Thrilling Changes Promise Intense Action on the Iconic LA Stage
NASCAR officials stirred excitement, unveiling a dynamic format for the 2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. The third annual Cup Series venture to the famed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum peaks with a 150-lap exhibition on Feb. 4. Here, 23 drivers fiercely compete on a 0.25-mile asphalt oval, the arena of Super Bowls, World Series games, and the Olympics.
Initiating on-track festivities are three Saturday practice sessions, with up to 40 entrants grouped. Starting lineups for four heat races hinge on each competitor’s fastest lap time in the final practice—a departure from prior single-round, single-car qualifying.
Saturday’s four 25-lap heat races feature up to 10 drivers each. Pole position in Heat 1 goes to the fastest practice time driver, subsequent positions following suit. Notably, only green-flag laps count, without any overtime allowance.
Top five finishers per heat gain berths for Sunday night’s main event. Those below fifth progress to Sunday’s 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where positions derive from heat race results. Top two LCQ finishers start 21st and 22nd in the Clash, with only green-flag laps counting.
The 23rd position in the Clash grid is reserved for the 2023 season’s highest-ranking driver not advancing through heats or LCQ. Defending champion Ryan Blaney is already locked into the main event.
Setting the stage for the eagerly awaited 2024 edition—150 laps under Los Angeles’ vibrant lights—airs at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 4, on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM. The revamped format not only promises an electrifying spectacle but also ensures a fresh, intense experience for drivers and fans alike.
IMAGES: NASCAR
Article by Juliana Chiovitti, AutomotiveWoman.com, Editor, an automotive & motorsport content creator
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