Busch Clash Hot Warm-Up For Daytona

One-tenth as long as the Daytona 500 and twice as entertaining, the Busch Clash is a totally contrived sporting event, orchestrated solely for fans’ enjoyment and drivers’ kicks.

It just may be the most exciting 15 minutes in stock-car racing.

On Sunday, the Busch Clash kicks off the seemingly endless rounds of practice and news conferences at Daytona, setting the tone and hinting at what’s in store for the 500 on Feb. 16.

The race also is great on its own - an event that cuts to the chase, so to speak, of what the sport is all about: putting your foot down when it matters most. It’s a 50-mile, 20-lap sprint run in two segments. Drivers race 10 laps around Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile tri-oval, pause for an optional pit stop, invert the field so the last starts first, then race the final 10 laps.

Because it doesn’t count toward the season’s points race, there’s no point in being conservative. And winning pays big bucks - $80,000 to a driver who wins both segments.

“You go there with the idea you want to win because second doesn’t matter,” says Dale Jarrett, who swept the 1996 Busch Clash and Daytona 500.

Drivers earn the right to run the race by winning a pole the previous season. Sunday’s lineup consists of Johnny Benson, Jeff and Ward Burton, Ricky Craven, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Ernie Irvan, Jarrett, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Ted Musgrave and Bobby and Terry Labonte. A 14th, wild-card entry went to Rusty Wallace.

Vasser fast again

Based on CART’s spring training, 1997 may be a mirror image of 1996. Reigning PPG champion Jimmy Vasser turned in the fastest time during the three-day test session at the Metro-Dade Homestead (Fla.) Motorsports Complex that ended Saturday. He was followed by Target/ Chip Ganassi teammate Alex Zanardi, who finished 1996 third in points.

Vasser and Zanardi were the only drivers to break the 195-mph mark, suggesting that Honda-Firestone again will be the package to beat. Vasser’s best was 195.467 mph; Zanardi’s was 195.174 mph. Mauricio Gugelmin was the third-fastest at 194.853. Rounding out the top five were Paul Tracy (192.810 mph) and rookie Richie Hearn (192.572 mph).