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NASCAR: How are Busch Clash participants determined?

By Asher Fair

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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A total of 20 drivers are slated to compete in the Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway one week before the start of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. How are the yearly Clash participants determined?

Daytona International Speedway and Anheuser-Busch announced last week that Busch will serve as the title sponsor for the the annual Clash at Daytona prior to the start of each NASCAR Cup Series season beginning in 2020.

The 75-lap Clash around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida was previously known as the Busch Clash from 1978 to 1997, marking another deep tie to the sport’s roots in the hopes of a bright future.

It was also confirmed that 20 drivers will be eligible to compete in the 2020 Busch Clash. How are the participants in this race determined from year to year?

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To qualify to compete in this fan-favorite event, a driver must meet at least one of the following five criteria.

  1. Won a Busch Pole award in 2019
  2. Won a past Busch Clash and competed full-time in 2019
  3. Won a past Daytona 500 and competed full-time in 2019
  4. Won a past Daytona 500 pole and competed full-time in 2019
  5. Qualified for the 2019 playoffs

As a result, here is a list of the 20 drivers (in alphabetical order) who are slated to compete in it and how they qualified for it.

NOTE: Numbers in parenthesis correspond to the above list.

  1. Aric Almirola, #10 Stewart Haas Racing Ford (1, 5)
  2. Ryan Blaney, #12 Team Penske Ford (1, 5)
  3. Alex Bowman, #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (4, 5)
  4. Clint Bowyer, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (1, 5)
  5. Kurt Busch, #1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (2, 3, 5)
  6. Kyle Busch, #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (1, 2, 5)
  7. William Byron, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1, 4, 5)
  8. Austin Dillon,#3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (1, 3, 4)
  9. Chase Elliott, #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1, 4, 5)
  10. Denny Hamlin, #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (1, 2, 3, 5)
  11. Kevin Harvick, #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (1, 2, 3, 5)
  12. Daniel Hemric, N/A (1)
  13. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1, 2, 3, 4)
  14. Erik Jones, #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (5)
  15. Brad Keselowski, #2 Team Penske Ford (1, 2, 5)
  16. Kyle Larson, #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (1, 5)
  17. Joey Logano, #22 Team Penske Ford (1, 2, 3, 5)
  18. Ryan Newman, #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford (3, 5)
  19. Daniel Suarez, N/A (1)
  20. Martin Truex Jr., #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (4, 5)

Neither Daniel Hemric nor Daniel Suarez have been confirmed as a part of the 2020 driver lineup after driving the #8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing and the #41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, respectively, in the 2019 season. They were replaced by rookies Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer.

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The 2020 Busch Clash is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 9, one week prior to the start of the new NASCAR Cup Series season. It is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.

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