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The NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. From 2023.
Last weekend’s Clash at the Coliseum was hastily rescheduled to Saturday to avoid a downpour in Los Angeles. The show must go on, after all. Besides, it’s mostly a made-for-television race, anyways.
The race took place. The bigger question, though, is does the Clash have a future?
The answer is, probably. But probably not at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Which means NASCAR may have to put on hold its big dreams of establishing roots in the nation’s second-largest city.
Despite the region’s prominent car culture, Los Angeles is not a traditional market for NASCAR. Besides, most fans, and probably most teams, are thinking about Daytona in 2 weeks. To complicate matters, the Clash offers no points, few stakes. The race takes place on a short track not purpose-built for NASCAR — or any racing. For a sport with such deep roots, the Clash has become rootless.
Where will the Clash go next?
Will there be another Clash?
Speaking to the Associated Press, NASCAR’s Ben Kennedy, who oversees the Clash at the Coliseum event, stated that “the interest is still strong. The first year, it was new and novel and we’d never done anything like that before, and frankly I don’t think anyone has ever built a temporary racetrack inside a stadium that is a century old.”
Just like the NFL, which sought for decades to gain traction in the nation’s second-largest city, only to suddenly be blessed with two teams in the City of Angels, NASCAR has similar goals. Big money, new fans, made-for-television, massive viewing audience — even if not necessarily the best version of the sport.
That said, the Clash itself has a worthy history.
The NASCAR Clash got its start in 1979, in Daytona. Buddy Baker won the first Clash. Dale Earnhardt won his sixth Busch Light Clash in 1995, and still holds the record for most Clash victories. The Clash was moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022, where it has remained since. Except, 2024 is the final year of a 3-year agreement between NASCAR and the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The Clash is suddenly facing a future in doubt.
With no agreement in place, it appears unlikely there will be a Clash at the Coliseum in 2025. This may be for the best, as NASCAR looks to both extend beyond its traditional demographic — and grow its audience outside the United States.
NASCAR is reportedly looking at moving the Clash to Montreal, Canada, or to Mexico City or Guadalajara — with NASCAR using the exhibition to help grow their Latin audience.
From theathletic.com
NASCAR’s Clash Could Move to New Locations Every Year
The NASCAR Clash, a short track exhibition race, could be on the move in the coming years. Some fans are suggesting that the Clash should be held at different historic short tracks each year. This idea aims to reconnect NASCAR with its roots and give fans who may not have the opportunity to attend a race in person the chance to watch one in their own hometown.
However, this proposal goes against NASCAR’s current strategy of expanding its market and reaching a wider demographic. As a result, it is more likely that the Clash will be moved to international locations such as Montreal or Mexico City. This shift would enable NASCAR to explicitly target a new and growing audience, rather than solely catering to traditional fans. From a business perspective, this approach makes sense and aligns with NASCAR’s goals.
Kyle Larson, a professional NASCAR driver, believes that there is a place for this style of event in the sport. He suggests that if the Clash were to rotate between different states or even countries, it could help broaden the fan base. Larson recognizes the potential of the Clash to attract new fans and bring more excitement to the sport.
In conclusion, the future of the NASCAR Clash may involve moving the event to new locations every year. This change would allow NASCAR to connect with a wider audience and expand its reach. While some fans may prefer the race to remain at historic short tracks, the potential for growth and increased fan engagement makes the idea of moving the Clash a worthy consideration.
