Toyota Clash Post-Race Recap

The Joe Gibbs guys were all involved in the Clash Big One. 

Toyota Post-Race Recap
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
The Clash at Daytona International Speedway
Exhibition Race – 187.5 miles, 75 laps
Sunday, February 10, 2019

TOYOTA MENCS FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Jimmie Johnson*
2nd, Kurt Busch*
3rd, Joey Logano*
4th, Ryan Blaney*
5th, Alex Bowman*
14th, KYLE BUSCH
15th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
17th, DENNY HAMLIN
20th, ERIK JONES

*non-Toyota driver

Kyle Busch (14th) was the highest-finishing Toyota driver in Sunday afternoon’s The Clash exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway.
Busch and teammates Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones and Martin Truex Jr. all qualified for the event after winning pole awards during the 2018 season.

TOYOTA QUOTES

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Chocolate Bar Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Qualifying Position: 14th

Is this more of an indication of what we saw last year in the Daytona 500 with a lot of blocking that created a lot of issues?

“I don’t know exactly. I wasn’t necessarily – I was paying attention obviously, just when I was behind the 1 (Kurt Busch) I was so focused on him I guess and the move that kind of went to the bottom I saw the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) making a move on the 21 (Paul Menard). I don’t know if the 21 came down and what all contact initiated it and just tried to squeeze through the hole before the 21 got back up to me but couldn’t do it. It’s just a product of kind of what we’ve got going on just with everybody trying to make runs sometimes and when do you get those runs you try to make sure that they stick and you can get past a guy so the side draft is really important and there’s not a lot of room for the cars to move around like they tend to do. Overall, I thought we had a good race going and I wish we would’ve ended up being able to finish it but we look forward to the 500 now.”

How is your ankle injury feeling after being in the car?

“It’s fine. Just messing around with my son and just playing on the trampoline and stuff like that. I guess I can’t hang. It is what it is. I’ll be fine next week. I’m moving and I’m walking and everything. It’s just a bit tender, but overall it will be alright.”

What did you see from your perspective at the end of the race?

“We were just running along on the top there. It looked like the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) thought he had a run and took it to the bottom of the 21 (Paul Menard). I don’t know how they made contact or what happened but it ended up getting the 21 kind of squirreled out and he shot back across the track. I was trying to squeeze through that whole up again the fence and just wasn’t able to make it. We crunched up a pretty good M&M’s Toyota Camry. It’s unfortunate for all of our guys. We come down here every year working as hard as we can to build speed in our cars and all we do is go out there and destroy them. That’s unfortunate and frustrating at the same time. We’ll be back here next week and try and chase after a 500.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 15th

What happened from your perspective at the end of the race?

“It was a big crash. I saw the 21 (Paul Menard) sideways in front of me, the 1 (Kurt Busch) go down the track and turn the 21 and that’s all I saw. There was crap everywhere.”

Did you learn anything in today’s race that you can take into the Duels and Daytona 500 next week?
“Just get restarts on the outside and stay there and hopefully stay near the front somewhere. Pray the new package is better here than this one is.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 17th

Do you feel better here than what we saw at Talladega with Team Penske grouping together?

“I think cars were skewed in Talladega and with the new rules, you’re not able to do that as much with the track bar. Relative to competition, they’re a little bit closer, which allows them to not just overpower us like they did at Talladega?

How much is it taking air off the spoiler when you get a bumper on the back of the car?

“It’s crucial. Any time you can get up beside somebody by an inch or so it just is such a big parachute on either side of the car. The moment you can break that plane, it’s amazing how much these cars get drug back versus cars in the past.”

Is that something you feel you need to work on or something you need to keep away from?

“Really, I try to work on the defense of that more than anything. You know it’s there. You just want to put yourself in the position that if you’re going to get passed, put them on the correct side of what side you want to get passed on that way you have a good defense when you get beside them.”

Is there a better weather scenario to compensate for that?

“Typically, when the weather is like this, it makes it more of a raw speed thing. The runs I feel like are a little bit bigger than what they are when it’s slicker and there’s more handling issues. I think that tonight or today was just one of those deals where everyone was kind of rushing to beat whatever deadline there was – I guess it was this. I hate running up top like we were running right there. I despise it. But if you don’t do it, you’re going to get shuffled back like I did.”

