Joey Logano wins NASCAR Clash event at Coliseum

Drivers Joey Logano (left) and Brad Keselowski (right) share a laugh along Bill Robertson Lane prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A race fan cheers for her driver during the second heat race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Ice Cube performs during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano celebrates after winning the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano (left) and Kyle Busch race for the lead during the late laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race fans watch the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Ice Cube performs during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano leads Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch during the late laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Safety crews work to repair the inside wall after Justin Haley crashed into it during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Cars race through the turnstile end of the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Kyle Busch (18) leads the field out of turn 4 during the early laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Fans crowd the grandstands during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano (right front) leads the field towards turn 1 during a late race restart during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars head down the back straightaway during the early laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Kyle Busch leads the field out of turn 4 during the early laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Ryan Preece (left), Denny Hamlin (center) and Kyle Busch (right) race through turn 4 during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A military aircraft flies high above the Los Angeles Coliseum prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Cars race through turns 1 and 2 during a late race restart during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Cars race down the back straightaway during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano climbs the stairs to the peristyle after winning the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (left) and Joey Logano (right) rub paint as they race through turns 3 and 4 during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Justin Haley (right) slams into the inside wall during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022 as Kyle Busch finishes second. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A pair of young race fans watch the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano holds off Kyle Busch with 5 laps to go during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars drive around turn 4 to take the green flag to start the NASCAR Busch Light Clash on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A race fan shows his excitement during the first heat race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Driver Austin Cindric (left) gets spun out as Landon Cassill (left) drives past during one of the 4 heat races on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Joey Logano leads the field during the second of 4 heat races on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars fill the infield in between heat races on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The pace car leads the field prior to the start of the first heat race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A race fan shows his excitement for driver Ryan Blaney during the first heat race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum is reflected in a fans sunglasses during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Driver Kyle Busch climbs into his race car along Bill Robertson Lane prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Driver Joey Logano stands in the middle of Bill Robertson Lane near his race car prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Drivers race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Driver Kyle Busch prepares to climb into his race car along Bill Robertson Lane prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Driver Joey Logano walks to his race car parked along Bill Robertson Lane prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars lineup along Bill Robertson Lane prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars circle the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Race cars crowd the infield in between heat races on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Driver Bubba Wallace greets race fans along Bill Robertson Lane prior to racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A pair of NASCAR officials watch the racing on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Kyle Busch takes the green flag in the first heat race on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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NASCAR tried something different this weekend, and it worked.

Fox’s Chris Myers opened his network’s coverage of Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum by describing it as a Hollywood Premier meets NASCAR in a football stadium.

There was a essentially clean race with no injuries, a good crowd, a party-like atmosphere and perfect weather.

Afterward, NASCAR officials had visions of doing similar short-track events that combine racing and entertainment.

Joey Logano of Middletown, Conn., won the 150-lap, 37.5-mile race, and then raced home. His wife Brittany is expecting the couple’s third child, possibly as soon as today.

Logano beat runner-up Kyle Busch by .877 second to claim his second Clash title. His first came in 2017. On the final lap, Busch went wide on Turn 2, enabling Logano to win easily.

After the race, he called his wife. “The baby is still in there,” he said. “I hope to have her in the hospital by tomorrow evening.”

Speaking of expectations, all were pretty much met on Sunday. The key figure is probably the crowd size. NASCAR does not announce attendance figures but media members estimated the crowd at approximately 50,000, which was NASCAR’s target number. The Coliseum capacity for football is now 77,500. People were spread throughout the stadium, but there were a considerable number of empty seats.

Another important figure was the more 300 media credentials issued for this event. That is equal to the number for the Daytona 500 and double the number for a regular Cup Series race. Thus the huge buildup for an exhibition race that offered no points toward the season standings.

Besides racing, the crowd and the media were treated to the Stealth Bomber flyover, brief fireworks and a bevy of entertainers, including two prominent rappers.

Ice Cube, whose real name is O’Shea Jackson and hails from L.A., entertained at what could be called a halftime. There was a pause in the racing after 75 laps. This enabled the race crews to change tires and make adjustments in the infield without drivers having to make traditional pitstops.

Before the race, Pitbull, who is Armando Christian Perez of Miami, was the main attraction.

It is not very likely NASCAR founders, or Richard Petty or Bobby Allison, could have envisioned anything like this.

There were 36 cars initially taking part, and 23 made it through midday qualifying to start the race. There were 14 cars that completed the full 150 laps. Two drivers, Martin Truex and Michael McDonnell, could have done it but Logano was busy spinning victory donuts at the finish line.

Throughout the race, Logano battled with Busch, who won last year’s Clash on the road course at Daytona International Speedway. Logano grabbed the lead with 35 laps left, right before the race’s only significant accident. That came on lap 116 when Justin Haley hit on inside concrete barrier.

Mechanical failure eliminated other cars earlier in the race. Tyler Reddick, who led the race for the first 53 laps, with Busch and Logano close behind, was knocked out of the race when he dropped a clutch.

This race marked the first one for NASCAR’s new Gen X cars, which feature a different chassis and a new design. It is too early to say if the new car is a success or not. But not too early to say this event was a success.

It drew people from all over. One couple, along with their 16-month-old daughter, came all the way from Kotzebue, Alaska, to see their first NASCAR race in person. Kotzebue is located inside the Arctic Circle in the northwest part of the state. The average temperature this weekend was minus-12.

NASCAR estimates at least 50%, and maybe as many as 70%, were witnessing a NASCAR race in person for the first time.

But veteran fans were drawn to L.A. as well. Dan Duane, 74, of Lancaster County, Pa., flew into L.A. by himself just for the race because, he said, it was being held in an iconic stadium. He said he has been attending NASCAR events since 1967.

Next up is the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, then NASCAR will be back in Southern California at the end of the month for its regular stop at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Will this weekend’s success have an impact on the Fontana race? That remains to be seen.

One thing for sure. As Kyle Busch said after Sunday’s race, “If this didn’t work, it would have been ugly.”

by
on February 7, 2022

Joey Logano wins NASCAR Clash event at Coliseum

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