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2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
Race details[1][2][3][4]
Race 1 of 2 exhibition races in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series
Date February 3, 2024 (2024-02-03)
Location Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California
Course Temporary race course in permanent stadium
0.25 mi (0.40 km)
Distance 151 laps, 37.75 mi (60.4 km)
Scheduled Distance 150 laps, 37.5 mi (60 km)
Average speed 32.937 miles per hour (53.007 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Most laps led
Driver Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 84
Winner
No. 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle
Turn Announcers Dan Hubbard (Backstretch)

The 2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on February 3, 2024, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Contested over 151 laps — extended from 150 laps due to an overtime finish, it was the first exhibition race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Format and eligibility

On September 14, 2021, NASCAR announced that the Busch Clash would move to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[5] On January 16, 2024, the format for the 2024 Clash was announced:[6]

  • The event is open for all teams and drivers.
  • A total of 325 laps in six races.
  • The 36 charter teams and up to four open teams will participate in qualifying. Should more than 40 teams enter the race, it is unknown if qualifying will determine who advances to heat races.
  • Based on lap times, cars are put in one of four heat races of 25 laps each. The top five drivers in each heat advance to the feature.
  • All non-qualifying drivers are assigned to one 75 lap heat races. The top two drivers from the heat race advance to the feature.
  • The highest driver in 2023 Cup Series points standings not in will also advance to the feature in the last position.
  • The feature is 150 laps and will have 23 cars start the race.

On February 3, NASCAR moved up the Clash to that day from February 4, due to the incoming threat of life-threatening flooding from a massive atmospheric river. The heat races were cancelled and the starting lineup would be determined by the fastest 22 drivers in qualifying with the final spot being determined by whoever placed the highest in the 2023 Owners Point Standings.[7]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Noah Gragson Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
14 Chase Briscoe Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
15 Kaz Grala (R) Rick Ware Racing Ford
16 Josh Williams (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Ryan Preece Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota
43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota
45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford
54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 13.139 and a speed of 68.498 mph (110.237 km/h) .[8]

Practice results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.139 68.498
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 13.250 67.925
3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.261 67.868
Official practice results

Qualifying

Denny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 13.139 and a speed of 68.498 mph (110.237 km/h).[8]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.139
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 13.250
3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.261
4 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.266
5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13.273
6 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.316
7 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 13.319
8 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.324
9 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 13.359
10 51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford 13.369
11 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 13.376
12 41 Ryan Preece Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 13.378
13 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 13.388
14 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.401
15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 13.429
16 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 13.429
17 10 Noah Gragson Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 13.433
18 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 13.434
19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.453
20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 13.459
21 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 13.474
22 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 13.484
23 16 Josh Williams (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 13.498
24 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 13.499
25 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 13.513
26 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 13.514
27 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 13.524
28 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13.535
29 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 13.570
30 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 13.574
31 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 13.582
32 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 13.592
33 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.593
34 15 Kaz Grala Rick Ware Racing Ford 13.605
35 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 13.617
36 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 13.704
Official qualifying results

Qualifying heat races

Due to the incoming threat of life-threatening flooding from an atmospheric river, NASCAR moved up the Clash to Saturday night, cancelling all heat races.[9]

Starting lineup

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
6 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
7 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
8 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
10 51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford
11 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
12 41 Ryan Preece Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
13 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
14 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
16 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
17 10 Noah Gragson Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
18 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
21 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota
22 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart–Haas Racing Ford
23 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
Official starting lineup

Race

Race results

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 151
2 5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 151
3 23 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 151
4 2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 151
5 8 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 151
6 4 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 151
7 22 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 151
8 13 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 151
9 19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 151
10 5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 151
11 12 41 Ryan Preece Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 151
12 9 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 151
13 11 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 151
14 21 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 150
15 7 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 150
16 20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 150
17 18 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 150
18 3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 150
19 15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 149
20 17 10 Noah Gragson Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 147
21 10 51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford 135
22 14 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 77
23 16 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 68
Official race results

Media

Television

FS1 covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and three-time Clash winner Kevin Harvick handled the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled the pit road duties, and Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Kevin Harvick
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Larry McReynolds

Radio

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the action from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dan Hubbard called the action for MRN when the field raced down the backstretch. Steve Post, Kim Coon, Brienne Pedigo, and Jason Toy covered the action for MRN on pit lane.

MRN Radio
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Backstretch: Dan Hubbard Steve Post
Kim Coon
Brienne Pedigo
Jason Toy

References

  1. ^ "2024 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "2022 Clash to be held at the Los Angeles Coliseum". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 14, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum format announced". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Utter, Jim (February 3, 2024). "NASCAR to run L.A. Clash tonight to beat severe weather". Motorsport.com. Los Angeles, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Utter, Jim (February 3, 2024). "Hamlin earns pole for NASCAR Clash in Los Angeles". Motorsport.com. Los Angeles: Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Utter, Jim (February 3, 2024). "NASCAR to run L.A. Clash tonight to beat severe weather". Motorsport.com. Los Angeles, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 3, 2024.