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USA Today via Reuters
Feb 3, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) leads driver Martin Truex Jr (19) and a group during practice at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-04T001215Z_1342009842_MT1USATODAY22438602_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-PRACTICE-QUALIFYING.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 3, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) leads driver Martin Truex Jr (19) and a group during practice at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The recent clash at the Coliseum marked the end of the NASAR and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum agreement. With the conclusion of Saturday’s race, NASCAR can extend Busch Light Clash’s stay in Southern California or explore several suitable options for a new host. Renowned journalist Jeff Gluck has been a bridge of communication for the fans. One of his tried and tested methods to measure the fandom’s opinion of something is through his Twitter polls.
Being an integral and respected member of the NASCAR community, the numbers from Gluck’s polls often represent the demographics fairly. Using the same to enquire about fans’ stance on this year’s Clash at the Coliseum, Gluck determined that Los Angeles had been an empirically better host than Daytona. When one of the fans questioned the quality of Clash events at the Coliseum, Jeff Gluck reminded him of the perception of Clash at Daytona before 2022.
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has fared astronomically better than Daytona
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Since the Clash’s ideation in 1979, the race was held at the Daytona International Speedway every year until 2022. In 2022, NASCAR switched things a bit and moved the Busch Light Clash to Los Angeles. It wasn’t well received initially, but Jeff Gluck’s polls show that Daytona oval clashes weren’t favored by the public at all in its final years.
51.3% of the voters believed the 2024 Clash at the Coliseum was a successful event. Considering the race’s long history, it has had some glorious and unforgettable 150-lap races over the years. However, Gluck’s polls have taken only seven instances into the count, with the bottom-ranked event being the 2021 Clash at Daytona. One of the fans commented about the success of the Coliseum after the 2024 edition edged a tie by 1.3%.
Gluck sternly responded, “The bottom three are the Daytona oval Clashes. A lot of you forget how much you hated those. The last one got a 20.9%.”
The bottom three are the Daytona oval Clashes. A lot of you forget how much you hated those. The last one got a 20.9% https://t.co/TdW3ugcmqv
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 5, 2024
With only 7 Busch Light Clash events being in consideration, the Coliseum has hosted a well-received race throughout its history. All three Clash at the Coliseum races have recorded more than 50% of voters voting for yes. The 2022 edition of the Clash is the highest it has scored at the Coliseum, with 84.2% approval. Considering the polls a genuine representation of what the fanbase thinks of the Coliseum, it is safe to say that Los Angeles has impressed the fans more.
Watch This Story: Big blow for NASCAR as Clash at the Coliseum gets brutal weather update
However, the 2024 Busch Light Clash gave the fans room for grievances, such as rescheduling the main event.
Diversion of schedule had upset many NASCAR fans
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The drivers were thrilled when NASCAR announced the decision to prepone the Clash at the Coliseum. In hindsight, the community has noticed the storm’s aftereffects with severe flooding and mudslides across the South California region. However, before the storm’s landfall, its consequences had NASCAR worried. After consulting stakeholders and broadcasters like FOX, the governing body announced that it would not take its chances and preponed the race.
One of the significant losses due to this decision was fans missing out on celebrity concerts of Dillon Francis and Machine Gun Kelly on Sunday. With the stars missing from the show, NASCAR had to find another solution to fill the stands.
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One positive to emerge from the storm’s arrival was free tickets to Cup Series races and a schedule that coincided with the dates of the Cup Series and Mexico Series races.
Was the Clash a good race? 51.3% of you said Yes.
— Ranks No. 3 of 7 Clash races overall in the poll (three in L.A., three on Daytona oval, one on Daytona road course).
— Ranks No. 2 of the 3 Coliseum races (2022 got an 84.2% and 2023 was 50.2%).
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 5, 2024
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The Mexico Series race was intense and competitive till its end. With Daniel Suarez racing in his former competition, the fans had a chance to witness him in action before starting his Cup Series season in the evening. Refunds were allocated for the fans who had booked tickets for Sunday, and all parties left the venue happy. Despite NASCAR’s dilemma, it is good to see that 51.3% of the viewers enjoyed the race. This could force NASCAR to reconsider a Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum renewal.
Read More: Triumphant Daniel Suarez Reveals What Winning in the NASCAR Mexico Series Means to Him
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