Photo graphic courtesy of: NASCAR
By: Cathy Brown
Twitter: @TheCathyBrown @PitOutsideBox
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Under the lights and lefts and rights, the 2021 NASCAR season started off with a bang and the Busch Clash on the road course at Daytona International Speedway.
In tonight’s race, Ryan Blaney by luck of the draw was on pole. With Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Cole Custer, Erik Jones, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Matt DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher, Ty Dillion, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola all taking part in this historic event.
Elliott would have to drop to the back of the field after a mechanical issue was discovered and NASCAR deemed it an “unapproved adjustment.”
From the drop of the green flag, it was an exciting race – with Hamlin passing Blaney on the first lap.
Harvick would have his first bout of bad luck on lap four as he went agriculture racing, he was able to quickly right himself – not bringing out a caution.
Since this was (kind of) a first, many drivers were complaining they had dirt on their windshields, prompting NASCAR to throw a full course caution. Wonder how it’s going to be when they race on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in a couple weeks?
The race was back green on lap 11 and Blaney the race leader drove off course going into turn one, while getting back on track he side-swiped Truex Jr.
Harvick was back on pit road (after going off course again) – this time to clean the grille on his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
Hamlin, (after pitting earlier) was able to regain the lead on lap 13, this time he had Truex Jr in tow.
One lap later, the No. 19 was on point and trying to create some distance between himself and his teammate.
Multiple cars pitted right before the pits closed for the competition caution, Truex Jr (the race leader) waited just a bit too long to pit and tried to come to pit road when the pits were closed and received a penalty for doing so. He would have to start at the rear of the field on the restart.
Ku. Busch would win the race off pit road and on the restart the driver of the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevy would go into along slide entering turn one and would lose the lead to Hamlin.
Custer would bring out the next caution as he missed the chicane and came to stop, the problem is – he couldn’t re-fire his car and when he tried it caught fire.
He was able to re-join the race, but his chance for a win was gone.
Green flag on lap 25, had Redick in the lead momentarily until Truex (where’d he come from?) take it back.
This lead didn’t last long as Truex hit a turtle, spun and tagged the wall, this handed the lead back to Blaney.
The caution was out and 14 drivers came in and six stayed out. Blaney pitted, winning the race off pit road.
With two to go, the No. 12 was back in the lead with Elliott right on his bumper. The two battled and on the last lap, the last turn – the No. 9 took the No. 12, which allowed Ky. Busch to sneak on through and win the race.
It was an exciting night of lefts and rights, under the lights at Daytona!
Pitting Outside the Box 