2021 Busch Clash

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.

Format and eligibility

On March 4, 2020, at a media event for the Daytona AMA Supercross Championship round in the tri-oval grass, NASCAR announced the Busch Clash would move to the road course at Daytona on a Tuesday night, in order to deal with a compressed schedule caused by Super Bowl LV in Tampa, which is 125 miles west of Daytona International Speedway via Interstate 4. In addition, with the intent to use the seventh-generation car for the 2021 season, NASCAR used the road course move in order to alleviate issues after numerous major crashes marred the past two Clashes by having teams use the sixth-generation car on the road course. This was similar to the 1981 season, which started at the Riverside road course with the second-generation car using the 115 inch wheelbase, instead of the third-generation 110 inch wheelbase car, which debuted at the Daytona races in 1981.
The two segment format used since 2001 was continued, although the second segment was closer in distance to the first. The first segment consisted of 15 laps, while the second segment was 20 laps. For comparison, two weeks later, when the Daytona 400km race was held at the same circuit, the first stage was 14 laps and second stage was 18 laps.
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.

Entry list

Starting lineup

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

Race

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

Media

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.