2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum Race Preview and Best Bets: Invest in Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch
NASCAR Cup Series: Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET (FOX) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles
Second Rendition
Sunday is the second rendition of The Clash.
This new version of the race will be slightly bigger than last year's.
Whereas 23 drivers competed in last year's first ever Clash, 27 drivers will occupy the field in this year's.
Format
The format for this year's Clash is basically the same as it was last year's.
After practice sessions in which drivers have opportunity to get comfortable in their cars, there will be qualifying.
Last year's Cup Series owner points standings will determine the qualifying order.
Qualifying will be one-round and single-vehicle. Three laps will be run, the last two of which will be timed.
The direct importance of qualifying is that it will establish the order for the heat races.
The top five drivers from each heat race will clinch their spot in The Clash.
Other top drivers from these heat races might get to participate in The Clash -- they will have to participate in one of two Last Chance Qualifiers.
Each of the LCQs will be 50 laps, and the starting order for each one will depend on drivers' finishing order in the heat races.
This format might seem confusing because of the multiplicity of steps involved.
But the qualifying process is robust just as a means of giving drivers more opportunities to participate in a race that fields so fewer drivers compared to normal Cup Series races.
Race Info
These are the basic details for the upcoming Clash that takes place on Sunday evening.
For this race, drivers must complete a total of 150 laps.
One may presume that, like last year's race, a stage break will take place upon completion of the 75thlap.
Starting Lineup
The starting positions for this race will be established by the heat races, which also largely determine drivers' ability to participate in this race
For example, starting position one will be occupied by the Heat 1 race winner. Starting position two will be occupied by he Heat 2 race winner. And so on.
Entry List
An entry list has already been published for this race.
The entry list contains 36 drivers/teams.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we already know which drivers will participate in this race.
We may expect all the usual suspects.
Track Info
The racing track inside the Coliseum is a short one.
Laps are a quarter-mile each.
So, in completing 150 laps, drivers will have accumulated 37.5 miles.
There are four turns on this asphalt surface with minimal banking -- the banking is 2.5 degrees, which is uniquely small.
Drivers to Avoid
Given the fact that drivers will compete on a short track, we need to use drivers' short track stats in order to determine the likelihood of their success on Sunday.
One bigger name worth avoiding is Martin Truex Jr., given his relatively poor finishing position on short tracks.
Another is Ryan Blaney. I find it odd that he is more highly favored than Truex Jr., because Blaney has yet to win a single race on a short track.
In any case, there is no value in Blaney.
My Guys
Given the available betting odds, we should invest in two different drivers.
Doing so increases the probability that we are right in a way that is less risky because the odds are so generous at plus money.
My two favorite drivers for Sunday's race are Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch.
Bell is an underrated driver who nearly won at Richmond and did win at New Hampshire and Martinsville.
Evidently, he is uniquely well-suited to perform on the type of track that drivers will navigate on Sunday.
As for Kyle Busch, he leads active drivers with 16 wins on short tracks.
For the above reasons, invest in both drivers to win on Sunday.
Best Bets: Christopher Bell Outright at +1000 with Bovada & Kyle Busch Outright at +850 with Bovada
NASCAR Cup Series: Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET (FOX) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles
Second Rendition
Sunday is the second rendition of The Clash.
This new version of the race will be slightly bigger than last year's.
Whereas 23 drivers competed in last year's first ever Clash, 27 drivers will occupy the field in this year's.
Format
The format for this year's Clash is basically the same as it was last year's.
After practice sessions in which drivers have opportunity to get comfortable in their cars, there will be qualifying.
Last year's Cup Series owner points standings will determine the qualifying order.
Qualifying will be one-round and single-vehicle. Three laps will be run, the last two of which will be timed.
The direct importance of qualifying is that it will establish the order for the heat races.
The top five drivers from each heat race will clinch their spot in The Clash.
Other top drivers from these heat races might get to participate in The Clash -- they will have to participate in one of two Last Chance Qualifiers.
Each of the LCQs will be 50 laps, and the starting order for each one will depend on drivers' finishing order in the heat races.
This format might seem confusing because of the multiplicity of steps involved.
But the qualifying process is robust just as a means of giving drivers more opportunities to participate in a race that fields so fewer drivers compared to normal Cup Series races.
Race Info
These are the basic details for the upcoming Clash that takes place on Sunday evening.
For this race, drivers must complete a total of 150 laps.
One may presume that, like last year's race, a stage break will take place upon completion of the 75thlap.
Starting Lineup
The starting positions for this race will be established by the heat races, which also largely determine drivers' ability to participate in this race
For example, starting position one will be occupied by the Heat 1 race winner. Starting position two will be occupied by he Heat 2 race winner. And so on.
Entry List
An entry list has already been published for this race.
The entry list contains 36 drivers/teams.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we already know which drivers will participate in this race.
We may expect all the usual suspects.
Track Info
The racing track inside the Coliseum is a short one.
Laps are a quarter-mile each.
So, in completing 150 laps, drivers will have accumulated 37.5 miles.
There are four turns on this asphalt surface with minimal banking -- the banking is 2.5 degrees, which is uniquely small.
Drivers to Avoid
Given the fact that drivers will compete on a short track, we need to use drivers' short track stats in order to determine the likelihood of their success on Sunday.
One bigger name worth avoiding is Martin Truex Jr., given his relatively poor finishing position on short tracks.
Another is Ryan Blaney. I find it odd that he is more highly favored than Truex Jr., because Blaney has yet to win a single race on a short track.
In any case, there is no value in Blaney.
My Guys
Given the available betting odds, we should invest in two different drivers.
Doing so increases the probability that we are right in a way that is less risky because the odds are so generous at plus money.
My two favorite drivers for Sunday's race are Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch.
Bell is an underrated driver who nearly won at Richmond and did win at New Hampshire and Martinsville.
Evidently, he is uniquely well-suited to perform on the type of track that drivers will navigate on Sunday.
As for Kyle Busch, he leads active drivers with 16 wins on short tracks.
For the above reasons, invest in both drivers to win on Sunday.
Best Bets: Christopher Bell Outright at +1000 with Bovada & Kyle Busch Outright at +850 with Bovada
