NASCAR Practice Notes: Advanced Auto Parts Clash – 2/11/18

Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona – 2/11/2018

The Clash

The clash is a 75 laps (187.5 miles) race run on a similar layout to the All Star race at Charlotte Motorspeedway with 2 competition cautions, 1 every 25 laps

• 20 invited based on:
  • 2017 Pole winners
  • Former Daytona 500 pole winners
  • 2017 Playoff Drivers
• 17 drivers in the field
• Drivers that are eligible but not competing
  • Danica Patrick (last race)
  • Dale Jr. (retired and off covering Winter Olympics)
  • Matt Kenseth (No ride)

Daytona Speedway is 2.5 mile long Super Speedway

The race kicks off at 3pm tomorrow February 11th

• Former winners in the last 10 years that are still active
  • Kevin Harvick back to back 2009-2010 and again in 2013
  • Kurt Busch 2011
  • Kyle Busch 2012
  • Denny Hamlin 2014 and 2016
  • Joey Lagano last year 2017

• Teams are saying that compared to previous Clashes this one is more important due to the new down force and ride height rules that are in effect. We will get into that a bit later

• Ford continues its restrictor plate track dominance again. Taking the top 4 spots in early morning practice session

Practice Times

1. Ryan Blaney 199.60 (#12) FORD
2. Joey Lagano 199.54 (#22) FORD     “NICKNAME IS SLICED BREAD”
3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 199.51 (#17) FORD
4. Brad Keselowski 199.49 (#2) FORD
5. Kyle Larson 199.47 (#42) CHEVY
6. Kasey Kahne 199.47 (#95) CHEVY
7. Kurt Busch 199.21 (#41) FORD
8. Kyle Busch 198.68 (#18) TOYOTA
9. Denny Hamlin 198.42 (#11) TOYOTA “Best among active drivers during speed weeks”
10. Erik Jones 198.40 (#20) TOYOTA
11. Martin Truex Jr. 198.34 (#78) TOYOTA
12. Jimmy Johnson 197.72 (#48) CHEVY “DNF last 6 clash races”
13. Jamie McMurry 197.05 (#1) CHEVY
14. Kevin Harvick 197.03 (#4) FORD
15. Chase Elliott 196.00 (#9) CHEVY “Throw back to his dad number when he raced”
16. Ryan Newman 194.07 (#31) CHEVY
17. Austin Dillion 193.41 (#3) CHEVY

Notes:

• Fords where lighting fast in the draft
• Chevys looked very good on the solo runs early in practice session

7 CHEVY’S

6 FORD’S

4 TOYOTA’S

Best 5 Lap Averages

1. Kyle Larson 45.296
2. Joey Lagano 45.309
3. Brad Keselowski 45.313
4. Ricky Stenhouse 45.318
5. Kasey Kahne 45.352
6. Denny Hamlin 45.422
7. Martin Truex Jr. 45.424

WHAT I PICKED UP FROM PRACTICE

• All cars are required to run new composite side skirts that will combat the roll out effect that the ones had last year. At race trim the side skirts and rear quarter are practically touching the ground much like they used to on the short tracks but not like Daytona of past

• Teams allowed to work with their own spring and shock packages instead of being limited to the 400lb springs

Notes:

Chase Elliott seems excited to be driving the #9 this year.  I throw back to his father “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill” Bill Elliott

Team Penske going to 3 car team instead of 2 last year

Hendrick Motorsports is now mostly new talent

Jimmy Johnson’s nickname is now Grandpa

New Drivers such as Alex Bowman (Dale Jr’s Replacement)

William Byron (Jeff Gordon’s Replacement)

Blind Draw Starting Order +/- between where they were in practice compared to where they are starting

1. Austin Dillon (+17)
2. Denny Hamlin (+8)
3. Joey Lagano (-1)
4. Erik Jones (+6)
5. Jimmy Johnson (+7)
6. Martin Truex Jr (+5)
7. Kasey Kahne (-1)
8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (-5)
9. Kevin Harvick (+5)
10. Kyle Larson (-5)
11. Ryan Newman (+5)
12. Chase Elliott (+3)
13. Kyle Busch (-5)
14. Kurt Busch (-7)
15. Ryan Blaney (-14)
16. Jamie McMurray (-3)
17. Brad Keselowski (-13)