ERIK JONES, No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Qualifying Position: 20th

What happened from your vantage point?

“I didn’t see very good. I haven’t seen a replay, but it looks like the 48 and the 21 were pushing and just got caught up. We were kind of mid pack and kind of got pushed into the wreck, so it’s unfortunate. Our Sports Clip Camry is pretty good, we just could never really get up front. I think we learned some good stuff for next week which is a positive, so we’ll apply it and hopefully be good Sunday.”

What was it like drafting with a larger pack of cars?

“Everybody was getting more and more aggressive. We knew the rain was coming. Everybody gets pushing and shoving and things get moved around. The car drove really good which is a positive for me at least. We’ll keep working on it and hopefully have a good car for the 500.”

Logano fastest in first Clash practice; Hamlin, Elliott, Harvick and Newman involved in wreck

Chase Elliott got loose Saturday in the Clash practice causing wreck.

A four-car wreck took place with 45 minutes left in Saturday’s practice for the Advance Auto Parts Clash, and involved Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman.

The incident, which resulted in a red flag, occurred on the backstretch and began when Elliott tried to move in front of Newman’s No. 6 Ford.

Contact between them sent Elliott into the wall and back into Newman.

After being hit from behind by Harvick, Hamlin spun into the outside wall before sliding down the track and plowing through the backstretch grass.

Elliott will go to a backup car.

“I know that Aric (Almirola) and I were trying to get up to speed,” Elliott told Fox Sports 1. “He got to the bottom and I thought, ‘Alright, I’ll go to the bottom.’ Well, that hole closed up. Was just going to kind of ride it out in the middle (lane) and fall to the back. Then I guess the 6 (Newman), I don’t know if I crowded him up. I kind of went up as he was coming down. Kind of hard to tell. I knew I got hit in the rear rear. Felt bad. If it was my fault I apologize. Yeah, it looks like I crowded him. Certainly not a good way to start the week.”

Said Newman: “It looked like the 9 car (Elliott) either washed up in front of me or drove up in front of me. I’m not sure if he was driving or his spotter cleared him and he just didn’t have a chance to react, but he filled a hole that wasn’t there and kind of caused a mess.”

Hamlin, who will also go to a backup for the exhibition race, wasn’t too upset by the incident.

“It’s just part of it,” Hamlin told FS1. “Last I saw (Newman) was crossing over my nose there and I felt a tag from somebody behind us. …This is what practice is for, to feel your car out and feel things you need to work on.”

Both Hamlin and Elliott will have to start from the rear of the field tomorrow.

It took nearly 30 minutes for crews to get Newman and Harvick’s cars removed from the backstretch grass so they could be driven to the garage.

“They’re probably mad, but I didn’t want them to haul the car back because they would have had to have lifted it up and tore the whole back of the car off and caused a lot of unnecessary work for the guys,” Harvick told FS1. “Saved us about three hundred grand.”

The only other incident in the session was Daniel Suarez spinning unharmed as he tried to enter pit road.

Joey Logano was fastest in the session with a speed of 196.785 mph.

He was followed by Jimmie Johnson (196.674 mph), Austin Dillon (196.622), Elliott (196.579) and Harvick (196.51).

READ MORE HERE....NBC SPORTS

CLASH PRACTICE SPEEDS

Betting Preview: 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona

Just about every driver has a chance to win Sunday's Clash.

Sunday's Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway is a 75-lap shootout between 20 of the best drivers in NASCAR. And while it's a non-points race and the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series officially begins Feb. 17 with the Daytona 500, the Clash is the green light for everyone that NASCAR is back.

So let's get this 2019 NASCAR party started!

The participating drivers became eligible by either winning a pole last season, a Daytona 500 pole, a former Daytona 500 champion or participate in last season's playoffs. That's a total of 20 drivers, the best of the best. No jalopies to get in the way, either.

“The Clash is a great event and always an exciting way to kick off the season," said Ryan Newman who makes his debut Sunday for Roush Fenway Racing driving the No. 6 Ford. "It is a limited, All-Star field, with a winner take all mentality and it usually leads to some thrilling racing. It would be a great opportunity to kick off the season with a win and get momentum rolling heading into the Daytona 500.”

