DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2020) – All is right in the world – at least at the “World Center of Racing.” Stock cars are back on the high banks.
Friday, the NASCAR Cup Series garage opened for the first time this year, allowing teams to start preparing for Sunday’s 42nd annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA. The traditional preseason all-star style event features 2019 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners and playoff participants, former Busch Clash champions and former DAYTONA 500 champions and pole winners who competed full time last season.
The starting grid and pit box selection for the 18-car Busch Clash field will be determined Saturday night at approximately 6:30 via a random draw in the garage area, following the Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire, the season-opening race for the ARCA Menards Series. The draw pairs team crew chiefs and NASCAR fans. The field includes last year’s Busch Clash champion Jimmie Johnson – also a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and two-time DAYTONA 500 champion – plus reigning series champion Kyle Busch and two-time DAYTONA 500 champion Denny Hamlin.
Drivers from NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Series had the honor of making the first official stock car laps of the season at DIS, with two practice sessions on Friday. Hailie Deegan (No. 4 Monster Energy Ford) led the first session with a fast lap of 183.572 mph on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Connor Hall (No. 22 Chad Bryant Racing Ford) topped the second session at 181.906.
Qualifying for the Lucas Oil 200 is set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, with the 200-mile/80-lap race taking the green flag at 4:45.
Saturday’s schedule also has two rounds of NASCAR Cup Series practice (1:35-2:25 p.m. and 3-3:50) – the first practice for the Busch Clash, the second for the DAYTONA 500; teams typically have different cars for the two events.
DAYTONA 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, precedes the Busch Clash At DAYTONA. That session locks in the front row for the DAYTONA 500 while establishing starting grids for the Feb. 13 Bluegreen Vacations Duel At DAYTONA, the two 150-mile qualifying races for the DAYTONA 500.
The fan-friendly, second annual DAYTONA Beer Festival offers a premium spectating experience on Sunday. From 12-3 p.m., fans can enjoy beer samples from more than 75 brands in the speedway’s Midway Suites. A ticket to the Busch Clash and DAYTONA 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger – plus pre-race UNOH Fanzone access – is included in the $52 ticket price.
Race car drivers aren’t the only competitors coming to the speedway this weekend. On Saturday, the “Beachin’ It 5K” will be held on the beach followed on Sunday by the “Lap the Track 5K” at the speedway and the Daytona Beach Half Marathon. The half marathon consists of a 13.1-mile course starting on the famed race track, heading east to the Atlantic shoreline and then returning west for a finish at the ONE DAYTONA complex across from the speedway.
Also, the popular USAC National .25 Midget Series has returned to Speedweeks, featuring aspiring young open-wheel drivers competing through Sunday on a paved oval in the DIS infield.
Tickets for the 42nd annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA, the 62nd annual DAYTONA 500 and all other DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.
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