The 2017 NASCAR season kicks off with the Clash at Daytona Saturday night. (Getty)
Though the Daytona 500 may still be a week away, the NASCAR season unofficially gets started on Saturday night with the 2017 Clash at Daytona.
Previously named the Budweiser Shootout and Sprint Unlimited, the Clash is a 75-lap race at Daytona International Speedway that will feature 17 drivers who qualified by being a pole winner last season, a former Daytona 500 pole winner, a former Clash race winner or a Chase-qualified driver last season. It may not award points, but it’s an entertaining way for racing fans to whet their appetite.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know:
2017 Clash at Daytona Viewing Info
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET (Green flag is scheduled to drop at about 8:24 p.m. ET)
TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go or Sling TV
Starting Positions
Note: Of the 20 eligible drivers, four won’t participate: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (concussion), Greg Biffle (no ride), Carl Edwards (retired) and Tony Stewart (retired). Daniel Suarez will drive Edwards’ car, making the final tally 17 racers:
1. Brad Keselowski
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Austin Dillon
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Alex Bowman
9. Joey Logano
10. Kurt Busch
11. Kyle Larson
12. Danica Patrick
13. Kyle Busch
14. Chase Elliott
15. Matt Kenseth
16. Daniel Suarez
17. Chris Buescher
Preview
Though it may not be an official points-paying race, don’t underestimate the Clash as an important indicator of what’s to come at Daytona International Speedway a week later.
Last year’s winner of this race, Denny Hamlin, went on to secure his first Daytona 500 victory a week later in thrilling fashion:
Moreover, of the 10 previous winners–in chronological order: Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick (two in a row), Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Hamlin, Matt Kenseth—-five went on to finish inside the Top-10 at the Daytona 500.
That said, it’s still an exhibition for the fans. There are fewer cars, more aggressive driving and more wrecks, which tends to mean minimal preparation from teams.
“That race is usually a race of attrition,” said Hamlin. “There’s usually a lot of wrecks, and a lot of it is because we’re rusty.
“These teams got to where they don’t like to run a whole lot of practice because they tear up race cars and then you’re building another race car that you really don’t need to.”
No matter how much importance you put in this race, it signals one very important thing. NASCAR is back.