NASCAR starting lineup for the LA Coliseum; Heat race results
Today, the 2023 NASCAR season begins in Los Angeles, California. The 1/4-mile bullring is set to host the pre-season event for the NASCAR Cup Series.
View the 2023 Clash starting lineup below.
Clash Menu
TV Schedule / Format | Prac | Qual | Starting Lineup | Race
Four 25 lap heat races are on deck. The top 5 from each of those heats will advance into the main event. Then, two LCQ races will see the top 3 from each advance. Finally, a provisional starting position will be given to the highest in points from last season who didn’t already advance.
Tonight’s Busch Light Clash is a 150 lap main event.
Heat 1
Report
Justin Haley and Aric Almirola set the front row for the first heat race of the day. 25 laps of stock car racing are up next…
Green flag, Almirola gets the jump on the outside. Haley leans into him into turn three.
Lap 2, Haley completes the pass on the inside.
Lap 3, Harrison Burton throws a block on Noah Gragson. Chris Buescher leans on the bumper of Gragson and shoves him into Burton. Burton spins from 4th and the caution is out.
Green, Haley and Bowman bang doors into turn one. A lap later, Haley finally clears him as Almirola takes over 2nd with Bowman hung on the outside.
6 to go, Almirola works inside of Haley for the lead. Bowman thinks about making it three wide, Haley falls to 3rd.
Aric Almirola wins heat 1 at the Los Angeles Coliseum!
Heat 1 Results (25 Laps – Top 5 Advance) : 1. Aric Almirola; 2. Alex Bowman; 3. Justin Haley; 4. Noah Gragson; 5. Joey Logano; 6. Michael McDowell; 7. Harrison Burton; 8. Ty Dillon; 9. Chris Buescher;
Heat 2
Report
Teammates Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon lead them to the starting line for the second heat of the day…
Green flag, they run even into turn one. Dillon tries to tuck in behind Busch into turn three. He hooks Busch in the right rear and nearly turn him! Dillon loses several positions as Busch holds the lead.
Lap 2, Chase Elliott gets stuffed in the outside wall.
Lap 13, Martin Truex Jr dives inside of Kyle Larson for 2nd. Larson lifted early to give him the spot.
8 to go, Martin Truex Jr is on the bumper of Busch for the lead. He leans on his bumper and takes the spot. Busch crosses under him to retake the spot. Truex Jr crosses under him once more.
6 to go, Truex Jr is clear. Austin Cindric spins behind them with help from Kevin Harvick, caution.
Green, Truex Jr clears Busch. Chase Elliott spins Austin Cindric, no caution.
1 to go, Elliott dives inside of Stenhouse Jr for the 5th and final transfer spot. Harvick leans on the bumper of Elliott, Harvick shoves him ahead. Stenhosue Jr drives into the bumper of Elliott into turn three, they both run wide. Elliott runs door to door with Harvick to the line. Harvick takes the final transfer spot by inches.
Martin Truex Jr wins heat two at the LA Coliseum.
Heat 2 Results (25 Laps – Top 5 Advance) : 1. Martin Truex Jr; 2. Kyle Busch; 3. Austin Dillon; 4. Kyle Larson; 5. Kevin Harvick; 6. Chase Elliott; 7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr; 8. Austin Cindric; 9. BJ McLeod;
Heat 3
Report
Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin trail the pace car ahead of heat three…
Green flag, they run three wide into turn one! They all bang fenders, Bell comes out with the lead.
Lap 6, Hamlin diamonds the exit of turn two and he works inside of Bell. Side by side for the lead, Hamlin takes the spot. Bell is trapped on the outside with a train of cars around the inside lane.
Lap 8, Bell falls all the way to 5th.
11 to go, Keselowski shoves Suarez for 7th.
6 to go, Suarez turns Keselowski, caution.
Green, Hamlin gets the jump and he clears Briscoe off turn two. Reddick clears Briscoe for 2nd.
3 to go, Ryan Blaney shoves Todd Gilliland into Christopher Bell. Bell spins, caution.
Green, Hamlin clears Briscoe into turn one.
2 to go, Blaney soves Gilliland and takes 4th away.
1 to go, Gilliland runs wide off turn four. Suarez takes the final transfer spot.
Denny Hamlin takes the heat win!
Heat 3 Results (25 Laps – Top 5 Advance) : 1. Denny Hamlin; 2. Chase Briscoe; 3. Tyler Reddick; 4. Ryan Blaney; 5. Daniel Suarez; 6. Christopher Bell; 7. Todd Gilliland; 8. Brad Keselowski; 9. JJ Yeley
Heat 4
Report
William Byron and AJ Allmendinger lead the field to the flagstand for the final heat race of the day…
Green flag, Byron slides into turn one on the inside. He clears Allmendinger off turn two.
Lap 3, Bubba Wallace and Erik Jones bang wheels for 4th.
Lap 12, Ryan Preece dives inside of Erik Jones for the 5th and final transfer spot. Preece takes the position.
1 to go, Erik Jones shoves Allmendinger for 5th. Allmendinger runs wide Jones takes the final transfer spot.
William Byron wins the final heat race of the day!
Heat 4 Results (25 Laps – Top 5 Advance) : 1. William Byron; 2. Bubba Wallace; 3. Ross Chastain; 4. Ryan Preece; 5. Erik Jones; 6. Ty Gibbs; 7. AJ Allmendinger; 8. Corey LaJoie; 9. Cody Ware
Last Chance Races
The following races include cars that failed to advance following the four heat races:
LCQ 1 Results (50 Laps – Top 3 Advance) : 1. Michael McDowell; 2. Christopher Bell; 3. Todd Gilliland; 4. Harrison Burton; 5. Brad Keselowski; 6. Ty Dillon; 7. Chris Buescher; 8. JJ Yeley;
LCQ 2 Results (50 Laps – Top 3 Advance) : 1. Chase Elliott; 2. Ty Gibbs; 3. AJ Allmendinger; 4. Ricky Stenhouse Jr; 5. Austin Cindric; 6. Corey LaJoie; 7. Cody Ware; 8. BJ McLeod;
Provisional : Austin Cindric
Clash Starting Lineup
February 5, 2023
1. Aric Almirola
2. Martin Truex Jr
3. Denny Hamlin
4. William Byron
5. Alex Bowman
6. Kyle Busch
7. Chase Briscoe
8. Bubba Wallace
9. Justin Haley
10. Austin Dillon
11. Tyler Reddick
12. Ross Chastain
13. Noah Gragson
14. Kyle Larson
15. Ryan Blaney
16. Ryan Preece
17. Joey Logano
18. Kevin Harvick
19. Daniel Suarez
20. Erik Jones
21. Michael McDowell
22. Chase Elliott
23. Christopher Bell
24. Ty Gibbs
25. Todd Gilliland
26. AJ Allmendinger
27. Austin Cindric
Failed to qualify
Brad Keselowski
Corey LaJoie
JJ Yeley
Chris Buescher
Harrison Burton
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Cody Ware
Ty Dillon
BJ McLeod