With Its Future In Question, NASCAR’s Clash at the Coliseum Called a Success
Credit: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, lead the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
With heavy rain forecast for southern California Sunday into Monday, NASCAR made the unprecedented decision to move the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum forward to Saturday evening. While the grandstands weren’t as full as they might have been had the weather cooperated, it proved to be the right call.
What the future holds for the Clash is another question. Whether the event returns to the Coliseum next year, or moves to a new venue, Clash winner Denny Hamlin believes the experiment of racing in a football stadium was a winner for both NASCAR and the fans.
“I think it was a success. Certainly you can’t argue it from a viewership standpoint. I certainly think that it’s got merit in going different places, but I think LA was very good to us, and I think we were good for this community, as well. If you look around at the stands, it’s more diverse than what you’ll see at most racetracks.
“I think it was a win for everyone.”
Credit: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Reigning Cup Series champion and race runner-up Ryan Blaney didn’t see any negatives to NASCAR’s three-year run at the Coliseum.
“I mean, I’d say it was a success, honestly. I think all three years has been received really well, and okay, the racing side can get a lot of chaos at points, but I think everyone enjoys it. Like the fans enjoy it, and it gets good coverage. I think it’s been a success. I don’t see any negative sides to it, really.”
Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch agrees.
“Yeah, I thought it was net positive. I said that the first year we came out here that the old car would not have allowed for this type of track, but this car lends itself to having the opportunity to bump a little bit and not crush fenders and noses and tails and things like that. Overall what happens from here, where do we go, who knows, but if we can find other venues that will put us in, it would be pretty cool to do.”
Team Penske’s Joey Logano says, if anything, the Clash at the Coliseum proved NASCAR could race anywhere in the future.
“The experiment was a great success, and we proved that we can do it anywhere. I said it the first year we came here; it was a huge win for the sport. Now that we’ve raced at one of the most historic stadiums in the world, it’s pretty cool.
“I think you can pick this up and place it somewhere else if you needed to or something completely different. We’ve done crazier things at this point. There’s dirt races. There’s little small tracks like this, street races. You name it, we can do it.”
Credit: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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