What to Expect From the Busch Light Clash

by
Peter Stratta
February 4, 2022

Photo by the USC Annenberg School of Communication

What Kind of Drama is in Store for the Busch Light Clash From the LA Coliseum?

Sunday truly marks the beginning of NASCAR’s future, with the Busch Light Clash from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Not only is this exhibition event taking place on an all-new track, it also marks the debut of the Next Gen car. Kicking off 2022 in the biggest way possible, it truly is a huge unknown just what we will see.

Sunday holds a return to old school short track racing, with the potential for a season-defining moment. There is no guarantee that the Clash at the Coliseum will ever happen again; thus the winner of this race truly will go down in NASCAR history. As a result, expect the closing laps to be a great battle between at least the top two drivers. The Clash could have as much drama as a fall Martinsville race with a Championship 4 spot on the line.

Who exactly is favored in the Coliseum? The top five in prerace odds all represent the top teams from last year: Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Hendrick. Between Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch, the odds are high one of these five will be up front late. Can they be the first to the checkered flag though? Any driver may just do whatever it takes to win this race, as seen in last year’s Busch Clash.

Between heat races, a last chance qualifier, and the main event, this entire weekend will have a local short track vibe and mentality that will lead to tight, intense racing. This will mark the smallest venue for a Cup Series event since Bowman Gray Stadium in 1971. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with 16 short track wins, but none on a circuit this small.

Be sure to not miss a moment of this historic opening weekend of the 2022 NASCAR season. Practice and qualifying are both on the Fox Sports family of networks on Saturday, while the racing action kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX.