Second Edition Of Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum Different But Still Good

Day of the 2023 Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum pre-activity track walk shot of the GEICO RESTART ZONE towards the iconic peristyle end of the Los Angeles Coliseum. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Second Edition Of Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum Different But Still Good

Almost nothing can ever match up to a first time experience of anything. A meaningful kiss, a campout in nature of a city kid, friendship with someone completely different than yourself, the achievement of a long and cherished goal that was months or even years in the study and making. 

The repeat in the "One Of" NASCAR race on a purpose built temporary Quarter-Mile oval race track came kind of close but was very different.

The 2023 edition and second running of the Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum had all of the elements in perfect order. During ground breaking ceremony held in December 2022, many of the crew that were there for the first build were happy to be putting the track back in again. 

The track build in preparation for the ground breaking ceremony at the nearly 100 year old LA Coliseum. The two rows of interlocking concrete edging balusters are already in place as the layered conversion of the base field takes place. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022)

When asked if there were any significant changes to the build, the answer was that the process and materials were exactly the same, even down to the special composite aggregate (piled center/left in above image) used for the base under the asphalt which was stored off-site over this last full year after deconstruction, but refinements to the timing and procedures will result in cost and time savings in the second time around build. Live and learn.

Ground breaking ceremony featured (L to R) star California driver Kyle Larson, pilot of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, Jeremy Casperson, Director, Civil Engineering, NASCAR Design and Development, Matt Humphrey, Director, Track Communications, NASCAR, Kevin Daly, Assistant GM, LA Memorial Coliseum, and Patrick Rogers, NASCAR VP of Marketing Services. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022)

Where the changes to the event from 2022 were most noticeable came to timing, competition, and surrounding entertainment. The overall focus in the purpose of this event seemed to drift off kilter over the experience achieved last year where an attendance of around 60,000 people filled the stands and an estimated 70% had never attended a NASCAR race event before (seems pretty easy in Los Angeles).

Roughly, about 3 weeks before the second running of the Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum, musical rap performer, Pittsburg's Wiz Khalifa was announced as the primary headline artist to perform at the mid-race break of the 150 Lap main event.

Over four and a half weeks earlier, it was announced that Los Angeles area (South Gate) rap group Cypress Hill whom were most famous in the early 1990s winning the 1992 Top Rap Song Of The Year Grammy for their breakout hit "The Phuncky Feel One" from their self-titled first album, would perform before the race got started.

Cypress Hill festooned percussionist sets up Eric "Bobo" Correa's kit just a couple of hours before the South Gate rap group were to take the stage and the Coliseum. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

In 2022, the lead-in act Pitbull was announced in early December (as was the support act Cypress Hill for 2023), and in turn Ice Cube, the race break act, was announced also about 3 weeks from the race. Given just how much Ice Cube was identified with being a Los Angeles (Straight Outta' Compton) legend, his addition as the Race-Break entertainment boosted attendance.

 

Turn It Up As The Generation 7 Platforms Roll-In

The time of the competition was moved to start later so that the main event 150 Laps would be run under the lights of the stadium. What this brought about was a greater sense of mystery and it allowed impressive accompanying light show displays during the Wiz Khalifa Race Break show as well as end of race fireworks - again impressive as it was shot off around the glow from the Olympic Flame torch that was also lit during the Race Break ceremony.

Downtown Los Angeles at night might have had some folks give second thought about attending an event in the Coliseum. Football crowds are somewhat connected and mob-like whereas a group of folks who may be first-timers to a NASCAR event headlined with entertainment based in a hard scrabble street culture as Wiz Khalifa solo (non-duo) efforts extoll.

EXAMPLE LYRICS:

Black And Yellow 

Uh, black stripe, yellow paint

Them niggas scared of it, but them hoes ain't

Soon as I hit the club, look at them hoes' face

Hit the pedal once, make the floor shake

Suede inside, my engine roarin'

It’s the big boy, you know what I paid for it

And I got the pedal to the metal

Got you niggas checking game, I’m ballin' out on every level

Hear them haters talk, but there’s nothin' you can tell 'em

Just made a million, got another million on my schedule

No love for 'em, nigga breaking hearts

No keys, push to start

[ht: Genius Lyrics]

Last year the Super Bowl was held just West of the LA Coliseum at SoFi Stadium. This year, next week's Super Bowl will be held in Phoenix. The halftime act for the 2023 Super Bowl is Rihanna. Too bad Rihanna wasn't enticed to preview a portion of her show during halftime of the second edition of the Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum. A recommended choice for such a showcase would have to be - original Rihanna Video link - "Shut Up and Drive" (featured on the soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Wreck-It Ralph, playing over the scene in which Ralph teaches Vanellope von Schweetz to drive in the arcade game Sugar Rush).

