# 2022 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum

The 2022 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on February 6, 2022, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Contested over 150 laps, it was the first exhibition race of the 2022 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. On November 9, 2021, the format for the 2022 Clash was announced:
* The event is open for all teams and drivers for the first time in its history.
* 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 four 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 2021 Cup Series points standings not in will also advance to the feature in the last position.
* The feature is 150 laps and will have 23 cars start the race.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | 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 | Tyler Reddick | 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 | Ryan Preece | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | 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 (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Chase Elliott was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 13.455 with an average speed of 66.890 mph (107.649 km/h) .

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.455 | 66.890 |
| 2 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 13.457 | 66.880 |
| 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 13.470 | 66.815 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Kyle Busch scored the pole for the first heat race with a time of 13.745 and a speed of 65.478 mph (105.377 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.745 |
| 2 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 13.761 |
| 3 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 13.891 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 13.949 |
| 5 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 13.952 |
| 6 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 13.953 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.954 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.957 |
| 9 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 13.962 |
| 10 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 13.965 |
| 11 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.973 |
| 12 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 13.978 |
| 13 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 14.007 |
| 14 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14.014 |
| 15 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 14.023 |
| 16 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14.050 |
| 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 14.053 |
| 18 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 14.076 |
| 19 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 14.120 |
| 20 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 14.148 |
| 21 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 14.151 |
| 22 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 14.157 |
| 23 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 14.158 |
| 24 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14.194 |
| 25 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 14.235 |
| 26 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 14.247 |
| 27 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 14.251 |
| 28 | 15 | Ryan Preece | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 14.277 |
| 29 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 14.304 |
| 30 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 14.305 |
| 31 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14.326 |
| 32 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 14.437 |
| 33 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 14.451 |
| 34 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 14.466 |
| 35 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 14.471 |
| 36 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14.532 |
| Official qualifying results ||||||

## Qualifying heat races

Kyle Busch scored the pole for the race after winning the first qualifying heat race. Ty Dillon finished first in the second B Main (cars in the B Main were split into one of two B Mains), however was disqualified for a restart violation, allowing Harrison Burton to qualify for the feature.

### Race 1

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 25 |
| 2 | 2 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 3 | 3 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 4 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 25 |
| 5 | 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 25 |
| 6 | 9 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 7 | 8 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 25 |
| 8 | 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 9 | 7 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 23 |
| Official heat race 1 results |||||||

### Race 2

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 1 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 2 | 7 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 4 | 2 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 5 | 5 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 25 |
| 6 | 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 7 | 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 25 |
| 8 | 3 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 9 | 8 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 25 |
| Official heat race 2 results |||||||

### Race 3

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 1 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 2 | 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 3 | 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 25 |
| 4 | 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 5 | 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 6 | 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 7 | 7 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 8 | 9 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 9 | 8 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| Official heat race 3 results |||||||

### Race 4

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 25 |
| 2 | 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 3 | 3 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 25 |
| 4 | 6 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 5 | 7 | 15 | Ryan Preece | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 25 |
| 6 | 5 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 25 |
| 7 | 7 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 25 |
| 8 | 4 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25 |
| 9 | 9 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| Official heat race 4 results |||||||

### Last Chance Qualifier 1

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 50 |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 3 | 2 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 4 | 8 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 5 | 6 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 7 | 10 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 8 | 5 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 50 |
| 9 | 7 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 10 | 9 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 4 |
| Official last chance race 1 results |||||||

### Last Chance Qualifier 2

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 4 | 15 | Ryan Preece | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 2 | 1 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 50 |
| 3 | 7 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 4 | 9 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 50 |
| 6 | 8 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 7 | 10 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 8 | 6 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 45 |
| 9 | 3 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 45 |
| 10 | 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| Official last chance race 2 results |||||||

### Starting lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 5 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 13 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 18 | 15 | Ryan Preece | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 19 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Race results

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 150 |
| 2 | 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 |
| 3 | 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 4 | 16 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 5 | 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 6 | 7 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 7 | 14 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 150 |
| 8 | 11 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 |
| 9 | 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 10 | 19 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 150 |
| 11 | 15 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 12 | 22 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 150 |
| 13 | 9 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 14 | 5 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 15 | 23 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 149 |
| 16 | 12 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 149 |
| 17 | 13 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 147 |
| 18 | 20 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 146 |
| 19 | 3 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 116 |
| 20 | 18 | 15 | Ryan Preece | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 75 |
| 21 | 2 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53 |
| 22 | 6 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 53 |
| 23 | 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 52 |
| Official race results |||||||

## Media

Fox covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart 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.

### Television

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 Radio :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Dan Hubbard | Steve Post Kim Coon |

### Television Ratings

The Clash was viewed by more than 4.2 million people, which earned it a 2.32 rating. The ratings were only eclipsed by the 2022 Winter Olympics on NBC, which had 10.1 million viewers. Locally, the race earned a 2.7 and was the highest rated non-Daytona 500 race in the Los Angeles market in six years. This was the highest rated Clash since 2016, which was the last year it was aired on FOX.
The heat races that preceded the race had nearly 2.6 million viewers.