The first round of changes for the 2021 NASCAR season was revealed Wednesday afternoon.
Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR jointly announced that the traditional two-week Speedweeks schedule that has served as the trademark opening to a new NASCAR season will go through a complete overhaul next year and be shortened to six days.
Activity begins Feb. 9, 2021, when the non-points Busch Clash exhibition event moves from the traditional 2.5-mile superspeedway to Daytona’s 3.66-mile historic road course layout – the same course utilized for the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as well as the Daytona 200, North America’s premier races for sports cars and motorcycles, respectively.
Road-course racing has always been a vital component on the speedway calendar, with the Rolex 24 first held in 1962 as a three-hour race called the Daytona Continental while the DAYTONA 200 moved off the old Daytona Beach-Road Course to the speedway in 1961.
The Clash which will utilize the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series cars will run in primetime under the lights kicking off the buildup to the 63rd annual Daytona 500.
In contrast to the tightly-packed competition on the speedway’s famed 2.5-mile high-back-tri-oval, the reimagined Busch Clash will utilize approximately three-quarters of the tri-oval along with the challenging infield portion of the road course. That translates into 12 turns instead of the usual four.
Wednesday, Feb. 10 will feature Daytona 500 qualifying presented by Kroger, while the Bluegreen Vacation Duels 150-mile qualifying races at Daytona retain their traditional spot of Thursday night (Feb. 11) leading up to “The Great American Race.”
Friday, Feb. 12 will see the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series kickoff their season under the lights, while Sat., Feb. 13 brings a double dose of competition for the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series’ NASCAR Racing Experience 300.
Sun, Feb. 14 caps off the six-day stretch with the 63rd annual Daytona 500.
“NASCAR fans have asked for more road-course competition and the industry is listening,” Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile said. “With the talent level the Busch Clash brings to the table, the race will now clearly have its own look and feel during DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth in 2021 and beyond.
“The new placement on the Speedweeks schedule also adds to the anticipation. That switch will make for a fuller Speedweeks calendar. Fans also will have the opportunity to engage in a festive infield atmosphere, similar to the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, with many prime viewing opportunities.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
