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.

#DriverTeamCarSponsor
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevroletMonster Energy
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFordMoneyLion
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevroletSymbicort/RigUp
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFordBusch Light#PIT4BUSCH
6Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFordKoch Industries
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevroletMountain Dew Zero Sugar
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFordPure Farmland
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaFedEx Express
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFordMenards/Peak
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFordMobil 1
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaM&M's
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaSiriusXM
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaSports Clips
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFordShell Pennzoil
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLiberty University
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevroletAdventHealth
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletAlly
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevroletValvoline
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.

#DriverTeamCarSponsor
00Quin HouffStarCom RacingChevroletJacob Construction
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevroletMonster Energy
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFordDiscount Tire
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevroletBass Pro Shops/Tracker OffRoad
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFordBusch Light/#PIT4BUSCH
6Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFordKoch Industries
8Tyler Reddick #Richard Childress RacingChevroletCaterpillar
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFordSmithfield
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaFedEx Express
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFordMenards/Peak
13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevroletGEICO
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFordRush / Mobil 1
15Brennan Poole #Premium MotorsportsChevroletSpartanGO
16*Justin Haley (i)Kaulig RacingChevroletFraternal Order of Eagles
17Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFordFastenal
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaM&M's
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaBass Pro Shops
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaDEWALT
21Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft/Quick Lane
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFordShell Pennzoil
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevroletAxalta "Color of the Year"
27*Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
32Corey LaJoieGO FAS RacingFordRangingBull.com
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFordLove's Travel Stops
36David RaganRick Ware RacingFordSelect Blinds
37Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevroletCottonelle
38John Hunter Nemechek #Front Row MotorsportsFordCitgard
41Cole Custer #Stewart-Haas RacingFordHaas Automation
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevroletCredit One Bank
43Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevroletUnited States Air Force
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevroletKroger
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletAlly
49*Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyotaGarrison Homes
51Joey Gase (i)Petty Ware RacingChevroletEFX Corp.
52BJ McLeod (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
54*JJ YeleyRick Ware RacingFord
62*Brendan Gaughan (i)Beard MotorsportsChevroletBeard Motorsports
66*Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsFordRoofClaim.com/VSI Racing
77Ross Chastain (i)Spire MotorsportsChevroletAdventHealth
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevroletValvoline
95Christopher Bell #Leavine Family RacingToyotaProcore
96*Daniel SuarezGaunt Brothers RacingToyotaToyota Certified Used Vehicles

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.

#DriverOwnerCarSponsor
0Con NicolopoulosWayne PetersonChevroletGreatRailing.com
1John FerrierMichelle HillenburgChevroletJohn Ferrier Racing
02Andy SeussChris OurChevroletRobert B. Our Company
3Willie MullinsWillie MullinsFordCrow Wing Recycling-Bugys's Repair
4Hailie DeeganDavid GillilandFordMonster Energy
06Tim RichmondWayne PetersonToyotaGreatRailing.com
7Eric CaudellEric CaudellFordCaudell Consulting & Marketing
8Sean CorrJohn CorrChevroletNESCO
9Thomas PraytorThomas PraytorChevroletAIDB/Max Force Trucking
09Benny ChastainChris OurChevroletRobert B. Our Company
10Ryan HuffAndy HillenburgToyotaLand & Coates-HB Hankins
11Chuck HiersAndy HillenburgToyotaAshley Homes/Gleckler Lumber
12Jason WhiteMichelle HullenburgChevroletPowder Venture Exc/YourGMCTruckStore.com
15Drew DollarBill VenturiniToyotaVenturini Motorsports
17Tanner GrayDavid GillilandFordFord Performance
18Riley HerbstCoy GibbsToyotaMonster/Terrible Herbst/ORCA Coolers
20Ryan RepkoBilly VenturiniToyotaVenturini Motorsports
22Connor HallChad BryantFordChad Bryant Racing
23Bret HolmesStacy HolmesChevroletHolmes II Excavating
25Michael SelfCathy VenturiniToyotaVenturini Motorsports
28David GravelMike BursleyChevroleteChevrolet Accessories
30Dominique Van WieringenMark RetteFordDurobyt
32Gus DeanKevin CywinskiChevroletWin Tron Racing
46Thad MoffittBo LeMastusFordRichard Petty Performance Oil
48Brad SmithBrad SmithChevroletCopraya.com
52Natalie DeckerKen SchraderFordN29 Technologies LLC
61JJ PackJJ PackToyotaBlack Draft Distillery/Ice Boxx Customs
63Dave Mader IIIParis WixonChevroletDiamond C Ranch/PRW LLC
69Scott MeltonBill KimmelFordMelton McFadden Insurance Agency
77Jacob HeafnerChad BryantFordChad Bryant Racing
87Chuck Buchanan Jr.Charles BuchananChevroletSpring Drug
88Scott ReevesScott ReevesChevroletReeves Racing
97Jason KitzmillerCodie RohrbaughChevroletAll Construction

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)

#DriverOwnerCarSponsor
1Max McLaughlinShige HattoriToyotaToyota/TRD
3Willie MullinsWillie MullinsFordCrow Wing Recycling-Bugsy's Repair
4Chase CabreMax SiegelToyotaEibach Springs/Max Siegel Inc.
6Nick SanchezMax SiegelToyotaUTI/NTI
11Chuck HiersAndy HillenburgToyotaAshley Homes/Gleckler Lumber
11ERobert PawlowskiRobert PawlowskiChevroletChannel/Daily Clips Central
16Gio ScelziMike CurbToyotaNAPA Auto Parts/Curb Records
17Tanner GrayDavid GillilandFordFord Performance
18Ty GibbsCoy GibbsToyotaMonster Energy
19Jesse LoveBill McAnallyToyotaNAPA Power Premium Plus
20Corey HeimBilly VenturiniToyotaCraftsman
21Sam MayerMaury GallagherChevroletChevy Accessories
25Mason DiazCathy VenturiniToyotaSolid Rock Carriers
30Tristan Van WieringenMark RetteFordDurobyte
42Parker RetzlaffBruce CookToyotaPonsse
43Daniel DyeBen KennedyChevroletBen Kennedy Racing
50Holley HollanBill McAnallyToyotaJBL/NAPA Filters/NAPA Belts & Hoses
74Giovanni BromanteMarie Benevento-ViscontiChevroletBromante Landscape/The Reichert Group
80Brian FinneyBrian FinneyChevroletBob Steele Chevrolet/Finney Racing
91Justin S. CarrollTerry CarrollToyotaTC Motorsports
99Gracie TrotterBill McAnallyToyotaENEOS

 

Author: Tom Bailey

Tom Bailey (@TomBaileyScoop) grew up in the backyard of Chicagoland Speedway, making a passion for all motorsports inevitable. Tom is entering his first full year of racing coverage in 2020 as the owner and founder of InfieldScoop.com. You can contact him at [email protected]

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