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Austin Dillon wins draw, earns pole for 2018 Clash at Daytona

By Nick Tylwalk

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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There’s no qualifying for the Clash at Daytona, but Austin Dillon was happy for the luck of the draw.

Austin Dillon has said his goal for his No. 3 team this season is Championship 4 or bust. He won’t get a start on that goal in the NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Daytona on Sunday, but maybe drawing the pole position is a good omen for the upcoming campaign.

Dillon’s good fortune will see him pace the field for the Clash at Daytona, which foregoes any kind of qualifying session. As NASCAR.com reports, Dillon had lead engineer Seth Chavka and a young quarter-midget driver draw his place in the Clash field because his crew chief, Justin Alexander, was under the weather. The substitutes did their job, and Dillon will roll off first with Denny Hamlin beside him in Row 1.

There are 17 drivers in this year’s field, as three more who could have participated — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Danica Patrick — are sitting the event out because they are either retired or pretty darn close to it. Dale Jr. has mentioned on several occasions that his wife preferred he not take part in the race due to his concussion issues from the 2016 season.

Next: See the 2018 Daytona 500 entry list

Here’s a look at the entire lineup for Sunday’s non-points race, which is being broadcast on FS1 beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET with the green flag scheduled for approximately 3:22 p.m.

2018 Clash at Daytona starting grid

  1. Austin Dillon – No. 3 DOW Chevrolet
  2. Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Express Chevrolet
  3. Joey Logano – No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford
  4. Erik Jones – No. 20 Circle K Toyota
  5. Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
  6. Martin Truex Jr. – No. 78 5-hour Energy/Bass Pro Shops Toyota
  7. Kasey Kahne – No. 95 Procore Chevrolet
  8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – No. 17 Fastenal Ford
  9. Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Busch Beer Ford
  10. Kyle Larson – No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet
  11. Ryan Newman – No. 31 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Chevrolet
  12. Chase Elliott – No. 9 Mountain Dew Chevrolet
  13. Kyle Busch – No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
  14. Kurt Busch – No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford
  15. Ryan Blaney – No. 12 Menards/Peak Ford
  16. Jamie McMurray – No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet
  17. Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Miller Lite Ford
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