Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2023) – Below is a statistical look at this weekend’s exhibition event the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on February 5, 2023. This year marks just the second-time in NASCAR Cup Series history the traditional exhibition-style event will tackle the newly built 0.25-mile L.A. Memorial Coliseum track. The event will be broadcast live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 8 p.m. ET.

In 2023, the field was open to 40 entrants to participate in the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. Select this link for the latest Preliminary Entry List.

Format Rundown: How to make the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum:

·       The 36 drivers entered will first have to qualify to determine the starting order for the four scheduled Heat races.

·       Of the cars entered, only 27 will earn a spot in the Main Event; the drivers will have three possible ways to do that.

·       The first 26 positions in the starting lineup of the Main event will be set by drivers that have raced their way in through either the four Heat Races or the two Last Chance Qualifier Races.

·       The 27th and final position is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season points standings who did not transfer on finishing position in the Heat Races or Last Chance Qualifier Races.

·       Select this link to download the 2023 Race Format Graphic that is below 

The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum Stats & Tidbits

HISTORY

·       The first Busch Light Clash was held on February 11, 1979 at Daytona International Speedway, and the event was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Buddy Baker (average speed: 194.384 mph).

·       This weekend’s event will be the 45th running of the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum and this season’s event will be the second held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2022-2023).

·       The L.A. Memorial Coliseum is the third different venue to host the annual non-points exhibition event joining Daytona International Speedway (1979 – 2020) and the Daytona International Speedway Road Course (2021).   

·       The number of participants in The Clash exhibition event has ranged from as low as seven drivers in 1981 to as high as 28 in 2009.

·       This season 36 drivers are currently entered, but just 27 competitors will compete in the Main event of the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.

·       The format for the Busch Light Clash has changed 17 times since its inception in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1979.

·       The 2022 season marked the first time the exhibition event had a format that included Heat Races and Last Chance Qualifier Races.

STARTS

·       In total, 129 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have competed in the Busch Light Clash; 93 of the 129 drivers (72%) have participated in more than one.

·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Busch Light Clash appearances at 24.

·       The top 10 drivers (all-time) with the most Busch Light Clash appearances:

·       The top 10 (active) drivers with the most Busch Light Clash appearances:

STARTS

·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon has appeared in the most consecutive Busch Light Clash races, competing in 22 consecutive events from 1994-2015.

·       Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in consecutive Busch Light Clash starts with 17 (2006 – 2022).   

The Starting Positions for the 2022 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum (Last Season)

WINS

·       A total of 24 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the Busch Light Clash.

·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Busch Light Clash wins with six victories (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).

·      Denny Hamlin (three: 2006, 2014, 2016) and Kevin Harvick (three: 2009, 2010, 2013) lead all active drivers in the Busch Light Clash wins with three each.

·       There have been 12 drivers with multiple wins in the Busch Light Clash exhibition event:

o   Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).

o   Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

o   Kevin Harvick won in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

o   Tony Stewart won in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

o   Denny Hamlin won in 2006, 2014 and 2016.

o   Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994, 1997), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2008), Jimmie Johnson (2005, 2019), Kyle Busch (2012, 2021) and Joey Logano (2017, 2022).

·       Four drivers have won consecutive Busch Light Clash races (1979-2021) – Kevin Harvick (2009-10), Tony Stewart (2000-01), Ken Schrader (1990-91), Neil Bonnett (1983-84).

·       No driver has won three consecutive Clash events.

·       Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won in the first Busch Light Clash in which they competed.

·       Only five times has the Busch Light Clash winner gone on to win the Daytona 500 pole: Buddy Baker (1979), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989, 1990), Dale Jarrett (2000).

·       Six times in the 44-year history of the race has the Busch Light Clash winner gone on to win the Daytona 500: Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1987), Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000), Jeff Gordon (1997) and Denny Hamlin (2016).  

·       Two drivers have swept the Busch Light Clash, the Daytona 500 pole, and the Daytona 500 from 1979-2022: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987)

·       One driver has swept the Busch Light Clash, the Daytona 500, and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 (Summer Daytona race) from 1979-2022: Bobby Allison (1982).

·       Five drivers have won the Busch Light Clash (1979-2022) and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season. Dale Earnhardt is the only driver to have accomplished the feat multiple times (four; 1980, 1986, 1991, 1993); Darrell Waltrip (1981); Jeff Gordon (1997); Tony Stewart (2002); Joey Logano (2022).

·       There have been four Busch Light Clash winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).

·       Seven different manufactures have won a Busch Light Clash exhibition race, led by Chevrolet with 22 victories; followed by Ford (10), Toyota (six), Buick (two), Oldsmobile (two), Dodge (one) and Pontiac (one).

·       Ford is the most recent winner in the Busch Light Clash, with Joey Logano winning the event in his Team Penske Ford last season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  

Manufacturers Busch Light Clash Wins (All-Time)

·       Four of the previous 44 Busch Light Clash events (9.09%) have been won from the Pole or first starting position – Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989), Denny Hamlin (2016).

·       The most proficient starting position in the field is the 15th starting position producing the most wins (six) of any of the starting positions on the grid.

