LOS ANGELES – NASCAR Cup Series drivers got the first chance to turn laps on the temporary quarter-mile paved oval inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
The 36 competitors vying for 24 starting positions in Sunday’s 150-lap Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum participated in nine practice sessions, with competitors split into three groups that took to the track three times each for eight minutes at a time.
At the conclusion of the final session, Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott turned the fastest lap at 13.455 seconds (66.89 mph). Kevin Harvick was next for Stewart-Haas Racing at 13.457 seconds, followed by Chase Briscoe (13.470), Justin Haley (13.470) and Kyle Busch (13.482).
RESULTS: Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum Practice
“Props to NASCAR and everybody involved, all the men and women that put a lot of effort into making this happen,” said Elliott. “I feel like they did a really good job with it. Just the workmanship and logistics of how this has worked this weekend has really impressed me. Happy to be here and appreciate everybody on our NAPA team for working really hard through the winter.
“I feel like we have a pretty good NAPA Chevy. Just about at this point trying to make the right decisions and not letting me mess it up too bad.”
Lap times increased by as much as half a second from the first session to the last session. Busch explained that as more rubber was put down on the track, teams and drivers were able to turn quicker laps
“The track just keeps getting better,” Busch said. “Just burning it in. That’s essentially what it is right now. Real proud of these guys. Obviously there is a lot of new and a lot of things that have kind of gone over in the offseason, so its nice to come out of here with a little bit of speed.
“Overall, all good. Real happy with the M&M’s Camry. Hopefully that will bode well for some qualifying action later on and getting into some heat races and racing.”
For the drivers, one of the more interesting aspects of this event is the fact that in order to get off and on the track they need to drive on city streets adjacent to the Coliseum.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Briscoe. “How many times do we drive a Cup car down the street into a race track through the tunnel? It’s a pretty cool atmosphere just driving out there and there aren’t even any fans here yet. It’ll be really cool tomorrow when you’re rolling down there for the heat races.”
NASCAR Cup Series competitors will return to the track at 8:30 p.m. EST Saturday for single-car qualifying, which will set the starting lineups for four 25-lap heat races Sunday. The top-four finishers in each heat advance to the 150-lap main event, with all other drivers relegated to two 50-lap last chance races, which will send three drivers to the finale.