NASCAR’s first unofficial race of the 2024 season will come on Sunday, February 4, as the Cup Series takes on the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. It will be the third running of the event after Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. have taken home the victory the last two years. With the race in almost two weeks, NASCAR has revealed this year’s new format.
The practice and heats will occur on Saturday with three practice sessions for three groups. The last session will determine the lineup for the 25-lap heats. The top-5 drivers in each heat will make the main event on Sunday, while the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier will occur before the 150-lap main event on Sunday night.
Clash format: practice/heats Saturday. Three practice sessions each for three groups. Last session determines lineup for 25-lap heats. Top-5 in heats to main event Sunday. A 75-lap LCQ for final two spots will be Sunday before 150-lap main event. pic.twitter.com/5UI6p5EnsS
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 16, 2024
The major changes compared to 2023 include no single-lap qualifying, one Last Chance Qualifier race instead of two, and a 23-driver main event instead of 27 competitors. These changes allow NASCAR’s main event to run smoothly while making the heats and Last Chance Qualifier races even more exciting as the 2024 season kicks off in Los Angeles.
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