NASCAR at the time of the Clash at the Coliseum

2022 definitely promises to be the year of all challenges for this old lady that is the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing founded in 1948 on the beaches of Daytona Beach. Ironically, Daytona is precisely the destination that the Clash is leaving this year to join Los Angeles.

The challenges for the NASCAR of this weekend's competition are immense. The investment of more than a million dollars required to build a quarter-mile oval within the Olympic venue should make it possible to open the competition to a new audience. The bet already seems to have been won since 2/3 of the 50 expected spectators say they are coming for the first time to attend a NASCAR competition. It should not be a One Shot since we have already announced the renewal of the contract until 000.

Still in a desire to open its audience to fans of other sports, NASCAR has named Grand Marshall of Racing Eric Dickerson, member of the American Football Hall of Fame, who usually resides in the venue, and former star of the Los Angeles' star team, the Rams.

On the show side, in addition to the fights on the track where up to 23 mechanical gladiators will be able to compete, the show will be provided by Pitbull for the pre-race concert, Ice Cube during the break and great innovation, DJ Skee during the yellow flags! A set under Safety Car is unheard of in the memory of a motorsport fan, but American sports culture has long integrated this entertainment perfectly illustrated by the organ of hockey matches.

We therefore have a magnificent enclosure, spectators, entertainment,… All that is missing is the rules of the competition.

Saturday, the 36 pilots selected  will take to the track for free practice before a qualifying session alone on track which will determine the starting order for the 4 sprint races on Sunday, the “Heat Races”. These are therefore 4 Heat Races of 25 laps for 9 drivers which will get the ball rolling. The top four in each race will immediately qualify for the Clash.

The time has come for the Next Gen to battle it out on the track © Chris Coduto/Getty Images

The remaining drivers, divided into two groups, will compete in two 2-lap repechage races, the “Last Chance Races”. The first three in each race head to the Clash, accompanied by the eliminated driver who scored the most points in 50. For the other unfortunates the adventure ends, and the sentence of the Coliseum is irrevocable.

At 18:00 p.m. local time (03:00 a.m. Monday French time), 23 cars will set off for 150 laps of racing to go down in history as the first winner of the Clash at the Coliseum and the first winner of a race contested at the wheel of Next Gen, 7th generation cars. Due to the delay, the race will be broadcast Monday evening at 20:45 p.m. on AutoMoto la channel, commented by the incomparable duo Philippe Chereau and Pat Angeli.

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