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook posted three Fords drivers -- Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski -- as the co-favorites at 7-to-1 odds (Bet $100 to win $700).

Ford has won five of the past nine points races at Daytona's 2.5-mile high-banked layout and Keselowski won the Clash last season and the year before it was Logano. Ford has also won the past seven races at Talladega Superspeedway, the other track requiring restrictor-plates.

There's not much changed on the plate cars we'll be watching the next two weeks from last season which certainly has Ford deserving to be the favorite. The Ford body has changed from the Fusion to the new Mustang GT body. Ford says the aerodynamics aren't much different and might even be better, but can it really be just as good as the Fusion? Those Fords were elite and now they're not the same cars. I'm skeptical of change.

And the huge change will be in two weeks at Atlanta Motor Speedway when the new rules package goes into effect. NASCAR tested the new package at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week and the cars were slower than Xfinity cars. Horsepower dropped from 750 to 550 and drivers kept the pedal mashed to the floor all the way around the 1.5-mile layout, which is unheard of. NASCAR wants drivers in packs and close, but passing appeared difficult at the test as well.

“I think this year with there being so many different changes within the cars themselves, it’s going to be pretty much a reset for everyone,” said Denny Hamlin. “That allows us to get back to square one. I’m working with a new crew chief (Chris Gabehart) who are coming from the Xfinity side, so he’s got more of a clean slate to kind of work from now."

READ MORE HERE......TOP-5 FINISH PREDICTION ON VEGASINSIDER.COM

Ryan Newman to make Roush Fenway debut in Daytona Clash

Ryan Newman is 30/1 to win the Clash.

Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Advance Auto Parts Clash – Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman in the Clash

· Ryan Newman makes his Roush Fenway debut behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford Mustang this weekend at Daytona International Speedway kicking off Speedweeks.

· Newman qualifies for the 2019 Clash field via his 2008 Daytona 500 victory. He will be one of 20 drivers to take the green on Sunday for the 75-lap star-studded event.

· Newman will make his 15th start in the Clash format at Daytona, having finished top-five three times. He crossed the line second in 2005, third in 2011 and fourth in 2003.

· Overall at Daytona Newman has 34 Cup starts with one win (2008), 10 top-10 and five top-five results.

Scott Graves in the Clash

· Scott Graves will be making his Clash debut this weekend at Daytona.

QUOTE WORTHY

Newman on racing in the Clash:

“The Clash is a great event and always an exciting way to kick off the season. It is a limited, all-star field, with a winner take all mentality and it usually leads to some thrilling racing. It would be a great opportunity to kick of the season with a win and get momentum rolling heading into the Daytona 500.”

On the Car

Wyndham Rewards will serve as the primary partner for The Clash this weekend on the No. 6. It will be the first time for Newman to carry the blue and white colors on the Mustang in 2019.

About Wyndham Rewards
Named a best hotel rewards program for the past four consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report, Wyndham Rewards® is the award-winning guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, offering members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free night redemption rate—the first of its kind for a major rewards program. Members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points for every qualified stay and can redeem for a free night at any of more than 25,000 hotels, condos or homes around the world for just 15,000 points per room per night. No tricks, just Wyndham Rewards magic. You’ve Earned This®. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com.

Ford Performance 2019 Advanace Auto Parts Clash Preview

The new Mustang GT by Ford.

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: THE CLASH AT DAYTONA

The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season gets started this weekend with The Clash at Daytona on Sunday afternoon. This non-points event features pole-winners from the 2018 season, along with former Clash winners, former Daytona 500 race and pole-winners who competed full-time last year, and playoff qualifiers from a season ago. This event has been run in one form or another since 1979.

WHO’S IN?

There are 20 drivers entered in Sunday afternoon’s Clash and nine of those will be driving the new Ford Mustang for the first time in competition. Four Ford organizations will be represented, including all of the drivers that make up Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing. Defending series champion Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) will join Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola and Daniel Suarez (SHR) in the field. Rounding out the Ford contingent is Ryan Newman, who will be making his return to Ford and debut with Roush Fenway Racing, and Paul Menard, who won the pole for Wood Brothers Racing last year at Chicagoland Speedway.

