NASCAR Update: Clash at the Coliseum Moved Up to Tonight to Beat Massive Rainstorm

The 2024 NASCAR Cup season is almost upon us, starting with the Clash at the Coliseum. However, inclement weather conditions have forced NASCAR to move the race up. Instead of 4th February, the race will be held on February 3rd, because NASCAR wants to beat a massive rain shower forecast.

Of course, rain showers are the bane of existence for any NASCAR race. According to Bob Pockrass, The Clash has been moved to tonight at 8 pm Eastern Time. That will be followed by the NASCAR Mexico race, while practice and qualifying will remain as scheduled. This comes after NASCAR declared that they were considering all options to run the race.

How will the Clash at the Coliseum play out?

As per reports, qualifying will set the 22-car grid, and the car with the most owner points will get the final spot. In other words, the heat races will be cancelled, along with the Last Chance Qualifying race. Practice is expected to kick off at 5:35 PM ET, before the qualifying session and then everyone will be thrown in the deep end.

Furthermore, there is free admission for the public, but there will be limited facilities available. The best part is, anyone who bought tickets for the Sunday race, will be entitled to a refund. However, the caveat is that the refund is only available for those who buoght tickets via the Ticketmaster portal or the NASCAR website. On the subject of parking, those who purchased prepaid parking via Park Whiz, will also be entitled to a refund.

Will the Clash at the Coliseum be able to beat the weather?

Since the forecast predicted heavy rain on Sunday, it made sense to push the race up by 24 hours. Many drivers lauded the decision, including the likes of Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott. After all, the safety of the drivers came above all else. Hosting a race in possible torrential conditions would have been absolute madness. Thankfully, clearer heads prevailed and the race may go ahead uninterrupted.

This also comes at a time where the future of the Clash at the Coliseum is in doubt. According to some rumours, NASCAR is exploring the idea of going elsewhere to host the Clash from 2025 onwards. After all, the Bristol Motor Speedway ended its dirt racing stint after three years, owing to mixed reviews. Selling tickets can become a glaring issue and there could potentially be casual fans losing interest in watching the races on television.