Who… should you be talking about after the race?
Martin Truex Jr. might like to forget 2022 happened as he went winless and missed the playoff cut, but he kicked off the new season by edging former teammate Kyle Busch for bragging rights in the second heat of the day. From there, Truex took home bragging rights in the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, his first trip to victory lane in over a year.
Truex had one of the fastest cars on track all weekend long; it just took a few laps to get going. With caution after caution after the halfway break, he spent 50 laps trying to get to the front. But once he did, Truex worked over leader Ryan Preece for the lead and then sailed away from the field Sunday (Feb. 5), including on the final restart. It might not be a points win, but it gives him some much-needed momentum after the season the driver called “a disaster.”
There was speculation that Truex, who signed a one-year extension with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2023, would announce his retirement after this season. And he might still hang up his helmet, but if he does, it’ll be with another trophy on the shelf.
And don’t forget… Ryan Preece. Preece took over the No. 41 at Stewart-Haas Racing from Cole Custer and showed what he can do in a competitive car on Sunday night (Feb. 5). Preece worked his way through the field, using the outside line to an advantage few others could find. He took the lead just after halftime and hung on for restart after restart. An electrical issue cost him several positions in the closing laps and possibly the win as Truex worked his way by with just 25 to go. Preece rallied back to finish seventh, leading the most laps in the race (43).
Preece is an underrated driver who has found a champion in owner Tony Stewart. If Sunday is any indication, Stewart made a good call, and his No. 41 could be a team to watch in 2023.
What… is the big question leaving this race in the rearview?
The 25-lap heat races and last chance qualifiers were entertaining and featured an intensity that’s absent in longer races where saving equipment is priority number one. Since caution laps don’t count in the Clash, there’s an opportunity for late moves. Overall, this take on a Saturday night short track race works very well for this event.
But does that mean NASCAR should do it more often? Probably not.
Since the Clash is an exhibition race, the sanctioning body can keep the field…
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