Five Ways for NASCAR to Improve The Clash

Changing Eligibility Rules

How often can you remember the rules for who can race in The Clash from one year to the next? The continual problem for the season opening race is the frequent changes in who is eligible to race in the event. And while there were no real changes to those rules this year (outside of Daniel Suarez’s exemption), it left the field looking small with only seventeen drivers competing.

The question now becomes, should NASCAR change the rules of who can race in the race and if so, who do you add? Seventeen drivers raced in the 2017 edition of The Clash, but perhaps a field of 20 to 24 drivers may have been more competitive. Of course, there is no shortage of drivers who could be added to the field, from former Daytona 500 winners, to former Daytona race winners, to even teams and drivers that were in last year’s Chase.

When looking at these three categories, they would add a number of competitors to the field. By adding Daytona 500 winners, other drivers that could compete include Ryan Newman, Trevor Bayne, and Michael Waltrip. Including winners of other races at Daytona like the Coke Zero 400 would add others like David Ragan and Aric Almirola. Finally, the #14 Ford team of Clint Bowyer was excluded from this year’s event after Tony Stewart retired, but some argue they should have been included.

Of course, another possible outlet for more drivers in The Clash would come from other series. The non-points show would be a unique way for driver crossovers to happen with IndyCar, Formula One, or sports cars, especially if NASCAR could get their champions to participate. While to some that may seem too gimmicky, this would avoid the hazard of having very inexperienced racers in a bigger race like the Daytona 500 or the season finale.

Clearly, NASCAR has plenty of options when it comes to adding to the non-points race field.