The NASCAR Cup Series returned to action Tuesday night with the Busch Clash, an exhibition race featuring drivers who have won stages, races, and poles from the 2020 season. Drivers drew for positions, and Ryan Blaney won the pole, followed by Alex Bowman. Chase Elliott, who was supposed to start seventh, had to start at the back for unapproved adjustments. This would be a 35-lap race.
We’ve been waiting so long for this moment! The green flag is out, and the #BuschClash is underway from @DAYTONA on FS1! pic.twitter.com/xhx7z0sui7 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
It didn’t take long for the first lead change of the race as Denny Hamlin, who started third, made his way to the front, passing Ryan Blaney at turn six. He had extended the lead by a few seconds over Blaney. Towards the back, Kevin Harvick spun at the horseshoe where the dirt was on the track. The caution would come out a short time later as track crews swept the dirt back in the grass. Blaney, Bowman, Reddick, Byron, and Chris Buescher stayed out while everyone else went to pit road.
.@KevinHarvick enters the spin cycle early. 😳@DAYTONA | #BuschClash pic.twitter.com/ksOvauobJc — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
On the restart at lap eleven, Blaney overshot turn one, allowing Reddick and Bowman to battle for the lead. Not far ahead, Kevin Harvick would revisit the grass. Brad Keselowski, who restarted eighth, made his way up front and battled Reddick for the lead in turns three and four and would lead that lap. A couple of laps later, Hamlin made his way back to the front to retake the lead. His lead only lasted a lap before teammate Martin Truex Jr. took it from him.
Two laps later, the competition caution would come. Truex missed the front stretch chicane and would restart in the back. All cars went to pit road with Kurt Busch out first, taking two tires, and Austin Dillon went out second during the caution.
PENALTY: @MartinTruex_Jr does not drive through the chicane during the competition caution. He'll restart at the rear of the field. #BuschClash pic.twitter.com/yVhy2joNyp — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
Kurt Busch led the field to the restart on lap 19; however, he went off the track heading into turn one, handing the lead back to Hamlin.
That is not what you're supposed to do. @KurtBusch | #BuschClash pic.twitter.com/tvD1O1CTnm — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
This restart lasted only three laps before the third caution came when Cole Custer missed the front stretch chicane and could not restart his car. After trying several times to get the car started, a billowing cloud of smoke and fire engulfed his car’s back end. It ended his chances of finishing the race.
.@ColeCuster is having all sorts of issues with his 4️⃣1️⃣ machine. #BuschClash FS1 | https://t.co/oWWAut6pxx pic.twitter.com/3EBJhbyhVS — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
Some cars went to pit road during the caution. Hamlin was the leader as the race resumed with eleven laps to go. On lap 28, Truex took the lead away from Hamlin and then wrecked exiting off the bus stop to bring out the fourth caution.
The leader spins! 😱 After passing @dennyhamlin for the top spot, @MartinTruex_Jr loses control exiting the chicane! #BuschClash pic.twitter.com/tkoS4Gq23z — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
Six cars stayed out during the caution while others went to pit road. Elliott was the leader when the race restarted with five laps to go. Kurt Busch, who restarted second, fell off the pace with fender damage while Ryan Blaney made his way up to second. In the closing laps, Blaney would get the lead from Elliott. It was down to the two of them with Kyle Busch not far behind. Tyler Reddick made contact with Chris Buescher, sending him spinning and clipping Bowman. At the front chicane on the last lap, Elliott hit Blaney, sending Blaney to the wall while Busch passed both of them to win the Busch Clash by .765 seconds over Elliott.
CHECKERED FLAG: @KYLEBUSCH WINS THE #BUSCHCLASH AS @CHASEELLIOTT AND @BLANEY COLLIDE COMING TO THE FINISH! pic.twitter.com/0LgA8oCeyi — NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 10, 2021
The rest of the top ten finishers were Joey Logano third, Tyler Reddick fourth, William Byron fifth, Denny Hamlin sixth, Alex Bowman seventh, Erik Jones eighth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ninth, and Matt DiBenedetto tenth. Blaney would end up finishing thirteenth, Kevin Harvick finished fifteenth, and Kurt Busch finished nineteenth.
Next up for the Cup Series is qualifying for the Daytona 500 tonight at 7 pm on FS1. On Thursday at 7 pm on FS1, the Duels will take place to set the field for the Daytona 500.
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