Erik Jones wins Busch Clash exhibition race at Daytona as field decimated by crashes
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Erik Jones was involved in two late-race crashes, went a lap down at one point, then got a last-lap push by teammate Denny Hamlin to win a war of attrition known as the Busch Clash in triple overtime.
“It was kind of crazy,” said Joe Gibbs, who is the car owner for Jones and Hamlin.
Jones’ No. 20 Toyota looked like it belonged in a junk yard rather than a NASCAR Cup Series race. He got the better of the remaining survivors thanks to Hamlin, who was lap down and could not win.
“It was an awesome race,” Jones said. “I got to give a huge thanks to Denny there in the No. 11 team. He stuck with us there that whole last lap.
“It wasn’t the fastest car I don’t think left in the race, but we brought it home. I owe him one for that one, for sure.”
The Clash was scheduled for 75 laps but a series of big wrecks decimated the 18-car field and left only five stock cars on the lead lap to scramble to the checkered flag displayed on Lap 88.
Austin Dillon, whose No. 3 Chevrolet looked pristine compared to the cars around him, was leading at the restart but got no help in the last-laps draft.
Hamlin, who was a lap down in his No. 11 Toyota, stayed on Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile tri-oval to lend Jones a hand in crunch time.
“I didn’t care if I pushed him into a wreck,” Hamlin said. “I knew I just needed to push him.”
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Jones, who won the 2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in 2018, took Joe Gibbs Racing to a new record. Gibbs now has won the Clash a record nine times.
The estimated 25,000 spectators got their money’s worth, including 13 overtime laps and a huge crash near the start-finish line on a late restart.
