Since 1979, Busch Light Clash has been the curtain-raiser to the new NASCAR campaign. Initially, the event used to take place at Daytona International Speedway before moving to Los Angeles – the 2023 Busch Light Clash is staged at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Such, it’s a great way to start off the 2023 season, allowing fans to get a first glance at what awaits them in this year’s NASCAR Cup Series in terms of cars, team tactics, and driver skills.
2023 Busch Light Clash Odds
| Spread | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chase Elliott | +800 |
| Kyle Larson | +850 |
| Joey Logano | +850 |
| Kyle Busch | +900 |
| Christopher Bell | +900 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1200 |
| Ross Chastain | +1200 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1200 |
| William Byron | +1400 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +1800 |
| Kevin Harvick | +2000 |
| Chase Briscoe | +2500 |
| Alex Bowman | +2500 |
*Odds taken on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Date: Sunday, February 5, 2023
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: FOX
Top Favorites to Win the 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
This race isn’t a part of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series calendar, meaning that it’s not essential for the drivers to do well in it. Still, the 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum serves as a dress rehearsal for the new season, giving every driver an opportunity to test their car and strategy before the real competition begins.
The exhibition race has always been a favorite of both fans and drivers. In the past, it used to be driven in Daytona on a road course with 35 laps. Last year, however, a new chapter in the history of Busch Light Clash started – the event got its new home.
The last year’s Busch Light Clash was the first one to take place at The Coliseum (oval). The race now consists of 150 laps, each of which is a quarter of a mile in length. The new environment obviously suited Joey Logano, who won the inaugural event and then went on to become the 2022 NASCAR champion.
Knowing all this, it’s no surprise that Logano is one of the top favorites to win the 2023 exhibition race. What is kind of surprising is that he’s not the No. 1 favorite. Instead, he’s sitting in third place behind Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson.
If you’re wondering about what’s behind this, it’s that these two drivers have championship ambitions in 2023. Both feel as if they ended up without the trophy by accident last year, which is why they’re planning to take the 2023 campaign super-seriously from the very start. And that implies that they’re gonna do their best on Sunday at The Coliseum.
Our Prediction for the 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
Considering that this is the first NASCAR race of 2023, we suspect a surprise might happen, albeit not a major one. We think none of the top three candidates will win this race, but we do think the man sitting in the No. 4 spot on the list of favorites might do it.
The man in question is Kyle Busch, a true veteran who’s changed his allegiance to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) after spending 18 seasons as a member of the Joe Gibbs Racing team. He swapped his Toyota for a Chevy, which he’ll debut on the racetrack this coming Sunday. We think it’s going to be a debut to remember.
Pick: Kyle Busch to win the 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum