NASCAR sets February stage in City of Angels

Competition format for Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum includes heat races, last-chance qualifiers

The first-ever Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum will be a two-day event that consists of practice, heat races and a last-chance qualifier, setting the stage for a 150-lap main event at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6, 2022.

The field will be open to 40 entrants, and 23 will make the final show on Sunday night under the lights.

“There has already been an enormous amount of buzz around next year’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, and we feel that this race format and the accompanying programming throughout the entire weekend will only build on that already established momentum,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of strategy and innovation. “The unprecedented nature of this event, coupled with the fact that our sport will be in the spotlight in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, makes this a can’tmiss event when we get our 2022 season underway next February.”

Here’s a breakdown of how the event will work.

• Saturday, Feb. 5

NASCAR Cup Series drivers will take to the quarter-mile paved oval for practice sessions, then end the first day with singlecar qualifying runs.

The single-car qualifying speeds will determine the fields and lineups for Sunday’s four heat races.

• Sunday, Feb. 6: Heat races

5 p.m. ET, FOX: There will be four 25-lap heat races with 10 cars in each race Sunday. The four fastest cars from Saturday’s single-car qualifying will be on the pole for each heat race, including fastest speed in the first heat race, second-fastest speed in the second heat race and more. The remainder of the field will be filled out in the same manner.

For example, the first heat race will consist of cars with qualifying speeds ranked one, five, nine, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33 and 37 on the speed chart. The second heat race will consist of cars with qualifying speeds ranked two, six, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38. And so on.

The top four finishers in each heat race — 16 total cars — will automatically advance through to the Clash later in the evening. The winner of the first heat race will start on the pole, with the outside pole going to the winner of the second heat race.

The winners of heat race three and four will make up the second row. The remaining order for the 16 cars will be filled out in the same manner.

• Sunday, Feb. 6: Last Chance Qualifying races

5 p.m. ET, FOX: The Last Chance Qualifying races follow the heat races. Each heat race has 10 cars, with four automatically advancing to the main event. That leaves six cars from each heat race, or 24 total cars, not advancing.

All 24 of those cars will advance to two ensuing 50-lap Last Chance Qualifying races.

The starting order for each LCQ is based on finishing positions in the heat races, with the remaining field from heat races one and three racing in the first LCQ event. The second LCQ race is comprised of cars from heat race two and four.

The top three finishers (six total cars) in both Last Chance Qualifying races will advance to the Busch Light Clash, filling out positions 17-22 of the 23 available positions.

The final spot is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2021 points standings who does not transfer on finishing position in the heat races or Last Chance Qualifying races. So in essence, that means 2021 champion Kyle Larson is the only driver locked into the field.

• Sunday, Feb. 6: Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum

With the field set, the 150-lap main event is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FS1.

“I’ve had the chance to drive on the track through iRacing and make some laps in the NextGen car at Bowman-Gray on a similar layout, and there’s no doubt that this race is going to be awesome,” said Clint Bowyer, longtime former NASCAR Cup Series driver and current FOX Sports analyst. “The different qualifying events and format for the Clash are only going to add to what will be an unforgettable weekend. This is definitely a race you’re not going to want to miss.”

• Tickets for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum are on sale now.