[dunnere]

OK, so:

Jeff Gordon won the Busch Clash in 1997 and went on to win the Championship that year (his second, and the first of back-to-back titles for him, '97 and '98).

Tony Stewart won the Bud Shootout in 2002 and went on to win his First Championship that year.

The Busch Clash started in 1979, and Richard Petty won the Championship that year, but Buddy Baker won the Clash race, so he's out.

Jimmie Johnson won the Bud Shootout in 2005, but he didn't win his first Championship until the next year, and he has not won Shootout since, so he is out.

So, I gave you 1980 as the first year the winner of the Clash/Shootout went on to win the Championship, and that is a huge clue, but I will also give you this: one of the guys to do it is now a broadcaster. Also, I'll give you this - there are only two drivers left to account for the remaining five times it's happened...