February 6, 2022 could be considered the most insane race day in NASCAR’s history. On this day, the Busch Light Clash was held at the L.A. Coliseum for the first time ever. That’s right; a NASCAR race was held in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Ever since it was announced in September, hype for the Clash was sky high. And once the day came, it did not disappoint.
With the amount of unknowns heading into the event, the race was already shaping up to be exciting. For the first time, NASCAR was running its new Gen-7 (referred to this point as “Next-Gen”) race car in competition. After single car qualifying saw Kyle Busch take the pole, lineups for the four heat races were set. The format for this new Clash was far different from years past. Historically, and adjusted more in recent years, pole winners from the previous year, former Daytona 500 pole winners, former Clash and 500 winners, as well as past champions were invited. This year, every chartered car was invited and the field was narrowed down from 36 to 23 over the course of four heat races, two Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ’s), and one provisional. The top four from each heat advanced to the main as well as the top three from the LCQ’s.
The first heat went green all the way through and saw Kyle Busch lead every lap. Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Ryan Blaney filled the remaining transfer spots in heat one. Heat two was more of the same. The pole sitter, this time Tyler Reddick, shot out of a cannon and led all 25 laps en route to a transfer to the main event. Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, and Cole Custer all advanced as well. Justin Haley completed the flag-to-flag run in his heat, too. William Byron, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott all moved on with him. The fourth heat featured the first caution of the whole weekend after contact between Kurt Busch, Landon Cassill and Austin Cindric, which ended with Cindric spinning out. Joey Logano won the heat and defending series champion Kyle Larson, defending Daytona 500 champion Michael McDowell, and former Clash winner Erik Jones moved on as well.
The first of the LCQ’s was rather tame, however one early incident after rookie Todd Gilliland made contact with Aric Almirola saw the first significant race damage to a Gen 7 car, and ended Almirola’s hopes at making the main event. The second LCQ was anything but tame however. The first little bit of the race was clean, but a caution for Brad Keselowski and Landon Cassill making contact switched the field into desperation mode. Drivers began racing more aggressively. Austin Cindric spun again which bunched the field up for another restart. Heading into turn one a few laps later, Ty Dillon drove into the corner deep and made contact with Austin Cindric, which caused him to bump Bubba Wallace, sending him into teammate Kurt Busch, which sent Busch into the wall, ending his Clash. On the ensuing restart, Wallace and Cindric made contact in turns three and four, which resulted in Cindric nosing into the concrete inside wall. On the following restart, race leader Harrison Burton was hit from behind and spun by Ty Dillon. Dillon proceeded to take the checkers at the end, however NASCAR determined he committed a restart violation, his second of the race, and would not advance to the Main. Instead, the win was given to Ryan Preece, with Bubba Wallace and rookie Harrison Burton transferring with him.
In between the LCQ’s and the main event, NASCAR put on a performance by Cuban singer and NASCAR team owner Pitbull. This was just one of several additions to the race that NASCAR had brought on for the event. After Pitbull’s performance, the main event was kicked off. Kyle Busch cleared Tyler Reddick for the early lead, but Reddick soon overpowered the two-time champ. That lead lasted for around 30 laps or so before a caution for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. came out. After Stenhouse got his car back facing the right way, Fox cameras cut to Denny Hamlin pulling into the garage with a power steering issue. As a replay of the Stenhouse spin finished, the cameras cut to race-leader Tyler Reddick stopping on the inside apron with a mechanical issue of his own. Another top-five driver in Chase Briscoe also fell to mechanical issues under this caution.
Just a few laps following the restart, Chase Elliott also spun after contact with Ryan Blaney, bringing out the second yellow. Coming to the halfway race break, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch went bumper to bumper until the yellow flew. For this ‘halftime’ break, NASCAR partnered with rapper Ice Cube to put on a performance. In addition to this, DJ Skee performed during each caution during the races.
With around 35 laps left, the Fox cameras cut to a slowing Ryan Blaney as he turned into the infield which resulted in the fourth caution of the race. He later returned but was out of contention. Following the restart, Justin Haley and defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson made contact which sent Haley’s car to the inside concrete wall, which ended his hopes of pulling off the upset win. This contact came after some rough racing in turns three and four. Larson’s perceived retaliation ended with a wrecked race car for Justin Haley and Kaulig Racing.
From there, the race went green for the rest of the way. Even with lapped traffic throughout, Joey Logano held off Kyle Busch to take the first ever running of the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. Between the heats, the instant classic of the second LCQ race, and the various gimmicks and performances put on by NASCAR; to pull this race off and have it be a success is huge for the sport. For many, this was their first experience with NASCAR. Over 50,000 people attended the event in person, and millions more watched at home on TV. With all the hype and anticipation, with the new track, new format, and new cars, the 2022 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum certainly did not disappoint.
Up next we have the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing. The Great American Race. The Daytona 500. Follow me on Twitter with your predictions for the big race and let me know your thoughts on this new era of Clash!
Motor Max 