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Clash at Daytona 2018 entry list: 17 cars; no Junior, Danica, Kenseth

By Nick Tylwalk

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Cars race during the weather delayed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Cars race during the weather delayed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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There are no surprises on the entry list for the 2018 Clash at Daytona, as three drivers who were expected not to take part aren’t on it.

Fans hoping that Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wife would have a last-minute change of heart and let Junior participate in the 2018 Clash at Daytona are going to be disappointed.

With Earnhardt off to help cover the Winter Olympics for NBC, the season-opening non-points race at Daytona International Speedway will roll off with 17 of the 20 drivers eligible to take part actually participating. Along with Dale Jr., both Matt Kenseth and Danica Patrick could have been in the race but won’t do so — Kenseth has no Cup Series ride this season, and Patrick is only racing in the Daytona 500 this year before she retires from NASCAR.

The 17 drivers in the field qualified in one of four ways: either by winning a Cup Series pole during the 2017 season, winning the Clash in a prior season, making the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs or winning the pole for a previous Daytona 500.

Here’s the field in alphabetical order, plus how each driver qualified for 2018:

2018 Clash at Daytona entry list

  • Ryan Blaney – 2017 pole winner
  • Kurt Busch – 2017 pole winner
  • Kyle Busch – 2017 pole winner
  • Austin Dillon – Made 2017 playoffs
  • Chase Elliott – 2017 pole winner
  • Denny Hamlin – 2017 pole winner
  • Kevin Harvick – 2017 pole winner
  • Jimmie Johnson – Made 2017 playoffs
  • Erik Jones – 2017 pole winner
  • Kasey Kahne – Made 2017 playoffs
  • Brad Keselowski – 2017 pole winner
  • Kyle Larson – 2017 pole winner
  • Joey Logano – 2017 pole winner
  • Jamie McMurray – Made 2017 playoffs
  • Ryan Newman – Made 2017 playoffs
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – 2017 pole winner
  • Martin Truex Jr. – 2017 pole winner

With less than half the field of a regular Daytona race and no points at stake, the Clash always carries the potential for intrigue but doesn’t always live up to it since cars can’t get together and push in exactly the same way with less of them on the track.

Next: 3 Cup Series drivers who need to step it up in 2018

Nevertheless, it’s the kickoff to Speedweeks and the NASCAR season in general, so both drivers and fans should be raring to go. The 2018 Clash at Daytona takes place on Sunday, Feb. 11, with TV coverage beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1.

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