LOS ANGELES (CNS) - With a dangerous rainstorm expected to land in Los Angeles Sunday, NASCAR rescheduled Sunday's doubleheader at the Coliseum - - highlighted by the Busch Light Clash -- to Saturday evening, race officials said this afternoon.
"Due to the threat of unprecedented severe weather on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Mexico Series race events for the Clash have been moved to Saturday night," the statement said. "Thanks to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Los Angeles public safety for their partnership and support to make the schedule adjustment for tonight's event to ensure a safe experience for fans, competitors and staff.
"We understand weather conditions may worsen as the day progresses, so we encourage fans to make decisions in the best interest of safety. We appreciate our fans, partners, and everyone associated with this event on this unprecedented event."
The NASCAR Cup Series' Busch Light Clash will now run at 5 p.m. Saturday and be televised on FS1, followed by the NASCAR Mexico Series' King Taco LA Batalla en El Coliseo.
Tickets to both events will now be free, with limited fan services available. Seating will be general admission, with fan entry at Gates 1 & 28.
NASCAR said officials would be contacting ticketholders to the Busch Light Clash in the days ahead on the "next steps to accommodate for the unprecedented impact on this event."
Pre-paid Sunday parking purchased though ParkWhiz will be fully refunded.
Continued schedule and refund updates will be available at nascarclash.com and @nascarclash social media handles.
Plans to determine the starting positions for the 23-car field for the Busch Light Clash with heat races and a last chance qualifying race Saturday were canceled. Instead, starting positions for the main event were determined by the fastest 22 speeds in final practice with the 23rd position will based on 2023 driver points.
Denny Hamlin will start from the pole, with Joey Logano won the inaugural race at the Coliseum in 2022, starting second.
The race will consist of 150 laps on a temporary quarter-mile track, with only green lag laps counted. A timed break will be observed at the race's halfway point.
Los Angeles-born guitarist Nita Strauss will perform the national anthem. Victoria La Mala will sing "God Bless America." Rapper Machine Gun Kelly will perform during the race break.
Super middleweight boxing champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will be the clash's grand marshal, giving drivers the command to start their engines. Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning runner Athing Mu will be the honorary torch lighter.
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