KESELOWSKI LOOKING TO DEFEND

In a foreshadowing of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski took Ford to Victory Lane in the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway. Keselowski led a Ford sweep of the top four finishing positions as he took the lead on lap 39 of the 75-lap feature and never looked back, holding off Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Ryan Blaney, respectively. It marked the second straight Clash win for Ford and served as a springboard that saw the Blue Oval lead the series with 19 points wins and capture the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.

LOGANO BREAKS CLASH DROUGHT

Joey Logano snapped a 13-year Ford winless drought when he won The Clash in 2017, making him the manufacturer’s first victor since Dale Jarrett in 2004. Logano found himself in the right place at the right time, taking the lead after Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski made contact on the final lap. Keselowski had a run and was trying to pass Hamlin, whose attempt at blocking came too late and resulted in both cars colliding. That enabled Logano to get through and win the Clash for the first time in his career. Four Ford drivers finished in the top six spots as Danica Patrick was fourth, Kevin Harvick fifth and Keselowski sixth.

ELLIOTT CLAIMS FORD’S FIRST CLASH VICTORY AT DAYTONA

Bill Elliott became the first Ford driver to win a non-points event in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Feb. 8, 1987 in what was then known as the Busch Clash. The format that year was a single 20-lap run (50 miles) with no pit stop required. Elliott, who started on the pole in his No. 9 Coors Thunderbird after a blind draw, fell back to sixth on the start after Terry Labonte and Ricky Rudd were involved in an accident on the first lap. On the ensuing restart, Elliott steadily reeled in leader Darrell Waltrip and passed him on lap eight. Elliott led the final 13 laps and won with an average speed of 197.802 mph, a record that still stands for the event. A week later, Elliott won his second Daytona 500.

TAURUS WINS DEBUT AS RUSTY WINS INAUGURAL BUD SHOOTOUT

Taurus made NASCAR history as the first four-door sedan and it wasted no time in opening eyes as Rusty Wallace drove it to victory in its debut race – the 1998 Bud Shootout. The win was Wallace’s first at Daytona International Speedway and it came with a little help from his younger brother, Kenny, who pushed him across the finish line on the final lap. Bill Elliott and Jimmy Spencer finished third and fourth, respectively, to give Ford a sweep of the top four positions.

DJ HOLDS OFF JR FOR SHOOTOUT TRIUMPH

Dale Jarrett won his third Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 7, 2004 in his No. 88 UPS Taurus. The race was broken up into two segments – an initial 20-lap run followed by a 50-lapper to the finish – and marked the beginning of Nextel as series sponsor. Jarrett and Kevin Harvick were side-by-side at the white flag, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave Jarrett the push he needed to complete the pass on the outside going through turn one. Even though Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray got into an accident on the backstretch, the race finished under green with Jarrett holding off Earnhardt Jr. for the win.

FORD GOING FOR THREE STRAIGHT

Ford has won The Clash at Daytona nine times by seven different drivers, including the last two by Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. The best stretch for Ford in the event undoubtedly came during a three-year winning streak in which Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett all reached victory lane from 1998-2000. Jarrett owns three of Ford’s eight victories (1996, 2000, 2004) in the event and on two of those occasions (1996 and 2000) he went on to win the Daytona 500. As noted above, Bill Elliott was Ford’s first winner in the event while Geoffrey Bodine was next in 1992.

FORD’S CLASH AT DAYTONA WINNERS

1987 – Bill Elliott

1992 – Geoffrey Bodine

1996 – Dale Jarrett

1998 – Rusty Wallace

1999 – Mark Martin

2000 – Dale Jarrett

2004 – Dale Jarrett

2017 – Joey Logano

2018 – Brad Keselowski

2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona Facts

Brad Keselowski won last season's Clash and is the 7-to-1 co-favorite to win Sunday.

Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Advance Auto Parts Clash At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, (February 4, 2019) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida going into the Advance Auto Parts Clash on Feb. 10. A total of 20 drivers are eligible to participate in the annual preseason, 75 lap, two segments, non-points race. A competition caution on Lap 25 will separate the two segments. The event will be broadcast live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 3 p.m. ET.   

