NASCAR is truly pulling out all the stops to ensure a star-filled kickoff to the Cup Series. From Pitbull as a pre-race performer to Dwayne Johnson as the Grand Marshal, fans are in for a treat at the 2024 Daytona 500. But before proceeding with the Great American Race, the officials also have a pleasant surprise planned for keen sports enthusiasts who will tune in to the Busch Light Clash on February 4.

Only recently was it announced that two-time Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu would be lighting the torch atop the Busch Light Clash peristyle as the Honorary Torch Lighter.

‘An incredible privilege’—Athing Mu’s meteoric rise lands high praise from NASCAR

With humble origins in Trenton, New Jersey, Athing Mu has slowly worked her way up the competitive middle-distance running ranks and has quickly cemented herself as one of the greats. Only a few years ago, in 2021, Mu broke the record for the youngest woman ever to win the 800-meter gold while also winning gold with her team in the 4 x 400-meter relay. This was just the beginning, as she would go on to become the 800-meter champion in 2022.

With her talent certainly matching the prestige of the Cup Series, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy, felt there was no better fit. He was quoted by Jayskis, sharing, “Athing Mu is one of the most accomplished young athletes in the world. It’s an incredible privilege to welcome a world-renowned champion to light the torch atop the iconic Peristyle at the Busch Light Clash.”

After all, the trajectory of Athing Mu’s career bears great resemblance to the moves NASCAR is making to increase its presence in the world of sport. After showing the world that she’s capable of winning championships, the American middle-distance runner has her eyes set on the grandest stage of them all, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. So with such a talented athlete heading toward a glorious year in her career herself, it’s evident that Mu is the ideal candidate for the occasion to begin NASCAR’s 2024 season.

WATCH THIS STORY:  Big blow for NASCAR as Clash at the Coliseum gets brutal weather update 

So with all major preparations taking shape, fans can expect a grand opening to the 2024 season at the Busch Light Clash. From the inaugural Mexico Series race to Athing Mu lighting the torch, there’s a lot of action to be caught up on before the Daytona 500. However, there may just be a significant issue with the Busch Light Clash arising right before the big weekend.

It is likely to rain on the Busch Light Clash day

While the officials have certainly accounted for a memorable torch-lighting ceremony, the weather updates coming in recently could just result in some disappointment. According to weather.com, Los Angeles is expected to receive 1 inch of downpour through Sunday, or around 2 inches at night. This means the race could very well halt right before it kicks off.

Even though the Cup Series challengers are well equipped with wet weather tires for the occasional sprinkles, the magnitude of the impending precipitation seems to be a major cause of concern. Cup Series cars or short tracks are not engineered with heavy rain in mind, meaning they lack window wipers, rain flaps, and even circuit lights to weather the storm. And Sunday is not all that NASCAR will have to worry about, as the following also projects similar rainfall figures.

READ MORE: “It Has Soul” – LA Artist Unveils Exquisite NASCAR Mexico Series Coliseum Trophy; Racing Fandom Enthralled

Although the chances of the clash getting delayed by a margin are fairly slim, the community might have to wait longer than expected for the big weekend to kick off. After all, the inaugural Mexico Series race is not something many fans want to miss out on, so it would be best to keep a keen eye on the weather radar. Stay tuned for more!