Historical Tidbits for the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series kicks off this weekend at Daytona International Speedway with the Advance Auto Parts Clash – a non-points race featuring 2017 Coors Light Pole winners, former Daytona 500 Pole winners, and drivers who were in the 2017 Monster Energy Series playoffs who are not already in the field, as follows:

2017 Coors Light Pole Winners
Ryan Blaney
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Erik Jones
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.

Former Daytona 500 Pole Winners
Austin Dillon
Jimmie Johnson
Danica Patrick

2017 Monster Energy Playoff Participants
Kasey Kahne
Jamie McMurray
Ryan Newman

This year’s Clash is set for Sunday afternoon following Daytona 500 qualifying. This is the 40th running of the Clash – historical tidbits follow…

The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009.
Like last season, the starting field for the 2018 Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona will not be
a predetermined number of cars; rather, the field is limited to drivers who meet more exclusive
criteria. (20 drivers are eligible for this year’s event).
Jeff Gordon has appeared in the most consecutive Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona
races, competing in 22 consecutive events from 1994-2015.
Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in consecutive Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona
starts with 15 (2003 – 2017).
The top five drivers (all-time) with the most Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona appearances:
Mark Martin (24), Bill Elliott (23), Jeff Gordon (22), Ken Schrader (19) and Rusty Wallace
(19).
The top five active drivers with the most Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona appearances:
Jimmie Johnson (15), Kurt Busch (14), Kevin Harvick (13), Ryan Newman (13) and Denny
Hamlin (12).
There have been nine multiple winners in the Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona: Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995), Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004, Kevin Harvick won in 2009, 2010 and 2013, Tony Stewart won in 2001, 2002 and 2007, Denny Hamlin won in 2006, 2014 and 2016, Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008).
Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back Clash at Daytona
races.
No driver has won three consecutive Clash events.
Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and
Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Clash at Daytona in which they competed.
Only six times in the 38-year history of the race has the winner gone on to win the Daytona 500: Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1987), Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000), Jeff Gordon (1997), Denny Hamlin (2016),  There have been four winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).
Two drivers have swept the Clash at Daytona, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-
2017: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987)
One driver has swept the Clash at Daytona, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-
2017: Bobby Allison (1982).
Four drivers have won the Clash at Daytona (1979-2017) and the championship in the same
season: Tony Stewart (2002), Jeff Gordon (1997), Dale Earnhardt (1993, 1991, 1986 and 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981)
Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have won the Clash and championship in the same year multiple times (four).
Four drivers have won consecutive Clash at Daytona races (1979-2017): Kevin Harvick (2009-10), Tony Stewart (2000-01), Ken Schrader (1990-91), Neil Bonnett (1983-84). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500.
The format for The Clash at Daytona has changed 14 times since its inception into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 1979.
Danica Patrick is the only female driver who has competed in the Clash at Daytona (1979 – 2017). Her best finish in the Clash is fourth last season.