Busch Clash format includes heat races
For the first time, The Busch Clash moves to Los Angeles, California. The race will be held inside the LA Coliseum on a temporary 1/4-mile oval. Finally, NASCAR is going short track racing.
The race weekend will feature a two-day format. Practice, qualifying, heat races and a 150-lap feature.
“There has already been an enormous amount of buzz around next year’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, and we feel that this race format and the accompanying programming throughout the entire weekend will only build on that already established momentum,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of strategy and innovation.
“The unprecedented nature of this event, coupled with the fact that our sport will be in the spotlight in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, makes this a can’t miss event when we get our 2022 season underway next February.”
40 cars will be eligible to enter the race.
Related: NASCAR Next Gen test at Bowman Gray Stadium (Video)
Heat Races
-The top four fastest qualifiers from Saturday’s single vehicle qualifying session will be on the pole for each heat race, while cars that qualified fifth through eight will make up the other half of the front row in each heat.
-The remainder of each field will be filled out using this methodology (Ex. – heat one will be made up cars with qualifying positions of one, five, nine, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37).
-The top four finishers (16 total cars) from each heat race automatically advance through to the Busch Light Clash (8 p.m. ET, FS1), with the winner of heat one winning the pole and the heat two winner earning the outside pole.
-The winners of heats three and four will fill out the second row, with the remaining order of these 16 cars being determined in the same manner.
Last chance qualifiers
6 additional cars will transfer out of a pair of LCQ races.
Below is a breakdown on how the Last Chance Qualifiers will be filled out:
-The starting order for these two events will be determined based on finishing positions in the heat races.
-Those that did not advance from heats one and three will make up the first Last Chance Qualifying race while the second race will be made of up those from heats two and four.
-The fifth-place finishers from heats one and two will be on the pole in their respective Last Chance Qualifying races. The fifth-place finishers from heats three and four will be on the outside pole.
-This pattern will continue to fill out 12 cars in each event.
-The top three finishers (six total cars) from both Last Chance Qualifying races will advance to the Busch Light Clash, filling out positions 17 – 22 of the 23 available positions.
-The final spot on the grid will be given to the highest point finisher from the previous season who did not already transfer into the race.
Busch Clash Schedule
LA Coliseum
Here’s the tv schedule for the Busch Clash at the Coliseum:
Sunday
February 6, 2022
4:00pm ET
FOX
NASCAR RaceDay
5:00pm ET
FOX
Heat Races and Last Chance Qualifying Races
7:00pm ET
FS1
NASCAR RaceDay
8:00pm ET
FS1
NASCAR Busch Clash at the Coliseum
Related: NASCAR Schedule 2022; LA Coliseum steals the show
The event will debut the Next Gen car. NASCAR recently took the machine to Bowman Gray Stadium, a similar venue to the LA Coliseum.
“I’ve had the chance to drive on the track through iRacing and make some laps in the NextGen car at Bowman-Gray on a similar layout, and there’s no doubt that this race is going to be awesome,” said Clint Bowyer, longtime former NASCAR Cup Series driver and current FOX Sports analyst. “The different qualifying events and format for the Clash are only going to add to what will be an unforgettable weekend. This is definitely a race you’re not going to want to miss!”