2019 Eligible Participants For The Clash Include   The starting field for the 2019 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.   2018 Busch Pole Award Winners (13) Ryan Blaney Alex Bowman Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Chase Elliott Denny Hamlin Kevin Harvick Erik Jones Kyle Larson Joey Logano Paul Menard Daniel Suarez Martin Truex Jr. Former Daytona 500 Champions (2) Jamie McMurray Ryan Newman Former Daytona 500 Pole Winners (2) Austin Dillon Jimmie Johnson 2018 Monster Energy Playoff Participants (3) Aric Almirola Clint Bowyer Brad Keselowski

 2019 Eligible Drivers’ Performances

(In alphabetical order)

Aric Almirola

No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang

(Three Clash appearances)

Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2013     6          8          43        75                                Running

2015     18        19        43        55                                Accident

2016     18        17        43        72                                Accident

Ryan Blaney

No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang

(One Clash appearance)

Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2018     4          15        12        75                                Running

 

Alex Bowman

No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(One Clash appearance)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2017     3          8          88        75                                Running

 

Clint Bowyer

No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang

(Five Clash appearances)                                                         

Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2008     14        21        07        70                                Running

2011     9          7          33        75        2          4          Running

2012     8          17        15        82                                Running

2015     20        18        15        45                                Accident

2016     23        8          15        23                                Accident

Kurt Busch

No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(15 Clash appearances)                                               

Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2002     14        1          97        70        1          3          Running

2003     11        3          97        70        1          11        Running

2005     6          6          97        70                                Running

2007     3          19        2          70        2          6          Running

2008     18        1          2          70                               Running

2009     9          12        2          78                                Running

2010     23        22        2          32                                Accident

2011     1          17        22        75        3          3          Running

2012     17        6          51        82                                Accident

2013     13        18        78        15                                Accident

2014     14        10        41        35                                Accident

2015     15        13        41        67                                Accident

2016     7          21        41        79                                Running

2017     17        10        41        16                                Accident

2018     3          14        41        75                                Running

Kyle Busch

No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry                                                           

(12 Clash appearances)                                               

Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2006     15        14        5          72        2          4          Running

2007     7          6          5          70        3          39        Running

2009     10        10        18        78        2          6          Running

2010     4          17        18        76                                Running

2011     16        21        18        41        2          2          Accident

2012     1          2          18        82        2          3          Running

2013     16        13        18        14                                Accident

2014     3          4          18        75        1          6          Running

2015     8          5          18        75                                Running

2016     17        9          18        72                                Accident

2017     2          13        18        75        1          5          Running

2018     7          13        18        75                                Running

Austin Dillon

No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(Four Clash appearances)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2015     17        6          3          61                                Accident

2016     8          10        3          79                                Running

2017     12        4          3          75                                Running

2018     5          1          3          75        2          3          Running

Chase Elliott

No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(Two Clash appearances)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2017     7          14        24        75                                Running

2018     13        12        9          74        3          17        Running

Denny Hamlin

No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry

(13 Clash appearances)                                               

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2006     1          15        11        72        3          16        Running

2007     17        21        11        70                                Running

2008     9          12        11        70                               Running

2009     13        5          11        78        2          4          Running

2010     5          24        11        76                                Running

2011     12        4          11        75                                Running

2012     5          16        11        82                                Running

2013     15        5          11        14                                Accident

2014     1          1          11        75        6          27        Running

2015     19        9          11        45                                Accident

2016     1          15        11        79        5          39        Running

2017     13        2          11        74        2          48        Running

2018     6          2          11        75        1          8          Running

  

Kevin Harvick

No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang

(14 Clash appearances)                                   

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2003     9          16        29        70                                Running

2004     3          5          29        70        2          10        Running

2006     20        18        29        15                                Engine

2007     5          20        29        70        2          11        Running

2009     1          27        29        78        1          1          Running

2010     1          2          29        76        5          21        Running

2011     7          18        29        75                                Running

2012     22        22        29        54        3          4          Accident

2013     1          17        29        75        3          37        Running

2014     5          6          4          75        2          6          Running

2015     11        8          4          75        1          1          Running

2016     25        22        4          22                                Accident

2017     5          7          4          75                                Running

2018     9          9          4          75        1          2          Running

Jimmie Johnson

No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(16 Clash appearances)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2003     7          2          48        70        1          4          Running

