The Advance Auto Parts Clash is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in February the weekend before the Daytona 500, It began as the Busch Clash and was a 50-mile "all out sprint", In its current format, it is made up of two segments, starting with the 25-lap segment, which culminates with the final 50-lap segment, The race, like the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race in May, carries no points for the winner but rather a large purse, circumstances which are supposed to encourage an all-out driving style not seen in regular season races, where one series mistake can largely ruin a season. However, due to the smaller fields, huge crashes in the Daytona 500 are uncommon.
The 1987 race, won by Bill Elliott, was completed at an average speed of 197.902 miles per hour (318.492 km/h), It stands as the fastest-sanctioned race in the history of NASCAR (though it was not a points-paying event).
Race format
1979-1990: The race consisted of a single twenty-lap (50 mile) green flag sprint with no pit stops required, Caution flags do not count.
1991-1997: The race was broken up into two ten-lap green flag segments, the field was then inverted for the second ten-lap segment, Prize money was awarded for both segments for all positions, The race had been broken up into two segments, because it was lacking competitiveness since restrictor places was used in 1988, The inversion rule needed some excitement to the event.
1998-2000: The event was renamed the Bud Shootout, and consisted of 25-laps, the Bud Shootout Qualifier ran at 11 a.m. and the Shootout itself ran at 12 p.m.
2001-2002: The race renamed to the Budweiser Shootout, and expanded to a new race distance (70 laps, 125 miles), Caution laps would be counted, but the finish of the race had to be finished under green, except for the Green-white-checker-finish rule for the Camping World Truck Series, if necessary, A maximum of one pit-stop was required, The Bud Shootout qualifier was discontinued but the second round qualifying for Cup Series races was eliminated.
2003-2008: The race was broken up into two segments, followed by a ten-minute intermission, While a pit-stop was no longer required by a rule, a reduction of fuel-cell size (from 22 gallons to 13 gallons) made a fuel pit stop necessary, (In 2007, Fuel cells were expanded to 18.5 gallons) Many drivers who changed tires during their fuel stop, as time required to fuel the car allowed a two-tire change.
2009-2012: The race was expanded to 25 laps, followed by the 50 lap final segment, the race distance was expanded to 75 laps (187.5 miles)
2013-2015: The race was divided into three segments (30 laps, 25 laps, 20 laps, which online fan voting was necessary, deciding certain aspects (lengths of the race, requirements of mandatory pit stops, numbers of drivers eliminated, etc.)[1] The total distance of the race was 75 laps in length.
