2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum

2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 1 of 2 exhibition races in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Date February 5, 2023 (2023-02-05)
Location Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California
Course Temporary race course in permanent stadium
0.25 mi (0.40 km)
Distance 150 laps, 37.5 mi (60 km)
Average speed 21.831 miles per hour (35.134 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Stewart-Haas Racing
Most laps led
Driver Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 43
Winner
No. 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Tony Stewart
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle
Turn Announcers Dan Hubbard (Backstretch)

The 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on February 5, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Contested over 150 laps, it was the first exhibition race of the 2023 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.[7] On December 22, 2022, the format for the 2023 Clash was announced:[8]

  • The event is open for all teams and drivers.
  • A total of 350 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 of two 50 lap heat races. The top three drivers in each heat advance to the feature.
  • The highest driver in 2022 Cup Series points standings not in will also advance to the feature in the last position.
  • The feature is 150 laps and will have 27 cars start the race.

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 Kevin Harvick 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 Aric Almirola 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 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford
16 A. J. Allmendinger 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 Justin Haley 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 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford
54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 13.361 with an average speed of 67.360 mph (108.405 km/h) .[9]

Practice results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.361 67.360
2 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 13.371 67.310
3 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 13.383 67.250
Official practice results

Qualifying

Justin Haley scored the pole for the first heat race with a time of 13.413 and a speed of 67.099 mph (107.985 km/h).[10]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time
1 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 13.413
2 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13.553
3 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.569
4 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.596
5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 13.600
6 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13.605
7 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.621
8 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 13.623
9 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.624
10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13.638
11 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 13.663
12 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 13.683
13 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 13.714
14 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 13.734
15 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 13.735
16 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 13.742
17 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 13.749
18 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 13.767
19 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 13.793
20 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 13.817
21 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 13.823
22 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13.851
23 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 13.863
24 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 13.870
25 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 13.890
26 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 13.910
27 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 13.915
28 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 13.919
29 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 13.935
30 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14.087
31 15 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 14.254
32 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 14.316
33 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 14.489
34 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 15.308
35 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 40.301
36 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0.000
Official qualifying results

Qualifying heat races

Aric Almirola scored the pole for the race after winning the first qualifying heat race.[11]

Race 1

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 2 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 25
2 3 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25
3 1 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 25
4 6 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 25
5 5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 25
6 7 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 25
7 4 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25
8 9 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 25
9 8 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 25
Official heat race 1 results

Race 2

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 6 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 25
2 1 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25
3 2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25
4 3 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25
5 4 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 25
6 8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25
7 5 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 25
8 7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 25
9 9 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 25
Official heat race 2 results

Race 3

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 25
2 4 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 25
3 5 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 25
4 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 25
5 3 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 25
6 1 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 25
7 7 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 25
8 6 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 25
9 8 15 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 25
Official heat race 3 results

Race 4

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25
2 4 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 25
3 3 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 25
4 6 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 25
5 5 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 25
6 2 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 25
7 9 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 25
8 7 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 25
9 8 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 25
Official heat race 4 results

"Last Chance" qualifying race 1

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 50
2 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 50
3 4 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 50
4 3 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 50
5 6 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 50
6 5 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 50
7 7 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 50
8 8 15 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 49
Official last chance race 1 results

"Last Chance" qualifying race 2

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 50
2 2 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 50
3 4 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 50
4 3 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 50
5 5 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 50
6 6 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 50
7 8 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 49
8 7 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 48
Official last chance race 2 results

Starting lineup

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
7 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
8 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
9 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
10 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
11 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
12 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
13 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
14 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
15 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
16 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
17 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
18 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
19 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
20 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
21 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
22 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
23 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
24 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
25 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
26 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
27 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
Official starting lineup

Race

Race results

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 150
2 10 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 150
3 6 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 150
4 5 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 150
5 14 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 150
6 11 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 150
7 16 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 150
8 12 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 150
9 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 150
10 4 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 150
11 9 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 150
12 18 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 150
13 23 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 150
14 13 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 150
15 7 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 150
16 17 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 150
17 15 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 150
18 1 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 150
19 19 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 150
20 26 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 150
21 22 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 150
22 8 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 150
23 25 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 140
24 21 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 137
25 27 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 106
26 24 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 81
27 20 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 16
Official race results

Media

Television

Fox covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart[12] handled the call in the booth for the race, while pit reporters Jamie Little and Regan Smith as well as Larry McReynolds handled interviews. Chris Myers and Jamie McMurray were the host and analyst in the studio.

Fox
Booth announcers Reporters Studio
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Tony Stewart		 Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Larry McReynolds		 Host: Chris Myers
Analyst: Jamie McMurray

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. ^ "2023 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Qualifying Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum Heat Races Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  6. ^ "Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "NASCAR releases eligibility and format of 2023 Clash at the Coliseum". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  9. ^ Utter, Jim (February 4, 2023). "Martin Truex Jr. fastest in hectic Clash practice in Los Angeles". Motorsport.com. Los Angeles: Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  10. ^ Utter, Jim (February 5, 2023). "Haley tops qualifying, heat race lineup set for Clash". Motorsport.com. Los Angeles, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Utter, Jim (February 5, 2023). "Almirola, Truex, Hamlin and Byron win NASCAR Clash heat races". Motorsport.com. Los Angeles, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  12. ^ "NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart Returns to the FOX Sports Broadcast Booth for the Clash and Daytona 500". Fox Sports. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.