NASCAR Johnson triggers crash to win the Clash
Photo by C. Tilton/Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.— Jimmie Johnson’s winless streak ended on Sunday.
But the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet moved race leader Paul Menard and eliminated three-quarters of the field before collecting the Advance Auto Parts Clash trophy.
Menard led 52 of 55 laps before Johnson pulled to the inside and sent the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford like a top into the field of drivers behind.
"It was really just a racing thing," said Johnson following his third Clash win. “I knew the rain was coming, so I was trying to set-up my move and make my run on the No. 21 car. I had it kind of set-up down the backstretch a few laps prior to that and then my opportunity came along, I made that move to the inside and then we kind of got together.
“I’m not sure if just the air breaking his bumper plane pulled his car over or if he was late to block, but it was just really a racing thing honestly. So, I made my move and unfortunately he got sideway and it collected a bunch of cars.”
Kurt Busch finished second followed by Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman and Austin Dillon. Chase Elliott was scored seventh despite sitting in his pits for service when the NASCAR called the race for rain. Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman and Daniel Suarez rounded out the top 10.
Menard, who was scored 13th, wasn’t surprised by Johnson’s move.
“Jimmie pulled out and I kind of moved down a little bit and the next thing I know I get turned in the left rear,” Menard said. “Just aggressive. Jimmie does that a lot at these tracks.
“I had a really fast Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang. Led a lot of laps, but tore up a car for no reason.”
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup drivers battled the rain as much as each other in the 75-lap kick off to Speedweeks. The first caution was called for rain after seven laps.
Following a 21-minute and 31 second delay for rain, Menard led the field to green on Lap 12. Bowman moved passed Keselowski for second but washed out as the outside line became the preference for the leaders.
After 15 laps, five Fords ran nose-to-tail with Menard at the point. Brad Keselowski, Logano, Blaney and Newman rounded out the top five with the Busch boys, Kurt and Kyle, running sixth and seventh and the remaining 13 drivers single file.
Martin Truex Jr., attempted to make a move on Lap 16 but quickly dropped to the rear of the field.
Menard led all but five cars to pit road on Lap 25. Almirola, whose team elected to take fuel only, was the first car off of pit road. However, he was busted for speeding and had to drop to the rear. Daniel Suarez received a penalty for his pit crew coming over the wall too soon.
Austin Dillon, who pitted earlier during the caution following the rain delay, took the lead but returned to the pits on Lap 28 along with Kevin Harvick, Suarez, Jamie McMurray and Bowman.
Menard cycled back to the lead for the Lap 32 restart followed by Blaney, Larson, Keselowski, Hamlin, Newman, Kyle Busch, Johnson, Elliott, Logano, Eric Jones, Kurt Busch, Harvick, Suarez and Austin Dillon.
Hamlin quickly moved up to second and Blaney dropped to fifth in the inside lane. The field returned to single-file by Lap 35 with Menard at the point, Hamlin second and Keselowski third. Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Truex, Suarez, Bowyer and McMurray rounded out the top 10.
The top six cars were breaking away from the field when rain triggered the third caution on Lap 40. NASCAR flew the second red flag as the drivers came down pit road. Following an eight-minute delay, the race return to yellow. However, the action was delayed by fuel draining out of a jet dryer.
Elliott and Bowman returned to pit road prior to the restart on Lap 47. Menard remained in the outside line with Johnson in tow. Kurt Busch moved behind Johnson coming to Lap 48. Hamlin, who restarted second, dropped to eight running the inside lane.
Logano and Blaney made a move pulling to the inside entering Turn 1 on Lap 53. The Fords quickly moved up to fourth and seventh, respectively after the first lap. Keselowski caught his teammates on the next lap.
Working Lap 56 on the backstretch, Johnson clipped Menard and triggered a 17-car wreck. Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Harvick, Newman, Elliott, Almirola, Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Truex, Jones, McMurray, Suarez, Kyle Larson and Bowman were collected in the wreck.
With 16 laps remaining, Johnson led the seven remaining cars down pit behind the pace car. NASCAR called the race after one hour, 30 minutes.
Kurt Busch was thrilled to survive the melee and start his new chapter with Ganassi Racing on a solid note.
“It was a pretty crazy day with the rain and just the yellows and the line-up and it was just kind of everybody getting back in the groove, but man, there was a lot to digest especially with me on a new team,” Busch said. “I love all the guys at Ganassi, Matt McCall (crew chief), I didn’t know we were quite pitting under green at lap 25, but those are just those little things that we will learn to iron out.
“Today was a great day for us to finish second, get some bugs worked out and to jump into next week’s qualifiers.”
For Johnson, the win marks the first time in the last six Clashes that he didn’t end up in the garage prior to the checkers.
“It feels good,” Johnson said. “I’m just really happy about honestly, a great day for Hendrick Motorsports, for Chevrolet, for Ally coming on board and qualifying third for the Daytona 500 and then to win the Clash. Kevin Meendering, leading this team; there have been a lot of things going on. I’m extremely excited to win. It’s not a points race, but it’s a good start.”
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