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.

2021 Busch Clash
Race details[1][2][3][4][5]
Race 1 of 2 exhibition races in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
Date February 9, 2021 (2021-02-09)
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

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The 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

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No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Ty Dillon (i) 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Official entry list

Starting lineup

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The lineup was determined by random draw, with Ryan Blaney drawing the top spot.

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer
1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
2 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
7 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
8 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
9 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
10 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
11 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
12 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
13 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
14 23 Ty Dillon (i) 23XI Racing Toyota
15 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
16 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
17 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
18 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
21 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Official starting lineup

Race

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Under 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

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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

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FS1 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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Daytona International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Busch Clash Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "Criteria set for 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2021-01-11.