What is the Advance Auto Parts Clash?
By Nick Tylwalk
NASCAR kicks off its season each year with a non-points race that still has a chance for some excitement at Daytona.
NASCAR might be the only major North American sport to hold its most famous and important event first, but that doesn’t mean drivers have to hit the track at Daytona International Speedway without getting some extra laps in first. The Advance Auto Parts Clash will give a field just under half the size of the one that will take the green flag at the Daytona 500 an opportunity to test their cars under race conditions and earn some extra dough.
The Clash is a tradition that dates back to 1979, and in stick and ball terms, it’s something of a cross between a preseason game and an all-star game. The field has always been limited in some way or another, though pole winners from the previous Cup Series season are generally involved.
For 2017, the Advance Auto Parts Clash field includes the following:
- 2016 Cup Series Pole Award winners
- Former Clash winners
- Former Daytona 500 pole winners who raced full time in 2016, even if they won no poles last year
- Drivers who made the 2016 Chase and didn’t meet any of the previous three criteria
A total of 20 drivers qualified for the Clash under these rules, but four won’t participate: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is sitting out as he returns to the sport from concussion symptoms, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards are both retired (the latter possibly only temporarily) and Greg Biffle is not racing for the time being since he has no ride. However, 17 drivers will participate since NASCAR decided to let Daniel Suarez, the new driver of Edwards’ former car, take part since Edwards made his decision so close to Daytona and both his team and sponsor were expecting to race.
If the name of the Clash is throwing you for a loop, that’s no accident. This is the first year Advance Auto Parts has sponsored the race, which has had a number of names through the years:
- 1979-1997: Busch Clash
- 1998-2000: Bud Shootout
- 2001-2012: Budweiser Shootout
- 2013-2016: Sprint Unlimited
The format of the race has also been altered multiple times, often to the confusion of fans. This year’s race will feature a total of 75 laps, split into an initial 25-lap segment and a 50-lap sprint to the finish separated by a competition caution.
Next: Complete 2017 Daytona TV schedule
The Advance Auto Parts Clash will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 8 p.m. om Saturday, Feb. 18. The green flag is expected to drop at approximately 8:25 p.m.