The
Sprint Unlimited at Daytona is an annual invitation-only
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at
Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the
Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a kickoff event for the NASCAR portion of
Speedweeks.
The event was originally known as the
Busch Clash, and consisted of a 20-lap/50-mile, "all-out sprint" for the previous season's pole position winners (considered the
de facto "fastest drivers on the circuit"). In its current format, it is made up of three segments, culminating in a 20-lap sprint to the finish. Like the
All-Star Race held at
Charlotte, the race awards no championship points but instead offers a large cash purse – circumstances which are supposed to encourage an all-out driving style not seen in regular-season races.
As of 2015, the field consists of the sixteen drivers who were a part of the Chase the previous season, as well as pole winners from the previous season, former Daytona 500 pole winners, and former Sprint Unlimited winners. The starting lineup is determined by fan vote, not by time trials as all other races are determined.
The defending winner of the Unlimited is
Denny Hamlin after winning all three segments in
2014.
Category:Sports
Subcategory:Motor Sports
Subcategory Detail:NASCAR
Keywords:D1502DISS, Daytona International Speedway, Sprint Unlimited
© Action Sports Photography, Inc.