    2 p.m.: Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles) – FOX

     

  • How the Advance Auto Parts Clash Works

    How the Advance Auto Parts Clash Works

    By RJ Kraft | NASCAR.com

    The exhibition event known as the Advance Auto Parts Clash (Feb. 18, 8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is the kickoff to the 2017 NASCAR season. The non-points paying event at Daytona International Speedway features a select field of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers at the 2.5-mile track. How does the race work? What is the format? How does one qualify for the event? NASCAR.com answers those questions and more.

    Programming info for The Clash:

    When: Feb. 18, 8 p.m. ET
    Where: Daytona International Speedway
    TV: FS1
    Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Defending race winner: Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing

    What is the format?

    The 75-lap, 187.5-mile race will be split into two segments. A competition caution at Lap 25 will separate the segments.

    How do drivers qualify for this event?

    Drivers are eligible for this event by the following ways: 2016 Coors Light Pole Award winners, former Clash race winners and former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2016. All 16 drivers from the 2016 playoffs are also eligible.

    Which     drivers are eligible to race then?

    20 drivers meet the requirements. They are:
    Chris Buescher (2016 playoff qualifier)
    Greg Biffle (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Alex Bowman (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Kurt Busch (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Kyle Busch (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Austin Dillon (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Former Clash Race winner)
    Carl Edwards (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Chase Elliott (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Denny Hamlin (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Kevin Harvick (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Jimmie Johnson (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Matt Kenseth (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Brad Keselowski (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Kyle Larson (2016 playoff qualifier)
    Joey Logano (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Jamie McMurray (2016 playoff qualifier)
    Danica Patrick (Former Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Award winner)
    Tony Stewart (Former Clash Race winner)
    Martin Truex Jr. (2016 Coors Light Pole Award winner)

    Some of those names are not driving in 2017 or have yet to secure rides.

    That’s a good point. Biffle does not have a ride as of yet for the 2017 season, so he will not be competing. Edwards stepped away from racing last month, but NASCAR has allowed his replacement, Daniel Suarez, to drive in the race. Stewart has retired from NASCAR competition. So that puts the field at 18.

    Bowman and Dale Jr. drove the same car in 2016; how can they both be in the race?

    They won’t. Alex Bowman will drive the No. 88 in The Clash as a nod to the work he did as a substitute driver while Dale Earnhardt Jr. was out last season with concussion-like symptoms. Instead, Dale Jr. will be in the TV booth calling the action on FS1 with commentators Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip.

    So the field will be made up of how many cars?

    Seventeen drivers will make up the field: Buescher, Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Elliott, Hamlin, Harvick, Johnson, Kenseth, Keselowski, Larson, Logano, McMurray, Patrick, Suarez and Truex Jr.

    How is the lineup determined?

    A draw will be held to determine drivers’ starting positions. In past years, the crew chiefs have drawn for position. Hamlin, last year’s winner, started the race 15th.

    Are there any points on the line?

    No, this is a non-points event, just like the Monster Energy All-Star Race in May.