The race for the second time around was another experience altogether. In 2022, the venue was completely new as was the NextGen (7th generation formula) racing stockcar. Given the tight track and a new platform, the drivers were not keen to take big chances. In the 150 lap race, there were 5 Caution periods. The action began to feel predictable. Joey Logano held off hard-charging pole winner Kyle Busch to triumph in Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. Logano got the lead on Lap 116, moments before Kyle Larson retaliated against Justin Haley for earlier contact that was not of Haley’s doing. Larson steered toward the bottom of the track, knocking Haley’s Chevrolet into the concrete Jersey barrier on the front stretch.

Michael McDowell (spins prior to Turn 3) — Finished 24th: “I don’t know how many laps under caution we ran, but obviously just a calculation running the LCQ and a heat race. We just didn’t anticipate running over 100 laps of caution, so that was unfortunate. It was a battle out there for sure. I feel good about how we were able to start near the back and drive up into the top 12, top 13 twice, so our car was good. It’s just a good weekend. We’ve got a lot of new guys, so it was good to get up to speed and figure each other out.” Image Credit: Ralph Garcia (2023)

This second bite at the Los Angeles Avocado (as opposed to Apple), drivers knew just how tough the NextGen platform could be, since it was tested throughout the 36 race 2022 season, and the phrase "if it ain't rubbin', it ain't racin'" came to full effect. 

The race time went much longer than most in attendance expected largely on the turn of 16 Caution periods with the majority coming during the second 75 Laps to finish the race. It was as if there was an understanding the the first 75 Laps we will push and shove, but the hammer drops when the end of the race is in all of our sights. 

Confetti flies in the air as Martin Truex Jr. won NASCAR's exhibition Clash on Sunday night. Truex’s win in the exhibition race comes after he was winless in 2022 for the first time since 2014. Truex had won 29 races from 2015-2021 but had just four top fives and 15 top 10s as he missed the playoffs for the first time since that 2014 season. Image Credit: Black Kat Sports (2023)

Post Race Driver Remarks >>> 

In honor of the celebration of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum being constructed 100 years ago, it was decided to award the podium finishers of the 2nd edition of Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum with Olympic style medals - Martin Truex 1st/Gold, Austin Dillon 2nd/Silver, and Kyle Busch 3rd/Bronze. Jostens produced these exquisite medals, along with the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum Trophy that was presented to the winner of the non-points paying exhibition. Each custom-crafted keepsake features the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum logo beautifully embossed on one side. The other side features the Coliseum’s centennial mark and the NASCAR 75th Anniversary logo. Image Credit: Ralph Garcia (2023)

Fox earned a 2.01 rating and 3.647 million viewers for Sunday night’s Clash at the Coliseum. The ratings were down about 15% from last year, but second most watched sports program - the NFL Pro Bowl was most watched for the weekend.

Despite the smaller audience, the race still delivered NASCAR’s largest viewing audience since the Coca-Cola 600 on FOX last May (3.87M), surprisingly outpacing all of last season’s playoff races (which aired opposite the NFL). Last year’s season finale from Phoenix averaged 3.21 million on NBC.

The crowd at the Coliseum was estimated by the LA Times to be around 50,000, so attendance was off from last year as well.

During the lead up to the Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum, some attendants were able to sign up and pay for a track walk. many who participated were able to leave a note on the painted Start/Finish Line of the temporary track. Image 1 - Shut Up And Sign "... notes from The EDJE."  Image 2 - Others inked an opinion - F-RIGHT - that supported oval racing in America as always turning Left. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

To be honest, the current economy is tanking through inflation, which is a real modifier that effects everyone, especially since wages are not keeping up with the shifts caused through current economic policies. Attendance was enthusiastic and stadium-filling, especially for a non-points paying exhibition race. 

The jury was out on coming back to the Los Angeles Coliseum at this time last year and NASCAR closed in on a decision for year two. Is a year three in the offing? Only time will tell ... but the overall verdict is that the event was different, but still very good. 

If there is to be another Clash at the Coliseum in 2024, wrap it up in a celebration of ASCOT! Bring on another bite of the LA Avocado!

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: Busch Light Clash, 2023, Los Angeles Coliseum, NASCAR, NextGen, 7th Generation, Martin Truex, Gold, Austin Dillon, Silver, Kyle Busch, Bronze, Ralph Garcia, The EDJE