Season-Opening Showcase Caps Sunday Doubleheader at ‘World Center of Racing’
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 13, 2018) – Following a quiet offseason the engines will finally roar to signal the start of the 2019 season on February 10 at Daytona International Speedway with a power-packed Sunday doubleheader.
It begins at noon with Busch Pole Award Qualifying for the 61st running of the DAYTONA 500 (FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash follows at 3 p.m. (FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and will feature the sport’s biggest stars battling side by side in a 75-lap showcase.
“There’s no better way to start the season,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The close, door-to-door action you see in the Advance Auto Parts Clash is a precursor to the intense competition you’ll see in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series throughout 2019.”
The annual preseason race will run in two segments, separated by a competition caution at lap 25.
“It’s a tremendous day of racing for our fans,” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. “Having DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger followed by the Advance Auto Parts Clash makes for a sweet first Sunday of Speedweeks and will have fans fully tuned up for the 61st running of the ‘Great American Race’ on February 17.”
The exclusive, star-studded field in the Advance Auto Parts Clash is limited to drivers who were 2018 Busch Pole Award winners, former Clash winners who competed full-time in 2018, former DAYTONA 500 champions who competed full-time in 2018, former DAYTONA 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2018 and drivers who qualified for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Tickets are available now at DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Eligible drivers are as follows:
2018 Busch Pole Award Winners (13)
· Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Daniel Suarez and Martin Truex Jr.
Former Daytona 500 Champions (2)
· Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman
Former Daytona 500 Busch Pole Award Winners (2)
· Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson
2018 Playoff Drivers (3)
· Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski
About the Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is the world’s only motorsports stadium and was awarded SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of “The Great American Race” – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the “World Center of Racing,” boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