2004     9          17        48        70                                Running

2005     1          17        48        70        1          16        Running

2006     5          2          48        72        3          12        Running

2007     4          8          48        70                                Running

2008     3          18        48        70                               Running

2009     14        21        48        77        1          2          Accident

2010     13        16        48        76                                Running

2011     4          23        48        75        2          7          Running

2012     14        18        48        74        1          1          Accident

2013     14        11        48        14                                Accident

2014     17        18        48        28                                Accident

2015     22        17        48        45                                Accident

2016     22        1          48        43                                Accident

2017     16        6          48        48                                Accident

2018     12        5          48        74                                Running

Erik Jones

No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry

(One Clash appearance)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2018     8          4          20        75                                Running

Brad Keselowski

No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang

(Six Clash appearances)                                                                      

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2012     4          3          2          82                                Running

2014     2          5          2          75        3          8          Running

2015     25        4          2          22        1          2          Accident

2016     9          2          2          79        6          26        Running

2017     6          1          2          75        2          18        Running

2018     1          17        2          75        2          43        Running

Kyle Larson

No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(Four Clash appearances)

Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2015     5          25        42        75                                Running

2016     4          4          42        79                                Running

2017     14        11        42        61                                Damage

2018     10        10        42        75        2          2          Running

Joey Logano

No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang                                                                 

(10 Clash appearances)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2009     28        19        20        3                                  Accident

2010     7          21        20        76                                Running

2011     18        22        20        27                                Accident

2012     18        10        20        54        1          1          Accident

2013     3          9          22        75                                Running

2014     4          11        22        75        2          11        Running

2015     6          3          22        75                                Running

2016     2          25        22        79                                Running

2017     1          9          22        75        2          4          Running

2018     2          3          22        75        1          1          Running

Jamie McMurray

No. 40 Spire Motorsports-Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

(12 Clash appearances)           

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2004     17        3          42        69        2          8          Accident

2006     8          17        26        72        1          1          Running

2008     22        4          26        24                                Accident

2009     2          15        26        78        4          16        Running

2010     3          9          1          76        2          2          Running

2011     2          14        1          75                                Running

2012     16        4          1          73        5          11        Accident

2014     6          2          1          75        2          10        Running

2015     24        21        1          45                                Accident

2016     14        24        1          78        1          14        Running

2017     10        3          1          75                                Running

2018     17        16        1          43                                Accident

Paul Menard

No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang

(Four Clash appearances)                    

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2009     12        1          98        78        1          2          Running

2012     23        24        27        8                                  Accident

2015     21        1          27        45        1          7          Accident

2016     3          14        27        79                                Running

Ryan Newman

No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang

(14 Clash appearances)           

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2002     15        8          42        70                                Running

2003     4          15        12        70                                Running

2004     16        16        12        69        1          4          Accident

2005     2          7          12        70        1          4          Running

2006     17        7          12        68                                Accident

2007     20        9          12        46                                Engine

2008     17        23        12        70                                Running

2010     19        4          39        74                                Accident

2011     3          8          39        75        3          18        Running

2012     7          13        39        82                                Running

2014     8          17        31        75                                Running

2015     12        12        31        75                                Running

2016     19        5          31        69                                Accident

2018     11        11        31        75                                Running

Daniel Suarez

No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang

(One Clash appearance)

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2018     8          16        19        75                                Running

Martin Truex Jr.

No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry

(Seven Clash appearances)                              

                                                            Times  Laps   

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2008     21        9          1          47                                Accident

2012     19        1          56        54        2          7          Accident

2013     9          6          56        75        1          2          Running

2015     2          10        78        75        4          29        Running

2016     13        7          78        78                                Running

2017     15        5          78        60                                Accident

2018     14        6          78        74                                Running

