NASCAR plans to move its Busch Clash exhibition race that kicks off its Cup Series race season to the Daytona International Speedway road course in 2021. The remainder of NASCAR activity at DIS will remain on the facility’s oval course.
“Busch Beer is excited to play an integral role in this historic shift for NASCAR and its fans,” Anheuser-Busch Vice President of Psrtnerships, Beer Category and Community Nick Kelly said. “Moving the Busch Clash to Daytona’s road course will differentiate the event from every other race during Daytona Speedweeks and drive even more attention to the first NASCAR Cup Series race of 2021.”
The Clash will run the same road course as the one utilized for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“The famed road course at Daytona has a long and storied history with sports cars and motorcycles, and now we can write a new chapter on it with stock cars,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy said. “Fans coming to the track will get to see six consecutive days of exciting NASCAR action, with no two days being the same.”
The Clash also will move to a Tuesday night date, Feb. 9 in 2021, as NASCAR condenses its Daytona Speedweeks schedule. Also, Daytona 500 qualifying will move from a Sunday date, a week prior to the Daytona 500, to Wednesday, Feb. 10 next year. The Bluegreen Vacations Duel races will remain on Thursday (Feb. 11). The 2021 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Feb. 14.
The companion NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series season-opening races also will retain their traditional Friday night (Feb. 12) and Saturday afternoon (Feb. 13) dates. But the ARCA Menards Series race will move to the day before the Daytona 500 for a doubleheader day of racing with the Xfinity Series.
