A Look at the Clash

Most of us fans are starved for some racing. Saturday night, after the NASCAR series offseason, we get our wish. Seventeen drivers will climb into their cars and hope to drive those cars the 75 laps to victory under the lights at Daytona.

NASCAR’s version of its exhibition season, has a unique way of establishing the racing field. 2016 pole winners make up the bulk of the starting field. Past winners of the Clash, 2016 Chase contenders and past Daytona 500 pole winners make up the rest of the field.

The 2017 Clash field:

Jamie McMurray (1)

Brad Keselowski (2)

Austin Dillion (3)

Kevin Harvick (4)

Danica Patrick (10)

Denny Hamlin (11)

Kyle Busch (18)

Daniel Suarez (19)

Matt Kenseth (20)

Joey Logano (22)

Chase Elliott (24)

Chris Buescher (37)

Kurt Busch (41)

Kyle Larson (42)

Jimmie Johnson (48)

Martin Truex Jr. (78)

Alex Bowman (88)

Predicting winners at restrictor plate races have been a challenge in the last several years. In such a small field as we’ll see Saturday night in the clash, I think teammates may play a huge role. Here’s my picks for the top 3.

Joey Logano

Joey finished in the runner up position in last year’s version of the clash. Logano was on the cusp of capturing his first championship last season and you have to think he’s on the short list of contenders this year. There is no longer a track where we don’t find the 22 car of Logano running up front. With his Penske Racing teammate, Brad Keselowski, also in this race, I fully expect to see Logano up front when all is said and done on Saturday night.

Brad Keselowski

Brad and his teammate have shown time and time again that they work very well together. In such a small field, 17 cars entered for the Clash), it should make it easy for the two Penske teammates to find each other. It might come down to who is pushing who at the right time but I’m not going to be surprised to see either Keselowski or Logano take the checkered flag.

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie has a teammate in the race as well, Chase Elliott. Again, the small field may make it easier for these two teammates to find each other. Fresh off his record tying Championship, Johnson will be looking to get his season off to a fast start. It’s getting harder and harder to bet against that 48 team.

Of course the Gibbs Toyota's will all be in the field as well and Denny Hamlin is the defending race winner so I wouldn't be mortgaging the house on any wager Saturday. What is a sure thing is we'll see many of our favorite drivers running fast laps around the high banking of Daytona International Speedway. Now after a long winters nap that's a pretty cool thing.

Thanks for reading. Listen to WTBQ radio on Monday and Friday mornings at 8:45 as I join Frank, Taylor and the Morning Show gang to discuss all the current happenings in NASCAR. 1110AM 93.5FM or online at WTBQ.COM. You can also follow me on twitter @JimLaplante.