The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series returned to the track with the 2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. The annual exhibition race had to be adjusted due to awful weather conditions in the forecast. What was supposed to be an entire weekend event turned into a one night race. When the dust settled, Denny Hamlin recorded his fourth Clash win.
Drivers were supposed to compete in four heat races Saturday to set the field for Sunday’s race. With the change in schedule, officials used the 22 fastest qualifying and practice times to set the field. The defending series champion, Ryan Blaney, used a Champion’s Provisional to make the field after failing to register one of the 22 fastest times.
A late race caution set up a ten lap dash to the checkered flag. Joey Logano and Ty Gibbs looked to be dueling for the win. But both washed up the track giving Hamlin room to jump from third to first and secure his fourth Clash win, putting him second all-time. After the win, Hamlin repeated a line he delivered last year that has been featured on NASCAR: Full Speed where he told the fans attendance, “I just beat your favorite driver, again.”
Hamlin remains a fitting winner for this race as he continues on the Dale Earnhardt Jr. driver path. Earnhardt leads all drivers in Clash wins with six to Hamlin’s four. Both won multiple Daytona 500s and neither has won a championship, so far.
2024 Clash at the Coliseum Top 10 Finishers
- Denny Hamlin
- Kyle Busch
- Ryan Blaney
- Joey Logano
- Kyle Larson
- Alex Bowman
- Chase Briscoe
- Brad Keselowski
- Martin Truex Jr.
- William Byron
2024 Clash at the Coliseum Audible
The weather forecast in Los Angeles called for torrential downpours on Sunday. However, NASCAR made the decision to run the race Saturday due to the extended forecast. Meteorologists predicted rain for days on end and the potential for devastating flooding. NASCAR’s decision helped get in both the 2024 Clash at the Coliseum and the Mexico Series race originally scheduled for Saturday. Plus, NASCAR’s COO said the move allowed teams to start heading back to North Carolina to prepare for Daytona rather than possibly get stuck in the floodwaters.
Clash Changes Needed
NASCAR started running the Clash in 1979. It started as an exhibition race at Daytona the week before the Daytona 500 before being moved. In 2021, NASCAR chose to run on the Daytona road course and started running at the Coliseum in 2022. Both concepts provided variety that NASCAR should pursue. The February date makes some tracks harder to run due to weather, but NASCAR should still try to move the race to other tracks. Some NASCAR “purists” will only accept the race in Daytona, but the sport needs to grow and going to some lesser known tracks could encourage more fans to take in a race. The Coliseum can be part of a rotation that includes a dirt track, short track, road course and super speedway. NASCAR should try to capitalize on the opportunity.
Next Race: Speedweeks
NASCAR heads to Daytona for the Super Bowl of auto racing. Speedweeks kicks off with the Duel at Daytona qualifying races on Thursday, February 15th. The Craftsman Truck Series begins its season Friday February 16th under the lights, while the Xfinity Series takes center stage Saturday, February 17th. All of those races will be shown on FS1. Then, it’s the Great American Race. The Cup Series races the Daytona 500 Sunday February 18th on Fox.
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