2019 Eligible Drivers - Stats from The Clash At Daytona
2019 Eligible Drivers	Starts	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	Laps Led	Avg. Start	Avg. Finish	DNFs
Aric Almirola	3	0	0	1	0	14.6	14.0	2
Ryan Blaney	1	0	1	1	0	15.0	4.0	0
Alex Bowman	1	0	1	1	0	8.0	3.0	0
Clint Bowyer	5	0	0	2	4	14.2	14.8	2
Kurt Busch	15	1	3	6	23	11.5	11.4	6
Kyle Busch	12	1	4	8	65	10.5	8.8	3
Austin Dillon	4	0	1	2	3	5.3	10.5	1
Chase Elliott	2	0	0	1	17	13.0	10.0	0
Denny Hamlin	13	3	5	7	142	10.1	9.0	2
Kevin Harvick	14	3	7	10	93	14.1	8.9	3
Jimmie Johnson	16	1	5	7	42	12.5	11.1	7
Erik Jones	1	0	0	1	0	4.0	8.0	0
Brad Keselowski	6	1	3	5	97	5.3	7.8	1
Kyle Larson	4	0	2	3	2	12.5	8.3	1
Joey Logano	10	1	5	7	17	13.2	8.9	3
Jamie McMurray	12	0	3	6	62	11.0	11.8	5
Paul Menard	4	0	1	1	9	10.0	14.8	2
Ryan Newman	14	0	3	5	26	11.1	12.1	5
Daniel Suarez	1	0	0	1	0	8.0	16.0	0
Martin Truex Jr.	7	0	1	2	38	6.3	13.3	3

Finishes of Drivers Starting from  the Pole in The Clash
Season	Driver	Finish
2018	Austin Dillon	5
2017	Brad Keselowski	6
2016	Jimmie Johnson	22
2015	Paul Menard	21
2014	Denny Hamlin	1
2013	Carl Edwards	12
2012	Martin Truex Jr	19
2011	Dale Earnhardt Jr	19
2010	Carl Edwards	17
2009	Paul Menard	12
2008	Kurt Busch	18
2007	Dale Jarrett	18
2006	Ken Schrader	14
2005	Dale Jarrett	15
2004	Jeremy Mayfield	18
2003	Geoff Bodine	19
2002	Kurt Busch	14
2001	Ken Schrader	16
2000	Mark Martin	15
1999	Rusty Wallace	7
1998	Mark Martin	8
1997	Bobby Labonte	13
1996	Rick Mast	12
1995	Geoff Bodine	12
1994	Bobby Labonte	12
1993	Bill Elliott	9
1992	Rusty Wallace	14
1991	Geoff Bodine	6
1990	Jimmy Hensley	10
1989	Ken Schrader	1
1988	Geoff Bodine	4
1987	Bill Elliott	1
1986	Harry Gant	7
1985	Ricky Rudd	6
1984	Jody Ridley	7
1983	Bill Elliott	3
1982	Terry Labonte	2
1981	Darrell Waltrip	1
1980	Bobby Allison	4
1979	Benny Parsons	4
Average		10.6

The Clash at Daytona All-Time Race Winners
Date	Winners	Starting Pos.
2018	Brad Keselowski	17
2017	Joey Logano	9
2016	Denny Hamlin	15
2015	Matt Kenseth	16
2014	Denny Hamlin	1
2013	Kevin Harvick	17
2012	Kyle Busch	2
2011	Kurt Busch	17
2010	Kevin Harvick	2
2009	Kevin Harvick	27
2008	Dale Earnhardt Jr	7
2007	Tony Stewart	14
2006	Denny Hamlin	15
2005	Jimmie Johnson	17
2004	Dale Jarrett	15
2003	Dale Earnhardt Jr	19
2002	Tony Stewart	3
2001	Tony Stewart	7
2000	Dale Jarrett	15
1999	Mark Martin	13
1998	Rusty Wallace	13
1997	Jeff Gordon	3
1996	Dale Jarrett	12
1995	Dale Earnhardt	2
1994	Jeff Gordon	10
1993	Dale Earnhardt	15
1992	Geoff Bodine	3
1991	Dale Earnhardt	14
1990	Ken Schrader	3
1989	Ken Schrader	1
1988	Dale Earnhardt	2
1987	Bill Elliott	1
1986	Dale Earnhardt	4
1985	Terry Labonte	11
1984	Neil Bonnett	8
1983	Neil Bonnett	15
1982	Bobby Allison	12
1981	Darrell Waltrip	1
1980	Dale Earnhardt	5
1979	Buddy Baker	3

The Advanced Auto Parts Clash At Daytona Tidbits

History

·        The first Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona was held on February 11, 1979, and the event was won by Buddy Baker (194.384 MPH).

