Tag: NASCAR

NASCAR is accustomed to adjusting its race schedule due to weather conditions, typically experiencing postponements rather than advancements.

However, this Saturday afternoon saw an unusual move as the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum and Batalla en El Cosiseo, originally scheduled for Sunday, were rescheduled to take place on Saturday night. This decision was prompted by the anticipation of an impending atmospheric river of rain set to hit California on Sunday.

In an unattributed news release, NASCAR explained, “Due to the threat of unprecedented severe weather on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Mexico Series race events for the Clash have been moved to Saturday night.”

The organization expressed gratitude to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Los Angeles Public Safety for their collaborative support in making this schedule adjustment for the safety of fans, competitors, and staff during Saturday’s event.

Recognizing the potential worsening weather conditions throughout the day, NASCAR encouraged fans to prioritize safety in their decision-making process. The organization extended appreciation to fans, partners, and everyone involved in the event for their understanding of this unprecedented situation.

Saturday’s event will be admission-free with limited services, and individuals who had purchased tickets for Sunday’s races will be contacted. Additionally, those who acquired parking through ParkWhiz for Sunday will receive a full refund.

The Busch Light Clash is set to kick off the evening, followed by the Mexico Series race, and the Busch race will be televised on FS1.

The adjustments left uncertainties regarding NBC’s originally scheduled programming for Sunday, where the Busch Light Clash was intended to serve as an alternative for those not interested in watching the Grammy’s on CBS.

The NASCAR authorities recently made a significant decision regarding the pre-season race, known as the ‘Clash at the Coliseum‘, due to the adverse weather forecast in Los Angeles predicting a cloudburst and flood on Sunday.

With the safety of the audience and staff in mind, the race was rescheduled. NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer, Steve O’Donnell, shed light on the decision and the urgent requirements of the situation.

Notably, drivers such as Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr, and others widely expressed their appreciation for the decision. Let’s take a closer look at the logical changes that were implemented.

NASCAR’s decision to reschedule the ‘Clash at the Coliseum’ garnered praise from drivers, with a post by NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass capturing their sentiments.

The race was eventually moved up a day to Saturday, and drivers like Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr expressed their support for NASCAR’s decision, considering it the right call due to weather issues.

Chase Elliott commended NASCAR for what he deemed one of the most logical decisions in the industry, acknowledging the positive impact of the change. He stated, “It’s one of the most logical decisions we’ve made as an industry, potentially ever.So, I appreciate it. I know all the racing personnel appreciate it. Just the willingness to make a change like that, and let’s be honest with you, doing an event like this on Saturday night is a better fit anyway. I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”

In addition to Elliott’s perspective, Martin Truex Jr expressed surprise at the decision but highlighted the unique circumstances of the race, emphasizing the need for quick actions. Christopher Bell also praised NASCAR’s decision as a “genius call” to ensure the race took place.

It’s evident that the drivers supported the decision, considering the urgency of the situation. The rescheduling did not significantly alter their preparations, with Christopher Bell expressing satisfaction, saying, “I really didn’t change anything from my standpoint. Uh, I think NASCAR made, you know, a genius call to try and get this race in. Everybody was nervous about what was going to happen if we don’t race today…. That’s awesome, I’m happy to be able to race today.”

The decision to move the race to Saturday proved crucial given the life-threatening weather situation in L.A. NASCAR officials, particularly Steve O’Donnell, highlighted the difficulty of the situation but deemed it the best option to ensure the safety of fans and the racing community while still attempting to hold both events.

Despite the challenges, the Clash turned out to be a great success, with Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing emerging as the first winner of 2024. Stay tuned for further updates from the L.A. Coliseum post-race coverage and the NASCAR Mexico Series race, scheduled to follow the Clash at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Denny Hamlin demonstrated impressive speed throughout the initial two practice rounds, reaffirming his performance by recording the top speed (68.498 mph) in the third round, setting the starting lineup for the Clash.

Due to anticipated severe weather in the L.A. area, the Clash, originally slated for Sunday night, was rescheduled to Saturday. Hamlin, securing the fastest time, will start on the pole for the 150-lap preseason non-points race. Sharing the front row is Joey Logano (67.924 mph), the winner of the inaugural Clash at the Coliseum in 2022.

