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NASCAR: 2018 Advance Auto Parts Clash eligibility announced

By Alex Herbst

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, lead a pack of cars 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, lead a pack of cars 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Twenty NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be eligible to race in the 2018 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona, but will all of them have rides next season?

The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season may have just ended, but the 2018 season is now just two months away. Series officials are hard at work prepping for the new year, including finalizing the field for the 2018 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona. The field was officially unveiled on Monday with no changes from the 2017 rules.

Twenty drivers will be eligible to race in the non-points season opener at Daytona International Speedway, per a release from NASCAR. Drivers who won the pole position in 2017 races will compete, along with former Daytona 500 pole winners, former Clash winners, and 2017 playoff drivers otherwise not eligible. These are the same rules that were in place for the 2017 Clash at Daytona, representing consistency in these regulations for the first time in years.

Despite 20 drivers being eligible to compete, it is unlikely that all the drivers will compete. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won a pole in 2017, is now retired, and will not be replaced in the race by Alex Bowman. Matt Kenseth and Danica Patrick, meanwhile, do not have rides in place for The Clash in 2018. Both these drivers theoretically could find rides with other teams, especially since Patrick plans to compete in the Daytona 500 one week later.

Here is the full list of eligible drivers for the 2018 Advance Auto Parts Clash:

2017 Coors Light Pole Award winners (14)

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 • Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Martin Truex Jr.

Former Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Award Winners (3)

• Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick

2017 Playoff Drivers (3)

• Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman

The race will maintain a 75-lap format, with a competition caution at Lap 25 separating the 25 and 50-lap segments. The event will run on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at 3:00 PM following Daytona 500 pole qualifying. This will follow up on a doubleheader that was forced due to rain last year. Television coverage will be on FS1 and Fox Sports Go.

Next: NASCAR Stage Racing: Pros and Cons

Who do you think is the early favorite to win the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway? Would you like to see Dale Eanrhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Danica Patrick find rides for the race?

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