LA Coliseum Hosts First 2022 Chariot Race

Trackside View of the LA Coliseum prior to the Busch Light CLASH.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

LA Coliseum Hosts First 2022 Chariot Race

Words and Images By:  Brandon O'Brien, unless otherwise stated

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has a long and varied past.  Conceived as a hallmark of civic pride as a memorial to Los Angeles veterans of World War I it was completed in 1923.  It will be the first stadium to have hosted the Summer Olympics three times when it hosts the 2028 Summer Games.  The stadium previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984. 

The 2022 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum Logo painted in the infield area.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The Coliseum was the home of the Los Angeles Rams from 1946 to 1979 and is the current home of the USC Trojan football team. It was also the site for Super Bowl's I and VII as well as the 1959 World Series.

Following the illustrious past of the gladiators and Olympians at the Coliseum the NASCAR chariots will attempt to tame the 0.25 mile oval.  The race is generally staged as a pre-season exhibition race at the Daytona International Speedway.  This will be the first race for the Next Gen chassis.

Next Gen is the common name for the new racecar.  It is a further evolution of the Generation 6 car, the Next Gen features improved aero and downforce packages while introducing new technologies on the track. 

Next Gen car ready for Technical Inspection. Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images 

It is equipped with a sequential shifter, single center-lock wheel nut, 670-horsepower engines, rack-and-pinion steering, an independent rear suspension, carbon fiber-reinforced body panels, and a rear-end diffuser.

In addition, the Next Gen car is meant to lower costs and attract new original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to compete with Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota.

The 2022 event was open to 36 charter teams and 4 open teams. The event was composed of 350 laps in 7 races.  4 - 25 lap heat races of ten drivers with the top 4 drivers of each race advancing to The Clash.  2 - 50 lap Last Chance Qualifier races, for those drivers that did not qualify in the previous four races, with the top 3 drivers of each race advancing.  Finally the top non-qualifying 2021 points leader advanced to The Clash and started in the last spot.  Twenty-three drivers competed in the 150 lap main event. 

The drivers took to the track for the first time for practice on Saturday morning and they appeared to be very happy with both the Next Gen car as well as the track.  A number of drivers commented on "how well the new car turned as compared to the previous generation".  They were also impressed with the grip afforded by the new wider tires and the quality of the temporary track surface.  After the short practice session the track would remain quiet until Saturday evening when qualifying for the heat races would take place.

The starting order for the heat races was determined by a formula based on each drivers' qualifying time posted Saturday night.  The fastest driver would be in heat 1.  The second fastest would be in heat 2, etc.  Kyle Busch posted the best time with a 13.745 second lap. The slowest car posted a time of 14.471 seconds. One driver mentioned that on this track the 0.726 second difference was pretty significant. 

The heat races started on Sunday morning.  The top four positions for The Clash would be determined by the top finishing car from each heat race.  Kyle Busch controlled the first heat race and would start on the pole.  Tyler Reddick did the same for the second heat race and would start outside Busch for The Clash.  

Kyle Busch driving the #18 M&M's Toyota Camry when qualifying for the Heat Races at the LA Coliseum.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Tyler Reddick in the #8 Guaranteed Rate Chevrolet Camero when qualifying for the Heat Races at the LA Coliseum.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The second row was comprised of Justin Haley and Joey Logano.

Justin Haley in the #31 Leaf  Filter Gutter Protection Chevrolet Camero during qualifying for the Heat Races at the LA Memorial Coliseum.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Joey Logano in the #22 Shell Penzoil Ford Mustang during qualifying for the Heat Races at the LA Memorial Coliseum.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The Clash started as shadows began to emerge along the front straight. Tyler Reddick in the #8 Chevrolet took little time to charge ahead of Kyle Busch's #18 Toyota and they continued to swap positions for the first 4 laps.  

Tyler Reddick in the #8 Guaranteed Rate Chevrolet bumping Kyle Busch's race leading #18 M&M's Toyota.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images 

From laps 4 through 53 Reddick seemed to have the best handling car.  Following an incident between  # 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and #21 Harrison Burton, Reddick failed to accelerate at the restart.  He later attributed this to a broken transaxle.  He admitted that it was his fault and that he was too aggressive in keeping heat in the tires by hammering the clutch.

Kyle Busch in the #18 Toyota lead the field from laps 54 through 115.  He was able to hold off the #22 Ford driven by Logano on each of the restarts on laps 65, 75, and 115.  After an incident on the frontstretch between #5 Kyle Larson and #31 Justin Haley on lap 116, Busch was unable to keep Logano in the #22 Ford from passing.  Busch stated, "Just overheated the tires and smoked'em in three laps.  That was it".  

The pass for the lead.  Image Credit:  2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Although much of the attention was focused on the leaders, there was some very close racing in the middle of the pack.  It was primarily there that a lot of the bumping and banging took place without any serious damage to the bodies.  Much of this was attributed to the new composite body.

Tight Racing in the middle of the pack for the Busch Light Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum.  Image Credit:  2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Logano went on to lead the remaining 35 laps to take home The Clash victory.  The margin of victory was 0.877 seconds. The average race speed was a mind blowing 39.029 MPH. Maybe even more surprising, there were only five cautions.

Final Lap of The Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum.  Image Credit: 2022 Albert Wong

Winning Burnout on the backstretch by The Clash winner Joey Logano.  Image Credit: 2022 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The 2022 Busch Light Clash winner Joey Logano holding his trophy.  Image Credit:  2022 Albert Wong

So what was the driver's takeaway?  Joey Logano said, "Honestly, I think the biggest win we saw today, with the car itself, is that we can bump and bang and not cut the tires down".

Next races on February 17, 2022 - Daytona International Speedway followed by February 27, 2022 - Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA

TAGS: Brandon O'Brien, Busch Light Cup Series, Chevrolet, Cup Series, Ford, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Motor Driven Images, MotorSports Journal, NASCAR, Next Gen, The Clash, Toyota, Tyler Reddick