The NASCAR Clash could find long-term success outside of L.A.
In its third year, the preseason NASCAR Clash was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was by far the hardest, but most drivers think the risk was well worth it.
When NASCAR first said it was going to move the preseason test race to Los Angeles, the thought of putting a ¼-mile dirt track within a sports coliseum appeared impossible.
Denny Hamlin won the race on Saturday night. It was supposed to happen on Sunday night, but NASCAR moved it up a day because of bad weather that was coming to the L.A. area for several days.
Fans were upset that the TV schedule changed at the last minute, but NASCAR was able to finish the race and the NASCAR Mexico event that went along with it before the storm that followed came.
The original three-year plan to hold the Clash within Los Angeles ended this year. NASCAR officials are still not sure what will happen with the event in the future, but many drivers think it should be looked into further.
“I’m proud of NASCAR,” driver Kyle Larson said. “I believe they did this very well. In the first year, I never thought it would be as real as it is now, and the feeling is great.
It’s possible for this kind of event to work in our sport, even if it moves to different states, countries, or whatever. They’ve shown they can do it. They can get some attention.
“I hope that they can move this kind of model around and make it bigger so that we can get more fans.”
But people in the city liked the event, and both TV ratings and crowds were higher in the first two years than when it happened at Daytona.
Even though this year’s race had a lot of problems—tickets for Saturday’s events weren’t even sold at first—Hamlin praised NASCAR for trying to change its plans and hold the event a day early.
NASCAR went to Los Angeles a decade ago with the hope that it could make an impact, just like many other Hollywood hopefuls. It was the idea of building a short track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that made it happen for NASCAR.
In modern NASCAR, the idea was unheard of. It was a big change from the usual tracks for NASCAR’s top Cup Series, which are purpose-built ovals and road courses.
Hamlin said, “I think we should call Saturday night a success because if it didn’t happen, I didn’t think it was going to occur at all.”
Usually, these kinds of tracks are on the edges of cities, not in the middle of them. And not in the second-largest city in the United States.
“Some people would be upset that they couldn’t use their ticket on Sunday, but they weren’t going to use it on Monday either, and I’m not sure if they could use it on Tuesday either.”
“This was only going to get worse.” It had to happen this way, and I’m glad NASCAR made changes that had never been seen before to make sure that fans even saw a race.
“I believe it went well. “Certainly, you can’t argue with the number of viewers,” he said. “I agree that going to numerous places can be helpful, but I believe that L.A. was great for us and that we were great for this community as well.”
There are more kinds of people in the stands than at most race tracks, they said. No matter what, it’s still possible that NASCAR will stay in the L.A. Coliseum longer. Hamlin also said that he thinks the model that was made in Los Angeles will be used in other places.
It’s been a big hit for TV partner Fox Sports, and since Auto Club Speedway in nearby Fontana, Calif., was torn down, the L.A. market still doesn’t have a regular Cup series race.