·       Over 50% of the winners in the Busch Light Clash have started the event from outside the top-10.    

Wins By Busch Clash Starting Position

·       A total of 15 different organizations have won the Busch Light Clash, led by Joe Gibbs Racing with 10 victories.

Top Five Organizations in Wins in the Busch Light Clash (All-Time)

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

·       In total, 32 different drivers have finished runner-up in the Busch Light Clash exhibition events.

·       NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002, 2004, 2006) and Darrell Waltrip (1979, 1983, 1985) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes in the Busch Light Clash with three each.

·       Joey Logano (2016, 2018) and Kyle Busch (2017, 2022) lead all active drivers with two runner-up finishes in the Busch Light Clash each.

Top Five Finishes:

·       In total, 69 different drivers have finished inside the top-five in the Busch Light Clash exhibition race.

·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes in the Busch Light Clash with 11.

·       Joey Logano leads all active drivers with eight top-five finishes in the Busch Light Clash.

Top 10 Finishes:

·       In total, 97 different drivers have finished inside the top-10 in the Busch Light Clash exhibition race.

·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes in the Busch Light Clash with 17.

·       Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano lead all active drivers with 11 top-10 finishes in the Busch Light Clash each.

Average Finishing Position:

·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position in the Busch Light Clash exhibition races with a 2.75.

·       Ryan Blaney leads all active drivers with average finishing position in the Busch Light Clash with a 5.33.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position in the Busch Clash (All-Time & Active)

Must have made more than one Busch Light Clash start.

Must have made more than one Busch Light Clash start.

LAP LEADERS

·       A total of 63 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap in the Busch Light Clash (1979-2022).

·       Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led in the Busch Light Clash exhibition races with 175 laps led of his 1,114 laps completed (15.7%) in his 17 starts.

Top 15 in Laps Led in the Busch Light Clash (All-Time)

Lap Leaders From Last Season’s Busch Light Clash (2022 L.A. Memorial Coliseum)

·       The most laps led in Busch Light Clash by the race winner was 47 of the scheduled 70 laps (67.1%) by Dale Earnhardt Jr. on February 9, 2008 – he started from the seventh position. 

·       The most laps led in the Busch Light Clash by a driver that did not win was 64 of the scheduled 150 laps (42.6%) by Kyle Busch on February 6, 2022 – he started first and finished runner-up.

·       The fewest laps led in the Busch Light Clash by the race winner was one lap led (the final lap) and it has happened nine different times: Kyle Busch (2021), Erik Jones (2020), Kevin Harvick (2009), Dale Jarrett (2004, 2000), Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1984, 1983), Dale Earnhardt (1980).

·       The largest number of lead changes in a Busch Light Clash event is 28 lead changes from the February 12, 2011 race; the event was won by Kurt Busch.

·       The fewest number of lead changes in a Busch Light Clash event is two lead changes and it has occurred six times: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990.

·       Last season’s race at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum produced five lead changes among three leaders.

·       The most lap leaders in a Busch Light Clash event are 14 from the February 7, 2009 race; the event was won by Kevin Harvick.

·       The fewest lap leaders in a Busch Light Clash event are two and it has occurred nine times: 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991.

By the Numbers: The Busch Light Clash

.013 – Closest Margin of Victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in the Clash at Daytona history

.058 – Second closest Margin of Victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second-closest margin in the Clash at Daytona history

.080 – Third closest Margin of Victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third-closest margin of victory in the Clash at Daytona history

.877 – The 23rd closest Margin of Victory (in seconds) all-time for the Busch Light Clash exhibition race, and the closest at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum by Joey Logano over Kyle Busch in 2022.

1 – Fewest laps led by a winner, one and it has occurred nine times – Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004), Kevin Harvick (2009) and Erik Jones (2020) – all at Daytona International Speedway – Kyle Busch (2021) at Daytona International Speedway Road Course.

2.75 – Best average finish in the Clash – Dale Earnhardt holds the best average finish of any driver with multiple starts.

3 – Number of different venues the Busch Light Clash event has been held – Daytona International Speedway, Daytona International Speedway Road Course, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

4 – Number of drivers to win the Busch Light Clash from the pole or first starting position – Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).

5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance – Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006.

6 – Most Busch Light Clash wins all-time – Dale Earnhardt, the series leader (1980, ‘86, ‘88, ‘91, ‘93, ‘95).

7 – All-time fewest starters in the field for the Busch Light Clash (1981)

11 – Most number of starts before winning the event – Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin.

14 – Highest number of different leaders in the Busch Light Clash event (2009, Daytona International Speedway).

22 – Highest number of wins by a manufacturer in the Busch Light Clash – Chevrolet.

22 – Most consecutive starts in the Busch Light Clash by a driver – Jeff Gordon (1994-2015).

27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history.

28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979.

47 – Most laps led by the winner of a Busch Light Clash event – Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008 at Daytona.

64 – Most laps led by a driver that did not win the Busch Light Clash event – Kyle Busch in 2022 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for the Busch Light Clash – in 1987 at Daytona International Speedway and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott.   

About Post Author

Michael Jaworecki Sr.

Myracenews2@gmail.com

http://Myracenews

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