2015 Sprint Unlimited Race Info
Date and Time: Saturday February 14th, 2015. 8:29PM
Where: Daytona International Speedway
TV: FOX
by Jay Horne of NASCARWagers.com
In one week NASCAR’s offseason will be over when the green flag drops for the 2015 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway. This year’s race will mark the 37th running of NASCAR’s prestigious season opening exhibition race that preludes the Daytona 500. Over the years we have witnessed this race go through sponsor name changes, format changes, and of course the competitors have changed as well. However, the excitement of the first race of the year and drivers competing for a large purse of money on the high banks of NASCAR’s greatest track has transcended the ages. We take this time to break down this year’s Sprint Unlimited as we prepare to fire the engines for the first time in 2015.
For the first 19 years of the Sprint Unlimited, originally named the Busch Clash, drivers competed in a short 20 lap dash for the victory. However the format for the Sprint Unlimited has changed in recent years and the overall length has been extended from 20 laps to 75 laps. This year’s 75 lap event will feature two segments consisting of 25 and 50 lap segments. A competition caution will be thrown after lap 25 that will set the stage for a 50 lap shootout to decide the winner. Eligible drivers include all 16 Chase competitors from 2014, all previous Sprint Unlimited winners, all 2014 pole winners, and all previous Daytona 500 pole winners. Both AJ Allmendinger and Brian Vickers, who are eligible for the event, will forgo their opportunity to race. Vickers will miss the early part of 2015 with health issues while Allmendinger will miss the Sprint Unlimited due to a team decision with JTG-Daughtery. The updated 2015 Sprint Unlimited field is shown below:
2015 Sprint Unlimited Entrants:
| No. | Driver | Owner | Make |
| (Undecided) | Brian Scott | TBD | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Jamie McMurray | Felix Sabates | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Roger Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne | Rick Hendrick | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Danica Patrick | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | JD Gibbs | Toyota |
| 14 | Tony Stewart | Margaret Haas | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Jack Roush | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs | Toyota |
| 19 | Carl Edwards | Joe Gibbs | Toyota |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs | Toyota |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Walter Czarnecki | Ford |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Rick Hendrick | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress | Chevrolet |
| 38 | David Gilliland | Brad Jenkins | Ford |
| 41 | Kurt Busch | Gene Haas | Chevrolet |
| 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty | Ford |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet |
| 55 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip | Toyota |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Barney Visser | Chevrolet |
| 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Rick Hendrick | Chevrolet |
Important Notes:
*The starting lineup and pit road selections will be decided on Friday February 13th in a new unique format. Select race fans will be paired with crew chiefs for each team that will participate in a random drawing that will set the grid for the 2015 Sprint Unlimited.
*Chevrolet has dominated the Sprint Unlimited recording 21 of the 36 victories. Ford is next in line with 7 victories in the Sprint Unlimited followed by Toyota (3), Buick (2), Oldsmobile (2), Pontiac (2), and Dodge (1).
*Dale Earnhardt holds the most Sprint Unlimited wins with 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and Kevin Harvick are all tied for 2nd with 3 victories each.