Kyle Busch Steals Clash Win

Kyle Busch steals Clash win in the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash on the Daytona Road Course on Tuesday night.

Kyle Busch steals Clash win in the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash on the Daytona Road Course on Tuesday night.

Welcome to the 2021 NASCAR Season.

A major change has been implemented right off the bat. This change is the Busch Clash being run on the Daytona International Speedway road course rather than the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The change occurring primarily in preparation for the second race of the season, which is on the road the course. 

Ryan Blaney Gets the Pole

After a random draw for positions, Ryan Blaney was deemed the lucky winner for pole-position. However, he did not last long with the lead as Denny Hamlin took it away from Blaney. A debris caution on lap seven brought the field together, and some drivers came down pit road for early pit stops. 

Martin Truex Jr has Up and Down Night

Tyler Reddick cycled into the lead for the restart, but Martin Truex Jr. jumped to the bottom and made a quick pass. Martin Truex Jr. was able to lead the field all the way to the competition caution on lap 16. Truex Jr. was forced to surrender his lead after he completely missed the front stretch chicane.  

Moving on through the race, Truex Jr. was able to battle back to the front. After another caution flag waved for Cole Custer’s car catching fire, Truex Jr. was able to make the pass for the lead. Truex Jr. returned to the lead with 11 laps remaining. With seven laps remaining, Truex Jr. received some pressure from behind entering the backstretch chicane. Truex Jr. rolled in too far, and when he tried to accelerate out of the turn, he spun his car around and slammed into the wall.  

Kyle Busch Steals Clash Win

The race moved into one final restart with three laps to go. Chase Elliott restarted in first place with Ryan Blaney on the outside. The two did battle, with Blaney eventually grabbing the lead coming to the final lap. Chase Elliott was able to keep it close the whole way around track coming into the final turn. Elliott dive-bombed Blaney and both were taken out. Kyle Busch came storming in from third place and passed them both for the lead coming to the checkered flag. Kyle Busch steals the win for the Busch Clash at Daytona. 

NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash Results

One thing was for certain Tuesday night. It just was not Martin Truex Jr.’s night to win that race. He obviously had the best car. A quick surge to the lead early in the race, and then his miscue of missing the chicane bottomed out his momentum. Regardless Truex Jr. pressed on to recover and fight his way into the lead once again. Had he not wrecked himself with seven laps remaining, he would have been crowned victorious. Martin Truex Jr. will be back with a vengeance when the cup series races on the road course in two weeks. 

In Summary

This Busch Clash was more exciting this year than in years past. Being run on the road course was a decent idea to mix up the routine. There was plenty of action to keep the fans entertained. Crazy restarts with the whole field piling into turn one caused some incidents and turning points in the race that proved to be crucial. Then, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney spinning each other sealed the deal for Kyle Busch stealing the win. It was a fantastic start to the new season, and fans are so close to witnessing what Daytona International Speedway is all about; the Daytona 500.