In the lineup behind Hamlin are Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Busch, rounding out the top five. The top-10 is completed by William Byron, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, and Justin Hailey, making his debut in Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 Ford.

Defending Clash champion Martin Truex Jr. will start 19th, and the field was determined by the top 22 speeds, with the final spot awarded to the team highest in owner points not yet qualified, claimed by reigning Cup champion Ryan Blaney, who finished 26th fastest overall.

Originally, heat races and a last-chance race were planned for lineup determination, but these were eliminated when NASCAR decided to move the race up a day due to impending bad weather.

Several notable drivers failed to advance to the main event, including Christopher Bell, second-fastest in the initial practice rounds, along with Daniel Suarez, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, and rookies Josh Berry and Zane Smith.

Reflecting on the practice sessions, Hamlin posted the fastest average speed at 67.822 mph in the first two rounds. In the second round of Group 1 practice, Austin Cindric spun off Turn 2 without damaging his No. 2 Ford, marking the only incident during practice.

The drivers who failed to make the race include Josh Williams, Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry, Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon, Erik Jones, Chris Buescher, Austin Cindric, Daniel Hemric, Christopher Bell, Kaz Grala, Harrison Burton, and Zane Smith.

In July, van Gisbergen made history by winning a Cup race in his debut at the Chicago Street Race for Trackhouse Racing. This marked the beginning of his transition to NASCAR, competing full-time in the Xfinity Series and at least seven Cup races this season.

His 2024 NASCAR journey kicked off early with participation in the ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway. Despite his experience on the track, van Gisbergen faced the challenge of the 2.5-mile oval layout, a new territory for him.

Running the season-opening ARCA race at Daytona with Pinnacle Racing Group, van Gisbergen prepared for his NASCAR schedule. His focus during the test was on single-car runs and laps in single-file with other cars, particularly on ovals and superspeedway racing, areas he identified as uncertainties in his NASCAR transition.

Reflecting on the test, van Gisbergen emphasized the technical nature of oval racing, highlighting the importance of safety and comfort in the car. As a self-described full rookie, he acknowledged the unique challenges and sensations that cannot be simulated, such as the G-forces pushing the car onto the track in corners.

Despite his rookie status in NASCAR, van Gisbergen brings a wealth of experience from over 500 starts in Supercars, with 81 wins and multiple series titles. His success extends beyond Supercars, including victories at the Bathurst 1000 and notable performances in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Van Gisbergen’s recent experience on the Daytona Oval provided a fresh perspective, emphasizing the unique feeling of entering the oval at speed and the thrill of racing in close proximity behind other cars.

The decision to move to NASCAR and the United States was influenced by the enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere of American racing, contrasting with the changing dynamics in Australian motorsport. Van Gisbergen expressed a desire for change and challenge after dedicating over 16 years to Supercars.

Despite already securing a Cup win, van Gisbergen remains grounded, acknowledging the difficulties ahead in his NASCAR career. He adopts a pragmatic approach, focusing on preparation, continuous improvement, and learning. While confident about road courses, he maintains an open mind about oval racing, recognizing the uncertainties until he gets on the track and experiences it firsthand.

NASCAR confirmed Wednesday that Cup teams are receiving a rulebook bulletin detailing the updates to the Next Gen car for all road courses and most oval tracks measuring 1.058 miles or less in the distance.

Cup cars will run a simplified diffuser along with a handful of other updates. This change comes following driver feedback from a test at Phoenix in early December.

Details of the components include:

• 2023 short track/road course splitter stuffers
• No engine panel strakes
• 3-inch spoiler
• Simplified Diffuser
• Simplified Diffuser Strakes

The simplified diffuser will not be used at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the preseason, non-points Busch Light Clash.

“At the test, we noticed an improvement in traffic. The car did not lose rear downforce when it yawed, which is an issue we have with the current car. The drivers would be able to slide around more on the short tracks and really have to be less careful about putting power down,” said Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR’s vice president of vehicle performance.

“We felt that would be a benefit, and that was the big takeaway from the driver feedback. At the test, they felt they could really tell that it was more forgiving. They felt they could slide the car.”

The first race with the new package will take place on March 10 at Phoenix.