Advance Auto Parts Clash
The Advance Auto Parts Clash is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in February the weekend before the Daytona 500, It began as the Busch Clash and was a 50-mile "all out sprint", In its current format, it is made up of two segments, starting with the 25-lap segment, which culminates with the final 50-lap segment, The race, like the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race in May, carries no points for the winner but rather a large purse, circumstances which are supposed to encourage an all-out driving style not seen in regular season races, where one series mistake can largely ruin a season. However, due to the smaller fields, huge crashes in the Daytona 500 are uncommon.
 | |
| Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Daytona International Speedway |
| Location | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
| Corporate sponsor | Advance Auto Parts |
| First race | 1979 |
| Distance | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
| Laps | 75 |
| Previous names | Busch Clash (1979–1997) Bud Shootout (1998–2000) Budweiser Shootout (2001–2012) Sprint Unlimited (2013–2016) Advance Auto Parts Clash (2017–present) |
| Most wins (driver) | Dale Earnhardt (6) |
| Most wins (team) | Richard Childress Racing Joe Gibbs Racing (8) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Chevrolet (20) |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
The 1987 race, won by Bill Elliott, was completed at an average speed of 197.902 miles per hour (318.492 km/h), It stands as the fastest-sanctioned race in the history of NASCAR (though it was not a points-paying event).
Race format
- 1979-1990: The race consisted of a single twenty-lap (50 mile) green flag sprint with no pit stops required, Caution flags do not count.
- 1991-1997: The race was broken up into two ten-lap green flag segments, the field was then inverted for the second ten-lap segment, Prize money was awarded for both segments for all positions, The race had been broken up into two segments, because it was lacking competitiveness since restrictor places was used in 1988, The inversion rule needed some excitement to the event.
- 1998-2000: The event was renamed the Bud Shootout, and consisted of 25-laps, the Bud Shootout Qualifier ran at 11 a.m. and the Shootout itself ran at 12 p.m.
- 2001-2002: The race renamed to the Budweiser Shootout, and expanded to a new race distance (70 laps, 125 miles), Caution laps would be counted, but the finish of the race had to be finished under green, except for the Green-white-checker-finish rule for the Camping World Truck Series, if necessary, A maximum of one pit-stop was required, The Bud Shootout qualifier was discontinued but the second round qualifying for Cup Series races was eliminated.
- 2003-2008: The race was broken up into two segments, followed by a ten-minute intermission, While a pit-stop was no longer required by a rule, a reduction of fuel-cell size (from 22 gallons to 13 gallons) made a fuel pit stop necessary, (In 2007, Fuel cells were expanded to 18.5 gallons) Many drivers who changed tires during their fuel stop, as time required to fuel the car allowed a two-tire change.
- 2009-2012: The race was expanded to 25 laps, followed by the 50 lap final segment, the race distance was expanded to 75 laps (187.5 miles)
- 2013-2015: The race was divided into three segments (30 laps, 25 laps, 20 laps, which online fan voting was necessary, deciding certain aspects (lengths of the race, requirements of mandatory pit stops, numbers of drivers eliminated, etc.)[1] The total distance of the race was 75 laps in length.
Past winners
| Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | February 11 | 28 | Buddy Baker | Ranier-Lundy | Oldsmobile | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1980 | February 10 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | Osterlund Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1981 | February 8 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson and Associates | Buick | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1982 | February 7 | 88 | Bobby Allison | DiGuard Motorsports | Buick | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1983 | February 14* | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1984 | February 9 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson and Associates | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1985 | February 10 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Meiling Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1986 | February 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1987 | February 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Meiling Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1988 | February 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1989 | February 12 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1990 | February 11 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1991 | February 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1992 | February 9 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1993 | February 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1994 | February 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1995 | February 12 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1996 | February 11 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1997 | February 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 50 miles (80.467 km) |
| 1998 | February 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 25 | 62.5 miles (100.584 km) |
| 1999 | February 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 25 | 62.5 miles (100.584 km) |
| 2000 | February 13 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 25 | 62.5 miles (100.584 km) |
| 2001 | February 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2002 | February 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2003 | February 8 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2004 | February 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2005 | February 12 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2006 | February 12* | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 72* | 180 miles (289.682 km) |
| 2007 | February 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2008 | February 9 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 70 | 175 miles (281.635 km) |
| 2009 | February 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 78* | 195 miles (313.822 km) |
| 2010 | February 6 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 76* | 190 miles (305.775 km) |
| 2011 | February 12 | 22 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing | Dodge | 75 | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
| 2012 | February 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 82* | 205 miles (329.916 km) |
| 2013 | February 16 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 75 | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
| 2014 | February 15 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 75 | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
| 2015 | February 14 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 75 | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
| 2016 | February 13 | 20 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 79* | 197.5 miles (317.845 km) |
| 2017 | February 19* | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 75 | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
| 2018 | February 11 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 75 | 187.5 miles (301.752 km) |
Advance Auto Parts Clash Media
Spectators at the LA Memorial Coliseum for the 2022 Clash
References
- ↑ MacWatters, Sandra. "NASCAR Sprint Cup Season Will Begin with Unlimited Surprises" (in en-US). Bleacher Report. https://3bleacherreport.com/articles/1494978-nascar-sprint-cup-season-will-begin-with-unlimited-surprises. Retrieved 2013-01-23.[dead link]