Lights, camera annndddd (lots of) action: it's time for the Busch Light Clash
LOS ANGELES -- NASCAR is once again ready for its close-up with this weekend's second annual Busch Light Clash.
The top 36 drivers in the Cup Series unloaded Friday in the shadow of Hollywood at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, ready to duke it out on the 1/4-mile track temporarily constructed on top of the football field.
After a successful pilot last year, NASCAR green-lit the second annual Clash for this weekend with a few tweaks and adjustments. Let's break down what you'll see:
Changes to The Clash
The entry list grows from 32 to 36 cars, with 27 cars making the main event Sunday night. Drivers will still be placed in their respective heats based on single-car qualifying sessions on Sunday with five drivers advancing straight into the Feature through each heat, while the rest will battle it out in one of two Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ). Last year, with the smaller field, only four drivers advanced.
The dual LCQs will each propel three drivers to the back of the main event field with the final starting spot reserved for the highest finishing points finisher from the 2022 season that has not already advanced through the weekend’s events.
Wait, say what?
In what could be a potential sign of things to come -- ala what has been seen for years at the end of races in IndyCar and Formula One -- the biggest and most controversial change this year has nothing to do with the racing itself and everything to do with Victory Lane.
A podium returns to the LA Memorial Coliseum as NASCAR makes the shocking decision to give medals to the first, second, and third-place finishers in the Clash, in what is likely to be a decision loved by some and despised by purists online.
This move was made partially as an ode to the location of the Clash as the Coliseum was the location of the 1932 Summer Olympics, but can also be seen as a way to appease -- and potentially attract -- other auto racing fans from the open-wheel world such as F1 and IndyCar.
While NASCAR has used podiums in its Pinty and International competitions, this will be the first time one is used for a race in the big three series. Since this is a one-off event and not a points race, it’s unlikely this will be carried through the 2023 season. But if it goes over well among fans in-person as well as those watching on TV, don't be surprised if it becomes the latest new addition to the NASCAR repertoire.
Chastain Rule
We knew something had to come rules-wise from Ross Chastain's last-lap video game-like move this fall at Martinsville, in which deliberately turned into the wall to increase turning force, scrubbing nearly two seconds off his lap time and passing five cars to secure his spot in the Championship Four.
NASCAR made the decision entering the 2023 season to further enforce rule 10.5.2.6.A, which states that it is a top priority for NASCAR and NEM (NASCAR Event Management), "that any violations deemed to compromise the safety of an event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of Competitors, Officials, spectators, or others are treated with the highest degree of seriousness. Safety violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.”
Officials stated they will issue a time penalty to any vehicle that attempts an unsafe maneuver like Chastain’s.
The Clash is one of the few locations this move could work, in theory, so going into this weekend’s events NASCAR announced to competitors that they will be issued a penalty to any vehicle that attempts an unsafe maneuver similar to Chastain's hijinx from last fall.
But, you have to admit, it sure would be fun to see something similar take place at the Coliseum, especially since it's a non-points race that doesn't show up in the season standings.
The Dominance of the 22 in '22
Last year’s Clash essentially placed Team Penske driver Joey Logano in the driver’s seat for the 2022 season. After winning the Inaugural Clash, Logano became a father to his third child within 36 hours of capturing the checkers and launch him into prosperity that would be capped off with his second Cup championship at season's end.
Speaking of seasons, Logano goes into this weekend (well, actually, it will start with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 19), in a three-way tie for the best odds at +900 with Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, the 2021 and 2020 Cup season champions, respectively.
Other Contenders
Some of the strongest competitors heading into this year’s Clash are doing so in new equipment and for new teams.
Tyler Reddick had a great early showing in last year’s Clash, leading 51 laps early before mechanical issues knocked him out of the race 57 laps in. Last year he raced the #8 for Richard Childress Racing, but this year he's moved on to 23XI Racing. This was moved up with Kurt Busch’s early retirement due to a concussion.
RCR's #8 Chevrolet will be piloted by Kyle Busch this year. The younger Busch brother finished second to Logano in last year’s Clash after an intense late-race battle. Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing parted ways at the end of the 2022 season and Childress ended Reddick’s contract early to make room for the two-time champion’s move to Chevy.
Race Rookies
The Clash has three new challengers this year, JJ Yeley, defending Xfinity Series champion Ty Gibbs, and Noah Gragson. Gibbs and Gragson will be gearing up for their rookie of the year battle, with Gibbs replacing Kyle Busch at JGR while Gragson will hit the track as one of the first drivers in a rebranded Legacy Motor Club Chevy (formally Richard Petty Motorsports).