NASCAR Clash Sunday, January 30, 2022
BUSCH LIGHT CLASH AT THE COLISEUM STATS HIGHLIGHTS
2021 Clash
Kyle Busch winner – Running 9th at restart with 5 to go, 3rd on final lap & only led final lap
Chase Elliott: Started rear of field & finished 2nd – Run-in with Ryan Blaney in chicane on final lap
“If I’m sorry about trying to win the race, I’m in the wrong business.”
Ryan Blaney: Started 1st & finished 13th – Leader into final lap until run-in with Chase Elliott
“Of course he didn’t mean to do that, but I ended up wrecked.”
24 Different winners in 43 Clash races
7 Different winners last 7 Clash races –
‘15 Matt Kenseth, ‘16 Denny Hamlin, ‘17 Joey Logano, ‘18 Brad Keselowski, ‘19 Jimmie Johnson, ‘20 Erik Jones, ’21 Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin only repeat winner last 9 Clash races (2 Wins) – 7 Other drivers 1 win each
9 Clash races won by driver leading only final lap including last 2 races
Final lead change with 2 or fewer laps to go in 18 Clash races (42%)
Worst starting position of Clash winner: 27th of 28 – 2009 Kevin Harvick
Drivers starting last & winning Clash (4):
J. Gordon 14th (1997), Jarrett 15th (2000), Earnhardt Jr. 19th (2003) & Keselowski 17th (2018)
Leader of most laps failed to win last 3 Clash races – Paul Menard 2019, Brad Keselowski 2020 & Denny Hamlin 2021
Most laps led in Clash: 51 – Paul Menard (2019) – Finished 13th (Crash)
Most laps led by Clash winner: 47 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2008)
Fewest laps led by Clash winner: 1 – Dale Earnhardt (1980), Neil Bonnett (1983 & ’84), Rusty Wallace (1998),
Dale Jarrett (2000 & ’04), Kevin Harvick (2009), Erik Jones (2020) & Kyle Busch (2021)
Pole failed to lead first lap in 24 of 43 Clash races (56%)
Pole failed to lead any laps in 18 of 43 Clash races
12 of 43 Clash races settled by last lap pass (28%)
Kyle Busch: Both Clash wins by last lap pass
Clash winner went on to win Daytona 500 six times
Last defending champion to win Clash: Dale Jarrett (1999 Champ & 2000 Winner)
No driver won season finale, championship & started next season with Clash win
Clash winner went on to win championship 7 times
Last to win Clash & championship in same season: Tony Stewart (2002)
Only 4 won Clash from pole
Darrell Waltrip 1981, Bill Elliott 1987, Ken Schrader 1989 & Denny Hamlin 2014
Largest Clash field: 28 (2009)
Smallest Clash field: 7 (1981)
4 Won consecutive Clash races – Last: Kevin Harvick 2009 & ’10 (Kyle Busch won 2021)
Mark Martin & Rusty Wallace won for the first time in their 12th Clash (Most tries before first win)
5 Won Clash in first try
Denny Hamlin is only Rookie of the Year contender to win Clash (2006)
Chevrolet won only 1 of last 8 Clash races (2019)
Ford: 9 Clash wins
Toyota won 6 of last 10 Clash races
Closest finish: 2012 Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart by .013 seconds (Kyle Busch great save during race)
Fewest running at finish: 6 (2020)
Fewest finishing on lead lap: 5 (2020)
Denny Hamlin: 3 Clash wins with 3 different crew chiefs (Mike Ford 2006, Darian Grubb 2014 & Mike Wheeler 2016)
Joe Gibbs Racing leads all with 10 Clash wins
11 Daytona 500 winners did not race in Clash in same season including 2021 Daytona 500 champion Michael McDowell
8 Won Clash after going winless previous season
5 Won Clash, but failed to win Cup Series race the same season