NASCAR Expected to Move Busch Clash Location in 2022

Every year, NASCAR hosts the Busch Clash before the season begins. Traditionally, the Daytona International Speedway road course hosts the race. However, there are talks that the exhibition race could move to a different location. According to reports, there are plans to turn the race into a blockbuster Hollywood event.

These reports revealed that there will be a purpose-built short track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. If all goes to plan, the race will be held in early February, before the Daytona 500. This will be an excellent way to build hype for the new season and herald a new era in the form of the Next Gen car.

Admittedly, nobody knows if the Next Gen cars will debut in the Busch Clash. This is because some teams are apprehensive about racing the new cars in a non point-scoring event, especially since this race will likely be a high-contact race, owing to the tight confines of the track.

What is so special about NASCAR moving to this Los Angeles track?

The Memorial Coliseum is regarded as an iconic venue because it has played host to multiple major sports events. First and foremost, it hosted two Super Bowls – the 1932 and the 1984 Summer Olympics. Other events include three games in the 1959 World Series, as well as the USC football team since 1923. It is also worth mentioning that the venue going to host the 2028 Olympic Games.

This will hopefully be the second time a Cup Series race has kicked off inside a stadium, with the first being the 1956 race at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Apparently, the Coliseum track will closely resemble the Bowman-Gray Stadium quarter-mile short track. If the shift is successful, it will be the first time since 1979 that Daytona will not play host to the race.

This year’s edition was also the first time that the Busch Clash was held on the road course. Looks like we’re already switching up the tradition!

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