Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum: Odds, format, times, weather and more
The NASCAR Cup Series is back this weekend. Here are the odds, format, times, weather and everything you need to know about the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
Martin Truex Jr. is the odds-on favorite at five of the six sportsbooks we checked. However, Kyle Larson is giving Truex a run for his money, standing at +900.
Truex won the Clash last year after missing the Clash in 2022. Meanwhile, Larson has finished fifth in each Clash.
5 FAVORITES BY SPORTSBOOK
| BetMGM | bet365 | BetRivers | Caesars | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| Martin Truex Jr. +900 | Truex +900 | Truex +900 | Truex +750 | Larson +900 | Truex +900 |
| Denny Hamlin +900 | Larson +900 | Hamlin +1000 | Christopher Bell +900 | Busch +900 | Hamlin +900 |
| Kyle Busch +1000 | Busch +1000 | Larson +1100 | Larson +950 | Hamlin +1000 | Larson +900 |
| Kyle Larson +1000 | Byron +1000 | Busch +1100 | Busch +1000 | Truex +1000 | Blaney +1000 |
| William Byron +1200 | Ryan Blaney +1000 | Byron +1100 | Hamlin +1000 | Byron +1200 | Busch +1000 |
On the other end, we have some names stepping up to a full-time NASCAR Cup Series ride in 2024, like Zane Smith and Daniel Hemric.
Others stepping up to a part-time role include Josh Williams and Kaz Grala. Returning winless full-time drivers, like Corey LaJoie and Todd Gilliland, also join them in the longshot end of the stack.
5 LONGSHOTS BY SPORTSBOOK
| BetMGM | bet365 | BetRivers | Caesars | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| Josh Williams +35000 | Williams +30000 | Grala +30000 | LaJoie +50000 | Williams +30000 | Grala +30000 |
| Kaz Grala +35000 | LaJoie +30000 | Williams +30000 | Williams +35000 | Grala +30000 | LaJoie +30000 |
| Corey LaJoie +30000 | Grala +30000 | Z. Smith +25000 | Grala +30000 | Gilliland +30000 | Gilliland +30000 |
| Todd Gilliland +30000 | Gilliland +30000 | Daniel Hemric +25000 | Gilliland +25000 | LaJoie +25000 | Burton +25000 |
| Zane Smith +30000 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +25000 | Harrison Burton +25000 | Z. Smith +25000 | Hemric +25000 | Williams/Z. Smith +25000 |
Gilliland, in the No. 38 Ford, is the biggest longshot of any driver who made the main event last year, finishing 23rd.
Michael McDowell, his teammate in the No. 34 Ford, is the biggest longshot of any driver who has made both Clash races at the Coliseum:
- +25000 – BetMGM
- +20000 – bet365 and BetRivers
- +15000 – Caesars and FanDuel
- +10000 – DraftKings
If you’re looking for a couple of value picks, you may want to consider Austin Dillon and Ryan Preece.
Dillon finished second and third in the last two Clash races. Still, he is listed at +30000 in each book, except for bet365 (+28000) and DraftKings (+25000)
Preece led 43 of 150 laps (race-high) last year and had the win in the bag until a mechanical issue with 25 laps to go. Still, he finished seventh.
Books list Preece at +20000, except for Caesars and DraftKings. Those two books have Preece at +18000.
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If you want to see who else is in the race, you can click here to find the full entry list.
Of course, everyone will have to race into the 150-lap feature before they can make good on a bet.
RACE FORMAT
Four 25-lap heat races Saturday and a 75-lap last-chance qualifier Sunday will set the field for the 150-lap Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Sunday night.
Only green flag laps will count in all races. Only the Clash will have overtime restarts and the race must finish under green.
The Clash will feature 23 drivers:
- Top-five finishers in each heat (20)
- Top-two finishers in the LCQ
- The one driver highest in 2023 points not already locked in
To determine the lineup for the heats, NASCAR will split the 36 drivers into three practice groups. Each group will get three sessions.
Each competitor’s fastest lap time from their final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the heat races.
MORE: NASCAR unveils format for Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
- NASCAR Mexico Series practices (1:15-2 p.m., 2:45-4:30 p.m. ET) and qualifying (4:30 p.m.)
- NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum practice and qualifying (6-8 p.m.) and all four heat races (starting at 8:30 p.m.) – TV: FS1
- Admission is free for all fans
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
- NASCAR Mexico Series’ King Taco La Batalla en El Coliseo (150 laps) – 4:30 p.m. ET, TV: FS1
- Busch Light Clash Last Chance Qualifier (75 laps) – 6:40 p.m., TV: FOX
- NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum (150 laps) – 8 p.m., TV: FOX
WEATHER OUTLOOK
While Saturday night may offer a chance for light rain, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles is advising a “high risk for life-threatening and damaging flooding” for all race times Sunday.
The National Weather Service is advising a chance of moderate rain from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Then, that turns into “very heavy” rain from 6 p.m. Sunday into 6 a.m. Monday.
A chance of heavy rain persists through 6 p.m. Monday before it lightens to a chance of moderate rain come Tuesday.
Tuesday still looks likely for a chance of generally light rain.
The cars have the defogger only from the wet weather equipment. The cars are also running the 2023 short-track/road-course package.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com