By David Morgan, Associate Editor
The wait is over. The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series kicks off this weekend with the annual Busch Light Clash exhibition race.
After being held at Daytona International Speedway as the opening salvo to Speedweeks throughout its existence, the race moved away from the birthplace of NASCAR out to the West Coast last year, into the confines of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
For the second year in a row, the purpose-built quarter-mile track plays host to NASCAR’s premier division and will give all of the teams and drivers a chance to shake off the offseason rust.
36 cars will enter the weekend looking for a chance to race in the main event, with single car qualifying on Saturday setting the starting lineup for four scheduled heat races the following day, which starts the process of whittling the field down to the 27 drivers who will take the green flag in the Clash.
The top-five drivers from each of the four 25-lap heat races will automatically advance on to the main event later in the night, while the remaining seven drivers will have to rest their fate in a pair of 50-lap last chance qualifiers. The top-three finishers from each of the LCQ races will then take their place in the starting grid for the Clash.
With the heat races and LCQ races complete, the 27th and final starter for the main event will be whichever driver finished highest in the 2022 points standings, but was unable to advance through in any of the preliminary races.
The Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum will consist of 150-laps, broken down into two 75-lap segments. With the tight confines of the stadium preventing live pit stops from happening, a half-time break between the segments will allow the teams to work on their cars.
By the Numbers
What: Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, NASCAR Cup Series Exhibition Race
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California
TV/Radio: FOX, 6:00 pm ET / MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Channel 90
Track Size: Quarter-mile purpose-built oval
Race Length: 150 laps (Two segments: 75 laps each)
2022 Race Winner: Joey Logano – No. 22 Team Penske Ford (Started fourth, 35 laps led)
From the Driver’s Seat
Kyle Larson – No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: “I think the aggression will be the same as it was last year. I thought the aggression was extremely high, especially in the last chance race. It was pretty wild to watch.
“An exhibition race. No…
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