·        This weekend’s event will be the 41st running of the Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona.  

·        The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009.

·        Like the past two seasons, the starting field for the 2019 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. (20 drivers are eligible for this year’s event).

·        The format for The Clash at Daytona has changed 14 times since its inception in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 1979.

Starts

·        In total, 116 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have competed in the Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona; 85 of the 116 drivers have participated in more than one.

·        The top 10 drivers (all-time) with the most Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona appearances: Mark Martin (24), Bill Elliott (23), Jeff Gordon (22), Ken Schrader (19), Rusty Wallace (19), Terry Labonte (18), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16), Geoff Bodine (16), Jimmie Johnson (16) and Ricky Rudd (16).  

·        The top 10 (active) drivers with the most Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona appearances: Jimmie Johnson (16), Kurt Busch (15), Kevin Harvick (14), Ryan Newman (14), Denny Hamlin (13), Jamie McMurray (12), Kyle Busch (12), Joey Logano (10), Martin Truex Jr. (7), Brad Keselowski (6) and Clint Bowyer (5).

·        Jeff Gordon has appeared in the most consecutive Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona races, competing in 22 consecutive events from 1994-2015.

·        Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in consecutive Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona starts with 16 (2003 – 2018).

Wins

·        A total of 23 different drivers have won the Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona.

·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona wins with six victories (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).

·        Denny Hamlin (three: 2006, 2014, 2016) and Kevin Harvick (three: 2009, 2010, 2013) lead all active drivers in the Advanced Auto Part Clash at Daytona wins with three each.

·        There have been nine multiple winners in the Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona:

o   Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).

o   Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

o   Kevin Harvick won in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

o   Tony Stewart won in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

o   Denny Hamlin won in 2006, 2014 and 2016.

o   Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008).

·        Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back Clash at Daytona races.

·        No driver has won three consecutive Clash events.

·        Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Clash at Daytona in which they competed.

·        Only six times in the 38-year history of the race has the winner gone on to win the Daytona 500:

              Bobby Allison (1982)

              Bill Elliott (1987)

              Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)

Jeff Gordon (1997)

Denny Hamlin (2016)

·        There have been four winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader(1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).

·        Two drivers have swept the Clash at Daytona, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2018: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987)

·        One driver has swept the Clash at Daytona, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-2018: Bobby Allison (1982).

·        Seven drivers have won the Clash at Daytona (1979-2018) and the championship in the same season. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times (four).

Tony Stewart (2002)

Jeff Gordon (1997)

Dale Earnhardt (1993, 1991, 1986 and 1980)

Darrell Waltrip (1981)

·        Four drivers have won consecutive Clash at Daytona races (1979-2018). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500.

Kevin Harvick (2009-10)

Tony Stewart (2000-01)

Ken Schrader (1990-91)

Neil Bonnett (1983-84)

The Clash At Daytona Manufacturer Wins Recap Manufacturer         Victories          Last Victory - Driver Chevrolet                20                    2013 – Kevin Harvick Ford                       9                      2018 – Brad Keselowski Toyota                    4                      2016 – Denny Hamlin                Buick                      2                      1982 – Bobby Allison Oldsmobile             2                      1980 – Dale Earnhardt Pontiac                   2                      2002 – Tony Stewart Dodge                    1                      2011 – Kurt Busch

By the Numbers: The Advance Auto Parts Clash At Daytona

.013 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in the Clash at Daytona history

.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second-closest margin in the Clash at Daytona history

.080 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third-closest margin of victory in the Clash at Daytona history

1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in the Clash at Daytona races they won

2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts

4 – Number of drivers to win the Clash at Daytona from the pole position – Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).

5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006) – every driver entered this season has made a previous Clash appearance

6 – Number of the Clash at Daytona wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader (1980, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95)

7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for the Clash at Daytona (1981)

11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin)

14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979

20 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in the Clash at Daytona, leads all manufacturers

22 – Most consecutive starts in the Clash at Daytona by a driver - Jeff Gordon (1994-2015).

27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history

28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979

44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event

47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Clash at Daytona.

197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for the Clash at Daytona was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.