Under the warm, dry desert sun and amidst the cacti in the Estrella Mountains sits a gem of a facility known as Phoenix Raceway, and this weekend it sets the stage for the NASCAR Cup Series competitors to do battle on its 1-mile track for the 50th-time in series history. (more…)
Busch Clash
2021 Daytona 500 TV Ratings
Last Sunday’s NASCAR Daytona 500 averaged a 2.8 rating and 4.83 million viewers on FOX, easily the lowest in the history of the race. Ratings fell 36% and viewership 34% from the previous low set last year, when most of the race was run on a Monday afternoon (4.4, 7.33M). (more…)
NASCAR Cup Series News & Notes – Daytona Road Course
For the first time in a NASCAR Cup Series season (1949-2021) the schedule calls for the series to visit seven different road course tracks – Daytona International Speedway Road Course, Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Watkins Glen International, Sonoma Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (ROVAL) and Road America. The previous most the NASCAR Cup Series competed on in one season was four back in 1964 and 1957. (more…)
Underdog Michael McDowell Wins the Daytona 500
Michael McDowell was finally rewarded for years of toiling away in underfunded teams by being in the right place at the right time late Sunday night as he went to victory lane in the Daytona 500. McDowell has run well in this race before with his best finish being fourth in 2017, but he hasn’t always been rewarded with his patience at the Great American Race. (more…)
Busch Beer is Creating a NASCAR Dream Job that YOU can Interview for Live During the Daytona 500
New York, February 1, 2021: As fans know, the pit crew are true heroes of NASCAR and arguably have the toughest and most badass job in the sport, one that is essential for the driver’s victory. It’s a job most people never even dream of doing because of the limited roles and top-notch credentials needed – but thanks to Busch beer, one lucky fan will get the opportunity to learn from this elite group. (more…)
Denny Hamlin FedEx Racing Express Facts – Daytona 500
Denny Hamlin kicked off the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season with a sixth-place finish in the “Clash at Daytona” exhibition race Tuesday night. Hamlin looked sharp on the Daytona International Speedway road-course event, leading 21 of the 35 laps, but couldn’t push his way back to the front after a late-race pit stop. (more…)
It’s Busch in the Busch Clash! Kyle Wins on DAYTONA Road Course After Elliott, Blaney Collide Coming to Checkered Flag (Full Results)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2021) – Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch may carry the nickname “Rowdy” but it was a couple of his competitors acting that way that allowed him to move into the lead out of the final turn and earn his second career Busch Clash victory Tuesday night. (more…)
Cole Custer Finishes 20th in Busch Clash
Race Recap:
● Cole Custer started eighth and finished 20th.
● On lap one, Custer radioed that his No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang had no power steering at lower speed. But the condition began to improve four laps later.
Aric Almirola Finishes 12th in Busch Clash
Race Recap:
● Aric Almirola started 21st and finished 12th.
● Almirola drove the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang to 16th before a caution on lap eight. (more…)
Kevin Harvick Finishes 15th in Busch Clash
Race Recap:
● Kevin Harvick started 17th and was racing against Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., in the opening laps.
● On just the third lap, Harvick spun at the exit of the Bus Stop (turns 9-10) after running through some dirt that had been kicked onto the racetrack. This dropped him to 21st. (more…)
Country Music Stars Pryor & Lee to Perform National Anthem Ahead of 43rd Annual Busch Clash at DAYTONA on Iconic DIS Road Course
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2021) – Country music stars and Black River Entertainment recording artists Pryor & Lee will virtually perform “The Star Spangled Banner” ahead of the 43rd Annual Busch CLASH at DAYTONA on Tuesday evening, kicking off an exciting week of heart-pounding action at Daytona International Speedway as a part of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth. (more…)
2021 Daytona 500 Preview – Tyler Reddick
This week’s Clash at Daytona will be Tyler Reddick’s first start in the exhibition race. Reddick does have one Daytona International Speedway Road Course start, finishing in the top 20 during last year’s NASCAR Cup Series’ debut on the configuration.
2021 Daytona 500 Preview – Austin Dillon
Austin Dillon, the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion, has 15 previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, acquiring one pole award, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The Welcome, North Carolina, driver, who grew up attending races at Daytona International Speedway with his family, has 10 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with one win, seven top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Truck Series.
2021 Daytona 500 – Richard Childress Racing Preview
Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 11 poles and collected six points-paying victories at the most-storied racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. RCR owns three Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007, Austin Dillon – 2018), three Coke Zero 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 14 qualifying races, including a record 10-consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999). In addition, RCR has earned the Busch Clash victory a total of eight times, with drivers Harvick (2009, 2010, 2013) and Earnhardt (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95).
Interesting Tidbits for Tuesday’s Historical Busch Clash At DAYTONA Road Course
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2021) – Tuesday night’s 43rd Annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA will mark the first time that the iconic event will be held on the iconic DAYTONA Road course under the lights, and will continue a long history of incredible moments. (more…)
Daytona 500 Will Be Broadcast Live on SiriusXM
NEW YORK – February 8, 2021 – SiriusXM will offer race fans comprehensive coverage of the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 on February 14, including the live race broadcast and in-car audio from some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the news and events of NASCAR’s Speedweeks leading up to race day. (more…)
Cole Custer Attempts 2nd Daytona 500 Start
The 63rd running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 14 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway marks the 40th career NASCAR Cup Series start for Cole Custer, the series’ 2020 Rookie of the Year, and his second in The Great American Race. (more…)
WWE® Superstar Sasha Banks® Named Honorary Starter for 63rd Annual DAYTONA 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2021) – WWE Superstar Sasha Banks will serve as the Honorary Starter for the 63rd DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 14. She will waive the green flag on the Great American Race, which is set for a 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) start at the 2.5-mile World Center of Racing.
“I am honored to be the official starter of the Daytona 500. I would like to thank NASCAR and our partners at FOX for this opportunity,” said Sasha Banks. “I can’t wait to get out to the track in front of the great fans and find out which driver has what it takes to be a ‘Legit Boss’.” (more…)
Chris Buescher Makes 2nd Daytona Clash Start
Chris Buescher makes his second start in the annual Clash event on Tuesday, and first since 2017. The 2021 field is limited to 2020 pole winners, past Clash winners who competed full-time in 2020, Daytona 500 Champions who competed full-time in 2020, former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time in 2020 and 2020 NCS Playoff drivers, race winners and stage winners. (more…)