# 2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum

The 2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on February 3, 2024, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Contested over 151 laps — extended from 150 laps due to an overtime finish, it was the first exhibition race of the 2024 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 January 16, 2024, the format for the 2024 Clash was announced:
* The event is open for all teams and drivers.
* A total of 325 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 five drivers in each heat advance to the feature.
* All non-qualifying drivers are assigned to one 75 lap heat races. The top two drivers from the heat race advance to the feature.
* The highest driver in 2023 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. There will be no pit stops in this race
On February 3, NASCAR moved up the Clash to that day from February 4, due to the incoming threat of life-threatening flooding from a massive atmospheric river. The heat races were cancelled and the starting lineup would be determined by the fastest 22 drivers in qualifying with the final spot being determined by whoever placed the highest in the 2023 Owners Point Standings.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Noah Gragson | 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 | Kaz Grala (R) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Josh Williams (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 13.139 and a speed of 68.498 mph (110.237 km/h) .

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.139 | 68.498 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 13.250 | 67.925 |
| 3 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.261 | 67.868 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Denny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 13.139 and a speed of 68.498 mph (110.237 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.139 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 13.250 |
| 3 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.261 |
| 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.266 |
| 5 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 13.273 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.316 |
| 7 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 13.319 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.324 |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 13.359 |
| 10 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 13.369 |
| 11 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 13.376 |
| 12 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 13.378 |
| 13 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 13.388 |
| 14 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.401 |
| 15 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 13.429 |
| 16 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 13.429 |
| 17 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 13.433 |
| 18 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.434 |
| 19 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.453 |
| 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 13.459 |
| 21 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 13.474 |
| 22 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 13.484 |
| 23 | 16 | Josh Williams (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 13.498 |
| 24 | 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.499 |
| 25 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 13.513 |
| 26 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 13.514 |
| 27 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 13.524 |
| 28 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 13.535 |
| 29 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 13.570 |
| 30 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 13.574 |
| 31 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 13.582 |
| 32 | 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 13.592 |
| 33 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 13.593 |
| 34 | 15 | Kaz Grala | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 13.605 |
| 35 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 13.617 |
| 36 | 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 13.704 |
| Official qualifying results ||||||

## Qualifying heat races

Due to the incoming threat of life-threatening flooding from an atmospheric river, NASCAR moved up the Clash to Saturday night, cancelling all heat races.

### Starting lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 16 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 17 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 22 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Race results

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| 1 | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 151 |
| 2 | 5 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 151 |
| 3 | 23 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 151 |
| 4 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 151 |
| 5 | 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 151 |
| 6 | 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 151 |
| 7 | 22 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 151 |
| 8 | 13 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 151 |
| 9 | 19 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 151 |
| 10 | 5 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 151 |
| 11 | 12 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 151 |
| 12 | 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 151 |
| 13 | 11 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 151 |
| 14 | 21 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 150 |
| 15 | 7 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 16 | 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 17 | 18 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 |
| 18 | 3 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 |
| 19 | 15 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 149 |
| 20 | 17 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 147 |
| 21 | 10 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 135 |
| 22 | 14 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 77 |
| 23 | 16 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 68 |
| Official race results |||||||

## Media
### Television

FS1 covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and three-time Clash winner Kevin Harvick handled the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled the pit road duties, and Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.
FS1 :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | In-race analyst |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer Color-commentator: Kevin Harvick | Jamie Little Regan Smith | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the action from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dan Hubbard called the action for MRN when the field raced down the backstretch. Steve Post, Kim Coon, Brienne Pedigo, and Jason Toy covered the action for MRN on pit lane.
MRN Radio :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle | Backstretch: Dan Hubbard | Steve Post Kim Coon Brienne Pedigo Jason Toy |