The Busch Light Clash is NASCAR’s opening race of each season, and while it doesn’t count toward the point standings, it still has significance. The Clash opens as a “teaser” for the NASCAR season and gives fans a preseason-like atmosphere. For the last three years, the sport has taken the Busch Light Clash to the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
However, one NASCAR Hall-of-Fame member believes the Busch Light Clash shouldn’t be in Los Angeles. In fact, it shouldn’t be anywhere except Daytona International Speedway. [autotag]Dale Earnhardt Jr.[/autotag] discussed this concept on his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, and didn’t mince words.
“[The Clash] doesn’t need to be going around to all of these other race tracks,” Earnhardt said. “It doesn’t need to go to Mexico, it doesn’t need to go to Canada, it doesn’t need to go back to the Coliseum, it doesn’t need to go to your local short track.”
“It needs to go back to Daytona, it needs to be that tease, it needs to be pole winners. If it’s 12, 14 cars, I do not care. If it’s a 20-lap race and it lasts 15 minutes, I do not give a (expletive). That’s all it needs to be.”
Earnhardt firmly believes NASCAR should bring the Busch Light Clash back to Daytona, with recent reports suggesting the sport’s desire to take it outside of the United States to Mexico. NASCAR wants to expand its reach to race fans and compete internationally; however, it might be best for everyone involved if the sport returns to where the Clash began.
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