Ty Dillon continues to add to his Daytona Speedweek racing docket. Most recently, he has been announced as the driver for new team 23XI Racing, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, for the Feb. 9 Busch Clash exhibition race at the Daytona International Speedway road course. Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. is the new team’s driver, but he is not qualified for the Clash.
“Very important for our team to get reps,” Hamlin [@DennyHamlin] tweeted. “This will be a crucial race for us to get just that. Special thanks to @TyDillon for stepping in!”
Dillon also has signed deals with Gaunt Brothers Racing to drive the #96 Toyota in the Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 14, and with Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the #54 Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona on Feb. 13. The only deal Dillon has beyond Daytona, so far, puts him in the #54 for a partial Xfinity Series schedule.
Dillon is eligible for the Clash by virtue of winning a stage during the 2020 Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval race. To be eligible for the Clash drivers must be a 2020 pole winner, a previous Clash winner, a previous Daytona 500 winner, a previous Daytona 500 pole sitter (provided they were full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers last season), a 2020 playoff driver, a 2020 race winner or a 2020 stage winner.
