As Usual, Earnhardt Finds Checkered Flag At Busch

Dale Earnhardt won the Busch Clash. So, what else is new?

Earnhardt, the master of the trophy dash, led 18 of 20 laps on Daytona International Speedway’s 2-mile oval on Sunday to earn his sixth victory in nine appearances in the made-for-TV event for the previous year’s pole winners.

The Clash is separated into two 10-lap segments, with the field inverted for the start of the second half. No problem for Earnhardt.

In 1991, the first year of this format, Earnhardt won both halves, coming from 14th to win take the checkered flag at the end of the 50-mile run.

In 1993, he was second after 10 laps, again started the second half 14th and raced off to the win.

This time, Earnhardt started from the outside of the front row, took the lead at the green flag and kept his new Chevrolet Monte Carlo comfortably out front for nine laps.

With the $25,000 prize for the halfway leader beckoning, Earnhardt was unable to hold on to the top spot as 1994 Clash winner Jeff Gordon got some help from fellow Chevy driver Sterling Marlin and pushed past Earnhardt near the end of the back straightaway. That’s the way the first half finished, with Gordon in front, followed by Marlin, Earnhardt, the Fords of Bill Elliott, Ted Musgrave and Todd Bodine.

OK, fine

NASCAR handed out a fine for the third straight day, assessing Dick Brooks Racing crew chief Jeff Hammond $5,000 after discovering 18 pounds of loose lead weight inside the Pontiac driven by Greg Sacks in the Busch Clash.All added weight that meets the regulations must be added in increments of at least 5-pound blocks of lead, and those must be secured inside the framework of the car.