NASCAR Weekend Preview – Feb. 7-10, 2020

The 2020 racing season is ready to roll as the winter months near the end of their run. Daytona International Speedway is getting busier each and every day and there’s nothing that excites a race fan more than cars on track at the World Center of Racing. This weekend, Daytona plays host to the ARCA Menards Series for their 2020 season opener event, the Lucas Oil 200, on Saturday as well as a Busch Clash/Daytona 500 Qualifying double-header for the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday. Near the Daytona area, the ARCA Menards Series East will also be running their season opener at New Smyrna Speedway as part of the track’s “World Series”. Below you will find a brief outlook for each event with entry lists as they become available.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

The NASCAR Cup Series has a new name, new colors, and some new faces to kick off the 2020 season. It’s almost poetic that the first event of the 2020 season returns to a familiar name, The Busch Clash. The annual event leading up to the Daytona 500 was called the Busch Clash from its inaugural edition in 1979 through 1997. This year’s Clash features 18 drivers who have either won a Busch Pole Award in 2019, won a Busch Clash in the past (and competed full-time in 2019), as well as former Daytona 500 champions and pole winners. 2019 playoff drivers were also included in the lineup. Daniel Suarez and Daniel Hemric were also eligible but will not be running the event. Jimmie Johnson won the Clash in 2019 for the 2nd time in his career and now will possibly run his final Clash as he is retiring from full-time competition following the 2020 season. The Busch Clash is on Sunday, February 9 at 3p ET on FS1.

Daytona 500 Qualifying

Before the green flag flies for the Busch Clash, 43 cars will qualify for the 62nd Annual Daytona 500. Each car will be given 1 lap to decide the front row for the Daytona 500 (February 16, 2:30p ET, FOX) as well as the starting lineup for next Thursday’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel races. 7 teams without a charter are attempting to qualify for NASCAR’s biggest race of the year. They are: #16 Kaulig Racing, #27 Premium Motorsports, #49 MBM Motorsports, #54 Rick Ware Racing, #62 Beard Motorsports, #66 MBM Motorsports, #96 Gaunt Brothers Racing.

Hendrick Motorsports have won the the Pole Position for the last five Daytona 500’s with 4 different drivers and Chevrolet has won 11 of the last 12, including the last 7. Despite the consistency of Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports at Daytona, only Chase Elliott has repeated as a Daytona Pole winner since 2003. New rookies this year include #00 Quin Houff, #8 Tyler Reddick, #15 Brennan Poole, #38 John Hunter Nemechek, #41 Cole Custer, and #95 Christopher Bell. Daytona 500 Qualifying is on Sunday, February 9 at 12:30p ET on FOX.

ARCA Menards Series

Hailie Deegan makes her much anticipated Daytona debut as she enters full-time competition in the recently re-organized ARCA Menards Series. Deegan made waves in what is now the ARCA Menards Series West, compiling 3 wins in 2 seasons. The 18-year-old now is donning the blue oval with DGR-Crosley as she starts to move up the ranks in stock car racing. Another driver making their ARCA Daytona debut is World of Outlaws star David Gravel, who won the Knoxville Nationals in 2019. Michael Self returns to Venturini Motorsports after a runner-up campaign in 2019 that included 4 victories. Also returning to ARCA competition is Natalie Decker who will be driving the Ken Schrader #52. Notably missing from the entry list this year is 8-time Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart who retired over the offseason due to health issues. The Lucas Oil 200 is on Saturday, February 8 at 4:30p ET on FS1.

ARCA Menards Series East

Near Daytona is a short track known as New Smyrna Speedway that hosts the “World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing” which is 9 straight nights of racing with late models, modifieds, and more! The 4th night of the World Series includes racing for the newly rebranded ARCA Menards Series East. Highlighting the entry list are: 2019 champion Sam Mayer, Ty Gibbs, Tanner Gray, Chase Cabre, and the new Bill McAnally trio of Jesse Love, Holley Hollan, and Gracie Trotter. The Skips Western Outfitters 175 is on Monday, February 10 at 7:30p ET on NBC TrackPass (Feb. 14, 1p ET, NBCSN)