Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Busch Clash At Daytona

2020 Eligible Participant For The Busch Clash at Daytona

The starting field for the 2020 Busch Clash at Daytona will not be a predetermined number of cars; rather, the field is limited to drivers who meet more exclusive criteria.

2020 Busch Clash Entries

Aric Almirola
Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman
Clint Bowyer
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
William Byron
Austin Dillon
Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Erik Jones
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Ryan Newman
Martin Truex Jr.

The Busch Clash At Daytona Tidbits

History

  • The first Busch Clash at Daytona was held on February 11, 1979, and the event was won by Buddy Baker (194.384 MPH).
  • This weekend’s event will be the 42nd running of the Busch Clash at Daytona.
  • The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009.
  • Like the past three seasons, the starting field for the 2020 Busch Clash at Daytona will not be a predetermined number of cars; rather, the field is limited to drivers who meet more exclusive criteria. (20 drivers are eligible for this year’s event).
  • The format for the Busch Clash at Daytona has changed 14 times since its inception in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1979.

Starts

  • In total, 116 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have competed in the Busch Clash at Daytona; 89 of the 116 drivers have participated in more than one.
  • The top 10 drivers (all-time) with the most Busch Clash at Daytona appearances: Mark Martin (24), Bill Elliott (23), Jeff Gordon (22), Ken Schrader (19), Rusty Wallace (19), Terry Labonte (18), Jimmie Johnson (17), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16), Geoff Bodine (16), Ricky Rudd (16), Tony Stewart (16) and Kurt Busch (16).
  • The top 10 (active) drivers with the most Busch Clash at Daytona appearances: Jimmie Johnson (17), Kurt Busch (16), Kevin Harvick (15), Ryan Newman (15), Denny Hamlin (14), Kyle Busch (13), Joey Logano (11), Martin Truex Jr. (8), Brad Keselowski (7) and Clint Bowyer (6).
  • Jeff Gordon has appeared in the most consecutive Busch Clash at Daytona races, competing in 22 consecutive events from 1994-2015.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in consecutive Busch Clash at Daytona starts with 17 (2003 – 2019).

Wins

  • A total of 23 different drivers have won the Busch Clash at Daytona.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in Busch Clash at Daytona wins with six victories (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
  • Denny Hamlin (three: 2006, 2014, 2016) and Kevin Harvick (three: 2009, 2010, 2013) lead all active drivers in the Busch Clash at Daytona wins with three each.
  • There have been 10 multiple winners in the Busch Clash at Daytona:
    • Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
    • Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
    • Kevin Harvick won in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
    • Tony Stewart won in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
    • Denny Hamlin won in 2006, 2014 and 2016.
    • Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994, 1997), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2008) Jimmie Johnson (2005, 2019).
  • Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back Busch Clash at Daytona races.
  • No driver has won three consecutive Clash events.
  • Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Busch Clash at Daytona in which they competed.
  • Only six times in the 39-year history of the race has the Busch Clash winner gone on to win the Daytona 500: Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1987), Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000), Jeff Gordon (1997), Denny Hamlin (2016).
  • Two drivers have swept the Busch Clash at Daytona, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2018: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987)
  • One driver has swept the Busch Clash at Daytona, the Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 from 1979-2019: Bobby Allison (1982).
  • Seven drivers have won the Busch Clash at Daytona (1979-2018) and the championship in the same season. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times (four).
    • Tony Stewart (2002)
    • Jeff Gordon (1997)
    • Dale Earnhardt (1993, 1991, 1986 and 1980)
    • Darrell Waltrip (1981)
  • There have been four Busch Clash winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).
  • Four drivers have won consecutive Clash at Daytona races (1979-2018). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500.
    • Kevin Harvick (2009-10)
    • Tony Stewart (2000-01)
    • Ken Schrader (1990-91)
    • Neil Bonnett (1983-84)

Lap Leader Stats

  • A total of 58 different drivers have led at least one lap in the Busch Clash at Daytona.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in laps led in the Busch Clash at Daytona with 149 laps led of his 1,073 laps completed (13.8%); Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with 142 laps led.
  • The most laps led in Busch Clash at Daytona by the race winner was 47 of the scheduled 70 laps (67.1%) by Dale Earnhardt Jr. on  Feb. 9, 2008 – he started from the seventh position.
  • The most laps led in the Busch Clash at Daytona by a driver that did not win was 51 of the scheduled 75 laps (68%) by Paul Menard on Feb. 10, 2019 – he started first and finished 13th. Note: this event was shortened to 59 laps due to rain.
  • The fewest laps led in the Busch Clash at Daytona by the race winner was one lap led (the final lap) and it has happened seven different times:
    • Kevin Harvick (2009)
    • Dale Jarrett (2004, 2000)
    • Rusty Wallace (1998)
    • Neil Bonnett (1984, 1983)
    • Dale Earnhardt (1980).

By the Numbers: The Busch Clash At Daytona

.013 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in the Clash at Daytona history

.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second-closest margin in the Clash at Daytona history

.080 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third-closest margin of victory in the Clash at Daytona history

1 – Fewest laps led by a winner – Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) – in the Clash at Daytona.

2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts

4 – Number of drivers to win the Clash at Daytona from the pole position – Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).

5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006) – William Byron is the only driver entered this season making his first Clash appearance.

6 – Number of the Clash at Daytona wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader (1980, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95)

7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for the Clash at Daytona (1981)

11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin)

14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979

21 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in the Clash at Daytona, leads all manufacturers

22 – Most consecutive starts in the Clash at Daytona by a driver – Jeff Gordon (1994-2015).

27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history

28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979

47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Clash at Daytona.

51Laps led by Paul Menard in 2019, the most by a driver who did not win the event

197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for the Clash at Daytona was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.

— NASCAR —