NASCAR’s Busch Light Clash will, for the third time in its illustrious history, take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, bringing NASCAR back to LA for its season starter before the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series begins in earnest at the Daytona 500 in mid-February. Taking place on the evening of Sunday, February 4, 2024, the season-opening exhibition featuring stars of NASCAR’s Cup Series will offer a support event for the first time, as NASCAR Mexico Series will race on the same date.
This is a smart idea by NASCAR and one that should appeal to the enormous Latin population in and around Los Angeles. “This is a tremendous win for our fans and our sport,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing development and strategy. “Not only will the fans see the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series in action, they will also bear witness to the talent and skill that is found within the NASCAR Mexico Series. I can’t think of a better way to begin our 2024 season,” the 76th year of operation for NASCAR as a sanctioning body.
In its first two iterations, NASCAR’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum has been won by Joey Logano in the inaugural, 2022 event, while Martin Truex Jr. lifted the 2023 trophy beneath the Coliseum’s Olympic cauldron. This coming February, a NASCAR Mexico Series racer will also have an opportunity to celebrate victory inside this international stadium, one that has hosted two NFL Super Bowls, two Olympics, a World Series and a compendium of international major events over its past 100 years of operation.
Jimmy Morales, president and general manager of the NASCAR Mexico Series acknowledged the honor this ability to race in Los Angeles means. “The competition in our series is always intense,” he said, “but I know our drivers will want nothing more than to become the first Mexican driver to win inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This is going to be a race we will not soon forget.”
In 2007, after three years’ gestation, NASCAR’s Mexico Series became its first internationally sanctioned racing series. The series competes on tracks throughout nine major cities in Mexico, providing racing fans with some of the most intense stock car racing on the planet. Current NASCAR Cup Series star and 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Suarez began his stock car career in NASCAR Mexico Series competition during its 2008 campaign, and other alumni, like Max Gutierrez and Andres Perez de Lara are working their way up the NASCAR touring series ladder.
While NASCAR Mexico Series drivers who intend to compete at the Coliseum on February 4th haven’t been named yet, that list, together with the full day’s schedule of racing and entertainment are forthcoming. NASCAR on FOX is, once again, the broadcaster for the Busch Light Clash that sets the stage for NASCAR’s 2024 Cup Series season. The NASCAR Mexico Series race will be broadcast on Fox Sports 3 in Mexico, and available “pan regionally” on Claro Sports and the D Motors channel on DirecTV.
A single ticket purchase avails fans of both races on February 4th, with tickets beginning at $65 and kids, 12-and-under getting their seats for a meager $10. Fans who want to take their race-day experience to the next level can upgrade to the NASCAR Pre-Race Party, which includes brunch, cocktails, musical entertainment, surprise guests, and also includes track walk access, signing the start/finish line and exclusive on-track photo opportunities. Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early by visiting www.nascarclash.com.
A special incentive exists for college students – the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is within the University of Southern California (USC) campus – who can experience the Busch Light Clash from the Torch Party Porch for $40. While this is a standing-room-only gathering and a general admission ticket, it’s located on the Coliseum’s peristyle steps and provides college students with up-close access to all the musical entertainment, driver introductions and all the racing activities. This exclusive offer is available at www.nascarclash.com/student.
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